Chapter 4 – The Agency and Induction

After Zayne turned the knob and entered the Leader's room, he notices Rai and Mia already leaving the meeting. The three had a short death stare moment, but went on their way. Zayne closed the door. The Zayne and Naomi now noticed the room. It was a bright golden color with many bookshelves, awards, and a lonesome desk that sat in the middle of the room. A UPA flag woven out of a Caterpie's silk embedded with the symbol was hanged in the background, and the key to the city was displayed in front of the flag. Under the key was a golden-colored wooden chest with who knows what inside it. Armen, now with grayish hair, was sitting behind his desk looking over some papers and called to Zayne and Naomi.

""Hello Pokémon. How are you doing on this fine day?" His voice was calm, and directive just like a leader. "Have a seat and we will start your meeting." Zayne and Naomi sat on the chairs that were in the room. Armen took a deep breath and continued, "So introduce yourself and what can I do for you?"

Naomi went first. "I am Naomi the Riolu. I live in the northern outskirts of Rosemere. I am an average Riolu, still learning moves. I excel in alchemy and medicine. My mother taught me how to be a great alchemist and..." She tapped her satchel. "I have her notes." She paused, "And this is my friend – "

"I think he can speak for himself." The Dragonite interrupted Naomi. She immediately stopped talking and gave Zayne the floor.

Zayne wasn't afraid of the stage freight, fortunately. He answered to Armen, "To tell you the truth, I came here with no memory whatsoever. I only learned a few moves and need help in increasing my potential of finding out my past. I..." He paused. "I was human. I wasn't a Pokémon. I came here in good faith to find out my past and find my potential." He was ready for some smart remark about his beliefs.

Armen smiled, however. "You are the second Pokémon to tell me that." Zayne's ears perked up. He looked over to Naomi, who was also surprised. "This is a very odd occurrence, however, too bizarre to make my mind comprehend it." He paused. "I had a dream last night, a vision so to speak, that a voice came to me. The voice was calm and assuring, and that my life will change if I make the decisions right. It told me to believe in the oddest idioms and to support their lives, even though I am in this organization."

"I can tell you that this event, you turning into a Pokémon, is maybe linked to the events happening here around Aellyn."

Zayne asked, "Who was also human?" He was very curious and maybe he can ask them who he was, or how did he get here.

Armen shrugged, "Sorry. That's private."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want anyone knowing either."

"Exactly," Armen sighed, "Anyways, let's start your paperwork and begin your inauguration." He placed two documents on the other end of the table. "First off, I'll let you in on a situation. There is a disturbance here in the Pokémon world where Pokémon, like you, become psychotically insane. There are charms that are placed throughout Aellyn. We have heard throughout the cities that some Pokémon had disturbed these charms and, we believe, that it's the only reason why Pokémon go insane."

Zayne and Naomi nodded in assurance. He continued. "That's where we come in. We train Pokémon to become the top of the top with missions such as this. And we start lower Pokémon with 'low-level missions', or so to speak. By going on the lower missions, you have a feel of what an agent is like. Then, once you become stronger, you take on tougher missions."

"Now due to what I have just told you, you will be face with imminent danger. You have to be smart, cunning, fast, strong; all of the qualities of being an agent." He paused. "You may have to go so far as to kill another Pokémon to make sure you are safe, and to give the rest of Aellyn safety." The tone was very serious. Armen made sure that joining the Agency was no funny business. "You may have to go undercover as a spy, into hostile places, like the mafia, and kill or capture outlaws."

"Now I am going to ask you once, maybe the most important question of your life: Are you sure that you want to do this? Are you sure that, under Arceus, you will fulfill your mission successful? Are you sure that you will go to the next mile for yourself, your partner, and your province? And last but not least, are you sure that you will protect this Agency with your life?"

Naomi did not hesitate to answer, "Yes, sir." Her face was stern, serious to accept her job and duty as an agent of the UPA, as an agent to protect her closest friends, and as a agent to protect the province.

Zayne, however, was a bit confused, but he acknowledged Armen. "Yes, Armen." He stared at him with the same intensity as Naomi.

He smiled and sighed, "Well. Those documents that are placed at the table are oaths. You must print your name where it needs to be printed by your footprint on the back. It will be represented at your inauguration." Naomi and Zayne both grabbed the papers. Armen got up from his seat and turned to the chest. He opened it up and got out a small bag, and two emblems shaped in the UPS's symbol, and carved in rock. It was all white, including the letters 'U', 'P', and 'A'.

He turned and gave Naomi the small rock and Zayne the rock and the bag. It was leathery with two small pockets on the side, and a large, major opening on the top. Only one strap connected the top and bottom together.

Zayne set the bag aside and held up the stone. "Are these ours?"

"Yes. Every agent is required these items. One bag per team and one badge each. These badges are enchanted with a certain power from the great Azelf, the Pokémon of willpower. If you go into dungeons with this badge, you won't go crazy unlike Pokémon without badges. And those badges represent authority to other Pokémon throughout Aellyn." He paused. "Now, since you are a part of the agency, you need a team name." Zayne and Naomi looked at each other, with raised eyebrows. "Take a moment to decide."

Naomi went first. "How about Team LightningPunch? Since you are an electric type, and I am a fighting type, it's an alright name." Zayne shook his head.

"Nah. I feel like that we should get a name that will make us become experts, not something that we already are. Like if we look in a list of Pokémon Teams we should stand out. I doubt that we would stand out if we are talking about what type we are. They would ask for some other team." Naomi sighed.

"Yeah, we need to have a name that stands out to other people, which amplifies our strategy, and a name that we both like. It needs to be a name of prestige that Pokémon will remember us by."

Zayne thought about the name decision. Yes. She's right. We need some name prestige enough that we will be remembered. Hmm... Something prestige...something professional...

Then, it hit him, like a train. He smiled at told Naomi his thought. "How about Team Prestige?" She glared at him and let out a sly smile.

She turned to Armen, "Team Prestige is ready for business, Armen!"

Armen smiled and acknowledged Naomi with a nod. "Okay, Team Prestige. Craig will take you guys to your rooms. He will guide you through telepathy. All you do is follow Craig's directions and you will end up in your new rooms."

Suddenly, Zayne and Naomi heard Craig's voice, "I will assist you and tell you what each room is. Just ask the question and I will tell you."

"Okay, thanks," said Naomi. She turned to Armen, "Thanks Armen, will there be anything else?"

"Team Prestige, you and Team Strike will be inducted into the Agency at dinner time, which is in about two hours. Mingle, and do whatever in the two hours. You will start work tomorrow.

"Okay thanks!" Zayne and Naomi got up and headed out the door. "See you in two hours." Zayne said before he closed the door. He hadn't noticed it yet, until just now, that there were two billboards: one filled it with just letters, and one filled with photos and description under them.

"This room is where you accept your jobs. The one on the right is filled with letters of Pokémon to go search for someone, find exotic items, and rescue other Pokémon, or other stuff like that. Lower level jobs are pinned on the bottom and they increase in level going up. You should start there. The photos on the left are outlaws. Every outlaw is dangerous, however the bounty increases from the bottom up, just like the jobs on the right. You will get rewarded once you get back to the agency. However, you only get ten percent." Naomi looked at Zayne with raised eyebrows. "The money goes to the organization to help pay for the school, jail, and to feed and shelter you. So it's for a good cause." Naomi relieved herself. "Moving on, you can go down those stairs."

Once at the bottom steps, they see a large mess hall, with various Pokémon scattered about. There were two rows of tables, and a buffet-style booth on the far end. The booth was empty. "This is the Mess Hall. Here we eat breakfast and dinner. You're on your own for lunch. Akira the Chansey is the cook. She is also our nurse who heals us when we get injured." A large pink and egg-shaped Pokémon emerged from the Kitchen door. She was carrying a large container full of who-knows-what to the buffet booth. She had dark brown short hair with blonde highlights at the tip, and carries an egg in her pouch. "Okay. That's Akira. Moving on. If you look straight past the booth is where Gold Ranked members are. Team Triumph and Team Aftershock are our only gold team members here. They are our most supreme teams to ever be inducted into our facility. To our right, which is north, is Silver and Bronze Ranked Teams. Such teams, like Team Eon and Team Outbreak, are located in there. Every team member that works here lives here."

"Now, to your left is where you will be staying. Go to your left." Zayne and Naomi did as he was told. They went down to the hall on the left. As they were walking, Craig contacted them, "Here are where the Normal ranked and New Recruit teams' rooms located. For now, only you and Team Strike are in this hall. And here comes you room right now. Stop." Team Prestige stopped on their trail in front of a wooden door. The hall was barren, however, only a few rooms were here."There are only a few rooms here on this side, because you can easily get accepted into a bronze rank. There are not that many Pokémon in the gold section because only a few can make it to gold." He paused. "Well, I hope you can get easily accepted into the agency by everyone. Goodbye." Just like that, Craig wasn't communicating anymore.

Zayne raised his eyebrow at Naomi. "What did he mean by that?"

Naomi shrugged. "I don't know, Zayne. But I am sure that we will make plenty of friends here." She eyed the room. There were two beds made out for the team. A small empty bookshelf was portrayed underneath a small window. A large dusty flag of the UPA was on the corner of the room, opposite side of the beds. It was hardly anything, but it still provided shelter like Armen said. The window had a good view of the beach and the ocean, however. She walked over to the two beds and placed her satchel on one of them.

"Well, what do you want to do now?" asked Zayne to Naomi.

"I really want to know everyone here in the agency. Can you believe it? We are really working with professionals!" She started to jump up and down. "Finally, after so many years..."

Zayne smiled, "I bet it gets better. We can help people now."A short awkward silence went by. "Hey, I have a question to ask you." Naomi's ears perked up.

"Sure go ahead." She was smiling gleefully.

"Ahem, when we were asked by those questions by Armen, he mentioned someone who was named Arceus. Who is Arceus?"

"You don't know who Arceus is?" She snapped at Zayne for a second, but Zayne pointed at himself to remind Naomi. "Oh, sorry. Arceus is the god Pokémon. He resembles all light in the world, I believe. Lore states that Arceus was born from an egg in a vortex of pure chaos before the existence of the universe. It proceeded to create three beings from itself, Dialga and Palkia, which created time and space, and Giratina, representing antimatter. It also created Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit, which created spirit, and then went into an everlasting sleep."

"Oh, so every one of those beings represent Arceus in some way or another."

"Exactly." She giggled. "Sorry I got mad at you."

"Nah, it's alright." She shrugged. "That resembles I think another story that I heard before. I guess it was back when I was human." He shook his hair with his hand. "Damn, amnesia."

Naomi grabbed Zayne's hand, "When you remember anything, please tell me."

Zayne gripped it, "I promise." He smiled and grabbed his leathery bag from his back. Then, he threw it on the other bed. "Let's go meet Pokémon!"

XXXX

Team Prestige walked into the Mess Hall, only seeing Akira preparing food on the booth. It was a bit fuller than last time they came. She was barely setting down a bowl of fruit and noticed the twosome. She shrieked and ran towards Zayne. "Hi! I am Akira the Chansey. I am the cook of this wonderful and exotic organization." She shook Zayne's hand, then Naomi's hand. "Looks like you guys, and Team Strike are our new recruits! I am glad for you! Right now I am preparing for lunch so check up on me later." She winked at the two and ran off.

Zayne and Naomi were a bit stunned at the one-way conversation. They see Akira walk away with haste into the kitchen, then they saw her cut up berries, preparing the usual dinner, as usual. Zayne looked at Naomi and shrugged. "I'm sure we can make more friends." He smiled.

"Yeah," she replied. She looked forward and was about to walk off, until she felt uneasy. It seems like something or someone was breathing right behind her back.

"Hmm... A fine specimen." An unknown voice said behind her. His voice was scientific, almost as if he was a professor. "Slender figure, extravagant fur, brilliant eyes, almost perfect." Naomi turned around and jumped back. She sees a yellow and white, doglike Pokémon with many spikes. The yellow spikes on his back hind side are served as a tail. Around his collar were many white spikes. He had large black eyes and black spiky hair.

Naomi asked him irritatingly, "Almost perfect?"

He ignored the question and continued to examine Naomi, "Hmm... Ms. Riolu can you come over here so I can examine your –" All of a sudden, he was propelled right onto the floor by an Headbutt from a light blue unknown Pokémon. It has a white ruff around its neck just behind its head. The Pokémon has cream-colored ears made of webbing and has a fin on its head resembling its ears. It has a pointed pattern of dark blue on its head that encompasses the backs of its ears and head-fin. It also has blue ridges that run down the length of its spine and on to its tail-fin, and the paw pads on its hind feet are dark blue like the ridges. The finned tail is similar to that of a mermaid's. She had blue wavy hair that flows as if she was underwater.

She scorned at the downed Pokémon, "Arthur! You sick idiot! You shouldn't do that to other Pokémon!" Arthur got up and shook himself off.

"I'm sorry. It's just we haven't seen any of Riolu here in Aellyn. I was just inspecting her." He argued back. "Sorry, Ms. Riolu."

Naomi was a bit embarrassed, however she replied, "It's okay, I guess..."

"Well, first we have to introduce ourselves." She sneered at Arthur, and then faced Naomi. "Sorry, Riolu. My brother is an anatomy geek, if you know what I mean." She put out her paw. "Hi. My name is Chelsea the Vaporeon. And this is my brother, Arthur the Jolteon. And we are Team Eon."

Naomi took it. "I'm Naomi, and this is Zayne. We are Team Prestige." She smiled and shook it. Zayne grabbed Arthur's paw and shook it.

Arthur started to examine Zayne, "Hmm...Such a strong grip. A bit too stout for a normal Pikachu." He turned Zayne around, which is a shock for him. "And this tail, so abnormal."

Zayne turned around and asked, "What do you mean 'abnormal'?"

Arthur grabbed his tail, which made Zayne shake up a bit. It felt weird for him to touch something that was not there when he was human. "You see this mark on your tail?"

Zayne questioned him, "I have a mark on my tail?" Arthur ignored his question again.

"A regular Pikachu doesn't have any marks on their tails. It may be a birth mark or something like that." He squinted his eyes. "It's in shape of a lightning bolt. Ironic." Zayne snatched his tail back from Arthur, and to his surprise, Chelsea tackled Arthur and started to rant on him. Naomi and Zayne raised their eyebrows and backed away from the scene.

"They always do that. Don't worry about it," said another foreign voice. They turned to see another Pokémon. It has a round body, four stubby legs, and a large, round head. Its body is dark gray and its eyes are a pale blue. Portions of steel armor cover its head, legs, and back, which has a single spike on it. Throughout the Pokémon's body are small openings in the armor, three on its head, one, the largest, being the opening for its eye, and one on its back below its spike. "Hello, Zayne? Sorry I overheard the commotion and couldn't help but notice. The names Koby. Koby the Aron."

Naomi jerked her head back, "Umm...Hi. And my name's Naomi."

Koby nodded, "Pleasure. And this is..." He motioned his head towards another Pokémon, probably his teammate. It was a brown, sloth-like mammalian Pokémon with shaggy coarse fur and brown stripes on its back. It has a scruff of fur on the top of its head and a large, pig-like pink nose. The Pokémon was slouched over the table. Koby sighed and tapped his horn violently against his shoulder. The Pokémon picked his head up. "And this is Ethan the Slakoth. Not very much to say for the least. We are Team Outbreak."

Ethan grumbled and placed his head back down. "He's bit of a downer. Oh, well. I don't care. As long as we get the job done, I don't care." He shrugged. "What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, where are you from?"

Zayne's thought process stumbled. Amnesia took the best of him and his speech was slurred. "Um, I don't know."

The Aron looked down and back up at Zayne, "Well, how did you get here?"

Again, Zayne replied, "I don't know how exactly." He shrugged.

Aron squinted his eyes at him, trying to reveal something that Zayne wants to keep secret. "Do you know any moves...or abilities?"

Zayne squinted back. "Only a few..." A short awkward silence overwhelms the three. Naomi could feel it as they were having a stare off at each other.

Finally, the Aron let out a sly smile. "You're alright, Zayne. We could be friends."

"We could, Koby." Zayne crossed his arms. Naomi breathed easy, letting out a long breath.

"Koby. Why do you ask so many questions?" Ethan raised his head and turned to him; he had a sour expression on his face, as if he was tired all the time.

"Cause I want to know about this guy. Got a problem or what?"

"No I got no problem. It's just that you ask so many questions obnoxiously!" His sarcasm made Zayne chuckle a bit.

"Just go back to bed, or table, or whatever you do with your life besides our work."

Ethan raised his right hand and patted his head. "I bet you can't do this. Oh wait, you can't. You have no arms! Ha!" Zayne and Naomi started cracking up laughing. Koby came to his face.

"I bet I can still kick your ass!" Koby glared at him intensely. Ethan shrugged because he knew that Koby was right. He put his head back down. "Yeah, that's what I thought." Team Prestige recovered from the humor event. Suddenly, everyone stopped at the commotion heard on the entrance of the staircase.

"Team Triumph is here! Don't worry, my fellow Pokémon. We had done our duty here as agents of the organization! Thank you, thank you." There were three different species of Pokémon. All of them were large.

The first one, who announced their return, its body is primarily a brownish-red color, with sections of white fur on its chest, head and legs, and a large flame burning on its head. It wore two gold chest rings in place of a chest plate. It also has swirl-patterned gold shoulder pads, knee pads, and wrist bands. He had deep blood red markings on his forehead. His scleras are yellow, and its irises are blue. Its hands, toes, and inner ears are also blue. He looked like a monkey.

The second one was staring towards Zayne's direction. It was quadru-pedal dragon-like Pokémon, who have newly grown large, red wings. Although primarily blue, it possessed accentuations of red and gray coloration. The red-colored portions of its body include its aforementioned wings, eyebrows, neck, and the undersides of its tail and limbs. The gray portions include its lower jaw and its belly, the latter of which appears armored. He has three spiky extensions splayed from the sides of its face. He didn't have any hair at all though. He made Zayne shudder a bit. He looked so terrifying.

The third one is a large dinosaur-like Pokémon. His hair was black and very short. The couple of fangs in the upper and lower jaws, and the fingers and toes culminating in claws, contribute to the menacing appearance of this Pokémon. Many spikes protrude from the back of its head, neck, shoulders and the tip of the tail. The armor also presents a couple of holes at the knees and the back, and four holes at the chest. There are also two blue rhombus-shaped pieces of armor that cover the creature's belly and back. His arms were crossed and his eyes were closed.

Zayne looked towards Koby as the new team walked in and sat down on a table closest to the buffet table. "That's Team Triumph. The one with its flames on his head is Ulrich the Infernape, the leader. His two right-hand mans are Terry the Tyrannatar, and Rory the Salamence. Terry is the green one, and Rory is the blue dragon thing."

"They look pretty cool!" Naomi said.

"Don't waste your time talking to them," replied Koby, "They are just a bunch of conceited douchebags."

"Nonsense! We should at least say hi to them." Naomi urged.

Koby shrugged. "Suit yourself." Naomi walked over to Team Triumph. They were conversing with each other about something, maybe a mission or life, she didn't know.

She smiled and stuck her hand out to them. "Hello there! How are you guys doing?"

The team stopped and looked at her for a second. She felt the sweat form all around her body. Finally, they turned back to each other and ignored her welcoming. She frowned and let her hand fall.

Zayne saw what had happened and walked by Naomi's side to aid her. Maybe he could get through to Team Triumph. He tried to make small talk, "So I have heard that you were back from your mission. What did you guys do?" Again, they ignored the welcoming gesture.

Finally, Naomi said to the group, "You know we are Pokémon too. You don't have to be rude. On top of that, we are also a part of –"

"Go away," snapped Ulrich. "We don't want you here." He turned back to his group and continued onto talking.

Naomi and Zayne were stunned and stomped back to Koby.

"Told ya." Koby shrugged.

"Bunch of scumbags if you ask me," mumbled Naomi. Zayne nodded and sat down next to Koby.

"Is it just that team that is a gold rank member?" Koby shook his head.

"Hell, nah! There's one more, a team that we all can trust. They are Team Aftermath. Maura the Meganium, Berliac the Swampert, and Sadoc the Noctowl are in there. And they are much cooler, nicer, and better than Team Triumph in every way. Well, I think so at least." He paused. "They are not back yet; they had to go on a five day mission to Snowhaven up north escorting a citizen from Ebarus."

"I guess that's a long way," muttered Zayne. "When does dinner begin?"

XXXX

"Now I would like for you guys to recognize our new members for the United Protection Agency! Team Strike, Team Prestige; please come up." Armen was standing in the middle of the two tables arms extended welcoming the two. Zayne and Naomi got up from where they were sitting and came to Armen's side and Rai and Mia went to the left. "Do you have your papers?" Each of them held out a paper in front of them. Now repeat after me:"

"I, fellow Agency member, having duly appointed and commission a Notary Public in and for the United Protection Agency, do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will support, obey and defend the oath of the United Protection Agency as well as protect clients, and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity."

Each of them repeated the oath clearly and orderly as Armen wanted. Armen told them, "Now, step on the paper so you can complete your induction." Each of them placed it down on the ground and gently placed their foot on it. Once they take their foot off, they saw purple dye in shape of each person's foot, as if it was magic. "Now let me have them, and I will place it in your record." All of them gave Armen the oath papers. "Congratulations, Team Prestige, and Team Strike. You are now agents of the United Protection Agency. You are free to take on jobs and help your province." After it was all said and done, the room was filled were clapping. Everyone was cheering on the new inductees, except for Team Triumph of course. Armen held up his hand and the clapping ceased.

"Everyone is free to go. Report back at 8 o'clock sharp. Don't be late." Everyone got up from their seats and started walking back to their rooms, including Armen.

Zayne looked at Naomi and smiled. They were proud of each other. They took one step towards the future of helping people and achieving their goals.

Team Prestige left a bit early before anyone else. After a wave of pat on the backs going to their room, they finally reached the hallway. Once they got into their room everything was practically quiet, except for the small get together in the mess hall. Naomi skipped to her bed and plop down on it. "I'm beat." She set her bag to her side and got out her badge. By that time, Zayne went to his bunk. "Hey, what do you really think about this?"

"About what? The turning to a human part, the becoming friends part, or being a part of this organization?" He set his bag next to him as well.

"Well, everything," replied Naomi," I bet you're overwhelmed." She looked over to him and raised her eyebrow.

Zayne merely shrugged. "I guess it hasn't hit me yet. Hell, I bet it wouldn't hit me hard in a while from now. But for the most part, I'm happy. I am glad that you are helping me."

"Ditto." Naomi snickered at the small Pokémon pun. "Well, I am a bit tired. So I guess this is time to go to bed." She turned over. "Goodnight Zayne. See ya in the morning."

"Goodnight." Naomi went to sleep after a brief moment of silence.

However, Zayne was wide awake. He stared into the window as the moonlight reflected from the sea into his eyes. Today was a long day. He thought. First I came to this town, got inducted to the UPA, and I finally know that I am not alone! He smiled and turned his head to Naomi. Thank you Naomi for everything that you did for me and helping me get at least solid ground of this world. He sat up and felt something around his neck. He completely forgot about the rock until just now.

I wonder what this is. He grabbed it and put it into the moonlight to get a better look. I wonder if this is a key to my memory. I really don't know. He yawned and lay back down to his bed. Well, I can't stress about it now. Time will tell. Goodnight Naomi...

XXXX

Okay! It has been forever since I uploaded any material to FF or DA. I will tell you, my exams are looking pretty sweet right now! Hopefully, teachers cut me at least SOME slack. Oh well.

Anyways, Rai and Mia are my buddy's (hi-im-riv's from DA) OCs. He is going to become an AIMer! :D Very PRESTIGOUS...(pun) Haha.

Also, I will try to upload more material faster, and now since everyone has been introduced, I can finally speed things up! XD Now next chapter will probably have action. FINALLY! I like writing action scenes. What enemy or job will Team Prestige have to face off? Stay tuned. And catch you guys later.

-Jumanji8