A group of fifteen people consisting of young and older men wearing rugged clothing sat inside a boarded-up building in Sunyshore that same night, all with rifles or shotguns beside them in case danger came. Most were on the floor, but some sat in chairs, and some had pokémon next to them, a few which had also been on shift.
"What's so important that we're missing our shifts for it?" a chubby one in a stained tee asked, leaning against his gabite.
"Boss said over the radio it's too crucial to take lightly, and he's never said that," another replied that was beside him.
"He has, but not crucial enough to miss our damn shifts."
He smacked the back of his head. "So he hasn't said it like this before, idiot."
"Guess you're right." He shrugged and looked up when he heard a knock at the door down the hall. "Well, we're about to find out. Hit the door, Ben."
At sixteen, Ben was the youngest of the group, slim with ruffled brown hair. He had on jeans ripped in a few areas and a clean-ish dull black sweater styled with multiple gastly along its midsection. He got up and left his rifle, exiting the room and walking down the dark hall to the door while wiping his pants. He held up his walkie-talkie. "Boss…" He then listened closely, hearing exactly eleven knocks, to which Ben opened it and saw his leader.
He took off his helmet and tucked it under his arm. "Tell everyone, including the remaining on essential duty and their pokémon, to converge at the city hall in ten minutes."
"Yes," Ben replied, glancing outside. "Uh... May I ask where Peter is?"
"Didn't make it." He turned around. "Double time."
Ben sighed and clipped his talkie onto his pants. He didn't want Peter to go last night because he was afraid that'd happen. He was worried all night and this morning when he hadn't returned. Peter was Ben's only friend here due to them having a lot in common and being similar ages, and Peter still had humanity. He sulked back to the room and grabbed his rifle. "Everyone's gotta be at the hall in less than ten minutes."
"Everyone?"
Ben nodded. That's what he said.
"I'll radio the gents working."
Ben left and stepped outside, shutting the door and walking toward the city hall. He felt like crying over Peter's death, which added to his present depression. They weren't that close but talked every other night when they could be alone. Peter just wasn't like the rest of the men here, and neither was Ben. The environment hadn't changed him as deeply, and Ben no longer had anyone like that— no one to console him, and he'd never owned a pokémon, surprisingly. His parents had, which was the closest he had ever been.
About everyone else here was annoyingly masculine and tried their hardest to dominate the environment, which was understandable but unnecessary in Ben's eyes. Perhaps they feared being one-upped by each other and put on a constant show. It was like they were wild pokémon, and a lack of genuine order sometimes brought appalling behavior out of them.
As instructed, every man was shortly gathered at the city hall and sat in rows of plastic chairs beside each other, with pokémon like cranidos, machoke, ambipom, and more standing idly. The lights weren't on, so the spacious main room was close to pitch black other than what moonlight came in through the windows. Although everyone could technically use lights whenever they pleased, it was prohibited at night to avoid bringing unwanted attention to the city.
The boss sat in a chair facing them many feet from the group. "A couple of you and myself followed a girl and a luxray just past Veilstone before falling back as I felt it wasn't worth the chase. We didn't know what we would run into if she made it to where she was running. We weren't equipped," the boss said.
"Last night, I went on a stealth run with Peter, who sacrificed himself for a good cause. We had to choose between Hearthome or Celestic since we were unsure where the girl had gone after Veilstone. We chose correctly and came upon a massive fortified base in the city's center. We scouted it for hours and saw many armed guards defending all entrances. It is strongly assumed this base has tons of useful supplies we could benefit from."
"Assumed? Is that worth putting our lives at stake?" one asked from the crowd.
The boss held his hands. "Stand, the individual who spoke."
An older man with many missing teeth did, keeping silent while looking down.
"Name?" the boss asked.
"Barry, sir."
He cleared his throat. "Men, what we're doing over the next seven days is scouting this base from various rooftops in the city. Three at a time, excluding pokémon, will go and scout for five hours per day in turns. It is important for the base's occupants not to know we exist until it is time, so do not put yourself in a situation where you may be seen. We need sufficient information about this place by the deadline."
He looked at Barry. "If any of you wish not to participate, you may step down at any time… However, those who do not won't be allowed to access what we take from the base. Any questions?"
No one said a word, but Ben eventually raised his hand.
"Speak," the boss said.
"Death among us will occur during this mission, right?" Ben asked and glanced to his sides a bit upon hearing snickers. Maybe it was a dumb question. There was no option but to rush in and conquer with violence, but why were these idiots so eager to die? Why couldn't they try befriending or partnering up with the base?
"That comes with the territory, does it not? If you want something badly enough, you'll be willing to put your very life on the line, but as I said, I am not forcing anyone to participate. We begin tomorrow. Create groups of three tonight and choose carefully, as you will be working with each other all week."
The boss stood. "Dismissed. Be ready when the dawn of the next day breaks. Wake each other if you must."
Ben exited the building before anyone else and paced east down the sidewalk. He didn't want to work with any of those assholes. They knew Ben was a pushover and usually treated him as such, but just like Peter, Ben would be dead if he weren't here, so it was something he had to endure, but maybe not.
That base sounded enticing, but he didn't know if it was any better than this group, and it would be sabotaged soon, deeming it nonsensical to seek refuge there. He knew he would have to partake in scouting and attacking when it came time, but Ben didn't want to mingle with the meatheads talking and choosing partners. He'd see what happened tomorrow.
He got to his residence in around ten minutes and pushed open the door with a broken lock. Everyone lived in abandoned homes and in the same or nearby areas. It was unwise to be separate if they were ambushed.
At least he was able to get away from everyone at night and gather what he had left of himself. "Glad I had morning shift…" he mumbled while going to his room and setting his rifle on the bed, taking off his pants. He sat on his mattress and ran his hand over his thigh. He shaved frequently because he didn't want to walk around a hairy mess, even during these times. Ben always wore pants to conceal this, though, as he wouldn't hear the end of it otherwise. He didn't doubt any of those deprived bullies topped each other, though, and they probably used their pokémon too. Maybe that was another reason to act unreasonably tough.
He missed how life was a month ago. Two men and a woman who had broken in one night took his parents and younger sibling from him in brutal ways. Sure, Sinnoh was a treacherous wasteland, but Ben had been somewhat content living in it with his family.
He wished he hadn't, looking back, but Ben narrowly escaped death that night and ran from Solaceon. He ended up here in Sunyshore— a far more miserable experience.
Ben shook off his shoes and lay on his back. He had to get as much sleep as possible and hope he wouldn't get too much backlash for being the only member potentially not participating. He needed the care, protection, food, and water, so he may not have a choice.
Ben had woken sometime before dawn and left his front door open so no one would assume he was still asleep. He kept on the same dirty tee and jeans he'd worn for the past few days. There were laundromats in the area, but to preserve water, everyone had to wash by hand, which also was frowned upon unless enough people couldn't stand another's odor.
He was sitting on his bed when he heard a knock at the door. Ben had tried actively to avoid that, so he got up and went to answer with an annoyed expression.
However, that faded once he saw who it was— his boss.
He stood at the door with a stern expression. "Would you mind telling me why you have no partners? I gave you a full day."
Ben swallowed. He didn't know how his response would be taken, but he'd stand by it. "Boss, I don't want to work with any of these arrogant men."
He frowned. "You would rather work with Peter, but he isn't here anymore, so suck it up. Join a squad before the first mission begins. We will be choosing our first team in thirty minutes." The boss began turning around but stopped. He paused, eyeing Ben. "...If you truly wish to work alone, maybe I'll allow it, but I don't want to hear a single complaint throughout the week… I don't care how you do the job as long as you get it done and come back having made progress. Be at the hall."
Ben was surprised the boss gave him a choice. He grinned slightly, "o-of course, boss. I appreciate it." He watched him disappear and wondered whether he'd made a mistake with his decision. Sure, Ben hated every individual here, but traveling and working alone didn't sound too wise either. Maybe he'd try it and see how it felt, considering he lived through it long enough.
He walked outside under a dark, waking sky and to the hall, where everyone sat in the same chairs awaiting instruction. The boss stood silently, and Ben assumed he was waiting on him.
"Now that everyone is gathered, I will choose the first group to start the mission. As stated last night, one will go per day to reduce the chance of us being caught. Everyone separate and stand with your respective groups. If you have questions, now is the time to ask."
Everyone distanced and stood with their chosen trio, all except for Ben, who stood at his chair with almost all eyes on him. It was nothing out of the ordinary.
After the boss sent the first three to Celestic, everyone else was ordered to resume business as usual, so Ben started the walk back to his house since he had to begin his shift soon. He worked for six hours and got a forty-minute break at hour three. His job, along with many others, was to patrol the city, scare off wild pokémon that wandered in so they knew to stay away, and report anything unusual. The shift stopped at noon, which he could track by watching the sun.
Studying the sky was one of Ben's hobbies, and he'd wanted to look into a career involving it from a young age. That bit was no longer an option, but at least his learned skills came in handy on a daily basis.
Ben was just glad he didn't have to sit in one spot and watch the supply depot for hours. Sometimes, the boss assigned specific sections of the city to those on patrol. Otherwise, one could go anywhere, even watch from the rooftops, but Ben preferred walking. It made the hours go by quicker, and he sometimes found interesting items or snacks left behind from looting.
Maybe he could find more while on duty in Celestic because he'd be alone, but that could backfire on him more than it'd benefit. He didn't know how they operated, so there could be infected residing in that town or guards patrolling. Ben hadn't questioned Peter's death or where it took place, and if the boss found out Ben was screwing around on the job, he'd certainly humiliate him in front of everyone or boot him from Sunyshore— maybe both.
As he approached his home, the base came back to his thoughts. Another option. Perhaps he could take refuge there if their inhabitants won the battle and if they'd trust him. Ben would have to wait and watch it unfold. He'd much rather live close to a normal life than exist as a thug stealing from others if that base was any better. He didn't want to kill innocents, and even though the boss hadn't laid out an attack plan, Ben knew it would have to play a significant role.
He heard his stomach rumble and pushed it aside, for now, entering his house. He hadn't eaten in two days due to food running low and having to be preserved as well, but he had a couple of waters left that he stored under his bed since he didn't doubt someone trying to steal his items. Everyone would target him first when they got desperate.
Ben sat on the mattress after he got to his room and rubbed his eyes. He was tired but couldn't lie down and risk sleeping through his shift. Maybe he'd take a short walk to pass the time before having to walk for half of a day. What else could he do?