Chapter 15
Serena
"You did not just say that!" Yelled an Officer Jenny, wearing a Hoenn region uniform, as she glared at the Gatekeeper that escorted Serena, Miette, and Carlita to Rustboro Hall. Behind her were several Hoenn officers, who were also glaring at the Gatekeeper and a bunch of other robots, all of whom looked very bulky and intimidating to look at.
"Oh yes, I did!" Yelled the Gatekeeper as he glared at the Officer Jenny. "I just said that you rent-a-cops don't know a thing about being actually good law enforcement agents. I mean, just how many criminal organizations have allowed to fester in the various regions because you idiot policemen and women don't stop them before they could become a problem? Way too many in my mind. And don't get me started on the number of times those criminal organizations have caused regional damage with their schemes. If you idiotic police were doing a better job then we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we?!"
"As if you have the right to say that!" Yelled the Officer Jenny in anger. "In case you don't remember, your region also has a criminal organization of its own as well and it's something that you haven't dealt with competently either!"
"At least we're fighting it!" Yelled the Gatekeeper. "More than I can say for you police jarheads!" Officer Jenny glared at the Gatekeeper for that insult and was about to yell again when another voice yelled out. A very familiar one.
"That's enough!" Yelled another Officer Jenny as she made her way to the group of Police Officers and robots. This one wearing a uniform from the Kalos Region with a few extra badges and plaques on her uniform. She was also a bit older than the first Officer Jenny, having a more mature face than the first, but she still had a lovely face. And currently, that lovely face was marred with the scowl on said face. It was clear to everyone that she wasn't pleased at all and she was going to take it out on both the robots and the Hoenn officers. Looking at the offending groups, she yelled at both of them. "You all should be ashamed of yourselves! You're all law enforcement agents! You're supposed to be people that the public look up to! To ensure them that their safety and the safety of their loved ones are in reliable hands! Instead, you're all acting like a bunch of little children with how you're all arguing and yelling in a public area! Do you think that the people will trust us when they see us fighting like little kids amongst each other!" Upon hearing all that, the group of police officers and robots looked at each other before looking away, both in shame and in embarrassment. Though for the robots, it was hard to tell on account of them being machines and possessing expressionless faces or visors to be more appropriate.
The Hoenn Officer Jenny, looking ashamed, was about to respond when the Kalos Jenny spoke up.
"You all apologize to each other now and the crowd you gathered because of your actions." Ordered the Kalos Officer Jenny with a stern look on her face. "After that, you all head to different parts of the Hall to cool off and think about what you all did. Is that understood!?" The robots and police officers just looked at each other, unsure of what to do, before eventually complying with the older Officer Jenny's request. The two groups apologized to each other, quickly and without much effort into said apologies, before departing into other parts of the Hall. Sighing as the two groups left the area, the Kalos Officer Jenny turned to face everyone who gathered around the spectacle and addressed them.
"My apologies to everyone here." Said the Kalos Officer Jenny as she addressed everyone. "That was completely unprofessional of all of them and I assure you that they will all be reprimanded for what they did before you all. Please go about your day. The promotion will occur in just a couple of hours." After hearing all that, almost everyone went about what they were doing prior to the yelling that they heard from the other Officer Jenny. Everyone except for Dawn, Carlita, Serena, and Miette, who all began walking towards the older Officer Jenny, wondering what that fight was about. Upon getting close to the Officer Jenny, Serena spoke.
"Um…excuse me, Officer Jenny." Said Serena, catching the Kalos Region Officer Jenny's attention. "If you don't mind me asking, but can you tell us what that was about?" Upon hearing that question, the Officer Jenny sighed at that.
"I was afraid someone would ask that question." Said the Officer Jenny before looking at all the girls before replying in a serious manner. "If you all want to know, then you all best come with me. Its best if we discuss this in private." All the young girls were surprised to hear this. Nevertheless, their curiosity was too strong, so they agreed and so followed the Officer Jenny to in undisclosed location. That undisclosed location turned out to be a plain room reserved for coordinators that weren't comfortable with the idea of dressing up in a public area with other people. Opening the door and leading the girls inside, the Officer Jenny went inside, closed the door and locked it before looking at the girls.
"I suppose you all want to know about what that was about, right?" Asked the Officer Jenny as she looked at the girls, who all looked back at her.
"Yeah, what was all that about?" Asked Carlita as she looked at the Officer Jenny. "What caused that other Jenny to have a fight with those robots? Did something happen between them?"
"It's less what happened to them and more what happened years ago along with differences in ways to handle justice and law enforcement." Said the Officer Jenny with a sigh. "I'm sure most of you know about the Glacies region along with some basic history about it, yes?" When she saw the girls nod, Jenny continued. "You see, girls, Glacies doesn't have a police force like the other regions. At least one like the ones your familiar with. Theirs is a little more…extreme."
"What do you mean?" Asked Dawn as she looked at the Officer Jenny, who sighed again.
"Glacies' law enforcement is done with an organization called the Glacies Security Services." Explained the Officer Jenny before going into more detail. "Glacies Security Services, in basic terms, a cross between the international police and a city police department that has jurisdiction and authority over every single city in Glacies. Their members have similar authority in one city in Glacies as they do in another basically. And they can be sent to other regions to track down criminals of Glacies if they decide to head to other regions to escape justice."
"That doesn't sound all that bad." Said Miette, hearing all this. "Sounds like they just have a different law enforcement department is all. Nothing to pick a fight over."
"Indeed." Said Jenny before speaking again. "Its not what they can do and what freedoms they have that has my cousin is all riled up over them, it's a few things that happened years ago. Before any of you were born." That got the girls curious.
"What happened?" Asked Dawn. "Was it something really bad?" The Officer Jenny sighed.
"I don't want you all to know the exact details of what happened, mostly because you're all still just young teenagers and because its all still classified, so I won't say them. Let's just say it involved several regions and their criminal organizations." Said the Officer Jenny. "And that there had been an opportunity to end them back then. Before they could cause damage to their respective regions." Upon hearing that, the girls were stunned to hear that. They had a chance to take out some of the criminal teams in the various regions like Team Magma, Aqua, Plasma, and Galactic and they blew it? Before any of them could speak, the Officer Jenny spoke up again.
"As much as I believe I gave you all more questions than answers, I'm afraid that is all I can share. I'm sorry." Said the Officer Jenny as she got up. "But that operation's details are and still is something that isn't allowed to be revealed to the public. Believe me, I would love to tell you all about what happened that day, but its something that's kept hidden by the government of Glacies and several other regions for a number of reasons. One day, perhaps they'll reveal what happened that day. Until then, however, this is all I have to say." Apologizing once again, the Officer Jenny left the girls to their own devices but not before telling them that to go to the front desk of the hall so they can register for the promotion and figure out what they're supposed to do with their fellow Performers and Coordinators. Once she left, the girls looked at each other in wonderment.
"I'm sorry, but what was all that?" Asked Miette as she looked at everyone, trying to process all that she heard. "She just outright told us that there was a time when they could have arrested a bunch of criminal organizations, they failed, and that is all she could say? What was the point in even telling us all that if that was all she was willing to say?"
"Well, she did answer our initial question as to why that fight happened earlier." Said Serena, trying to understand what she just heard. "Why the police were fighting with those robots earlier. Granted it left us with even more questions, but still."
"Not like it matters anyway." Said Carlita as she spoke up. "All those criminal groups got arrested and disbanded years ago. So, there's no need to get worked up over what happened with what happened way before any of us were even born. So, let's just drop it for now." The other girls either nodded in agreement or just sighed and nodded their heads. "With that out of the way, let's go and meet with the Master of Performers so we can figure out what this promotion is and how you all can help with it." That was something the girls all agreed with. Thus, they left for the front desk. As they walked, the girls wondered about the promotion and what it'll contain.
Meanwhile
"I'm sorry, Donan, but what the scrap was that?" Said a robotic being as it looked at the Gatekeeper that had escorted Serena, Miette, and Carlita to the Rustboro Hall. Unlike the one called Donan, this robot had a much more pleasing design to look at. Whereas Donan's design was more militant and harsh-looking with its boxy design and intimidating red eyes, the other robot had a sleeker design with smooth curves and angles that flowed naturally and were aesthetically pleasing to the human eye. "We're supposed to be making friends and forming new relationships with the other regions, not creating souring our relations even further than they already are."
The Gatekeeper known as Donan simply glared at the other robot as the two conversed in a private room in the Hall, a completely soundproof room so that no one outside can listen to their conversation. Something both of them appreciated, especially the unknown robot, who was incensed upon learning what Donan did in the lobby.
"You would have done the same if you had to deal with an Officer Jenny like that." Said Donan as his red eyes glowed brighter than before as he argued with his fellow robot, his tone more respectful and calmer than when he interacted with Serena and the Hoenn Officer Jenny. "That bitch has no idea what happened in that operation. We were so close to taking out those blasted criminal teams if we had more support. If we just had done it our way, we could have…"
"And we would have made the other Regions be more wary of us than before. Maybe even hate us. Thus ruining any progress we made to bettering relations with them." Said the other robot. "Donan, this isn't the old days. We can't just use our old ways without any repercussions anymore. We need to change. Adapt to the present. Start making friends with the other Regions. Something that we can't do if we antagonize them over what happened in the past. What happened then happened and there's nothing we can do about it except move on. Besides, we're not completely blameless with what happened that day either. We left our allies completely exposed and vulnerable to attack by wild Pokemon. Not to mention the elements as well. And instead of trying to correct that mistake and helping them, we instead focused on the various criminal teams that were escaping. If it weren't for us pulling back at the last minute, those…"
"Those criminals would have been arrested and they wouldn't have caused the damages they've done a few years ago if we had stopped them then." Argued Donan. "Team Magma and Aqua wouldn't have unleashed Groudon and Kyogre on the world years ago. Kalos and the rest of the world is still suffering from what Team Flare back in Lumiose City. And don't get me started what Team Galactic tried to do a few years ago and then during the World Coronation Series. All those would have been prevented if we had just…"
"Just what?" Asked the other robot, his green eyes, normally pleasing to see with its light shade, grew dark as the robot glared at Donan. "Leave our allies to die to the elements? Let innocent people and Pokemon be sacrificed to complete our objective? Not to mention the environmental damages that would have occurred if we allowed our little plan to capture all those teams go through. That's your issue along with the GSS, Donan. You think only about what course of actions benefits us all the most in the long term without any regard on how to acquire them nor the consequences of our actions. There's plenty of reasons the other regions don't trust us much, Donan, and that attitude and viewpoint is part of the problem. They helped us in the past, but now all they're doing is hindering us. Why can't you see that?" Before Donan could say anything, a knock on the door alerted them that someone wanted to come in. Annoyed but relieved at the interruption, Donan allowed them to enter, which they did, revealing themselves to be another robot. Though one smaller than the first two, being around the size of a young teenager. Upon seeing the smaller robot, Donan and the other robot looked at it.
"What is it?" Asked Donan as he looked at the third robot. "Is it the police again? Are they causing problems for us?"
"Uh, actually, sirs, its Gatekeeper Fixer." Said the robot as it addressed the two other robots. "He's uh…well he's missing."
"*Sighs* Of course he is." Said Donan as he shook his head. "Send as much people as we can spare to find him. This promotion will not mean anything if he's not here. He's the only one you managed to convince to come here to this foolish promotion. I know as hell I'm not convinced that we should have added Showcases and Contests into the tournament. All they're going to do is let weak trainers fight us instead of the strong." The robot he was arguing with prior sighed at what Donan just said.
"And I told you before, the point of the tournament for us isn't to fight the strongest trainers out there." Said the robot. "It's to help us understand the culture of the other regions as well as show us that not everything has to be about battling regarding Pokemon. Anyway, much as I hate to say it, you're right. Fixer is needed if this promotion is going to have the effective that I hope it would for all of us." He then looked at the other robot, who looked quite nervous based on how he shifted constantly. "Send who you can to look for Fixer. If you need to, send word to Officer Jenny from Kalos. Tell her that we need her help in searching for Fixer. She'll know what to do." The robot just nodded at that before leaving the other two alone. Once it was gone, Donan looked at the other robot.
"We don't need their help, Stone." Said Donan as he glared at the now named Stone. "We can handle this ourselves. Besides, knowing Fixer, he's out in some orphanage or shelter in the city. That narrows down our search significantly. There's no need to bring them along."
"There is need to bring them along because Fixer is supposed to be one of the Gatekeepers that are supposed to observe and see the Showcases and Contests so it can help us critique them once the tournament starts." Said Stone. "Besides, you know Fixer. You know how he can't be left unattended for long. The more that are searching for him, the more likely we'll find him before he does something foolish or gets himself hurt." Donan made a metallic growl at that, realizing that Stone was correct. Cursing Fixer for his carelessness, Donan spoke up.
"Then who do you have in mind to help us?" Asked Donan. Stone simply glowed his eyes bright at the question.
Meanwhile
Rustboro Hall Lobby
"And that should be it. You all are registered for the special event." Said the desk worker as she registered Serena, Dawn, and Miette for the promotion for the upcoming tournament. After the talk with the Officer Jenny from Kalos, the girls went to the lobby to register for the promotion. Either to participate in it or to observe it in person. "The event will commence tomorrow at noon. The League has already rented you all rooms in the local Pokemon Center. Just give them this pass and they'll let you enter your rooms." After giving the girls a blue plastic card each, she then looked at Carlita. "As for you, I have you registered as a guest spectator. There's no reserved rooms for guest spectators, unfortunately, but there should still be rooms available for you in the Pokemon Center. If not, then come back to the Hall and we'll see if we can reserve a hotel for you. Now, as a guest spectator, you'll be able to watch the entire event in the stands. That is, unless you intend to participate in the event, miss." Upon hearing that, Carlita shook her head.
"Thanks, but I'm only here to observe the event." Said Carlita. "I don't really have any intentions of getting involved in something I don't have any experience with. Would ruin the experience for others. Besides, if I like what I see, I may end up being a Coordinator or Performer for the tournament. If my team will approve of it, of course." The receptionist nodded at that, respecting her decision. With all that out of the way, the girls talked to each other on what they're all planning on doing as they walked to the Pokemon Center to check in.
"Well, I'm going to go practice with my Pokemon for the event." Said Dawn as she looked at the other girls while they walked out of the hall. "Going to face some of the best Coordinators out there and trying to impress the judges for the tournament, so may as well practice my routine and make sure I do my best to impress those Gatekeepers."
"Same here." Said Miette with Serena nodding in agreement, having a similar thought in mind. "Not like I have anything else to do in the meantime."
"If you all don't mind, can I watch your practices?" Asked Carlita politely. "So I can have a sample of what to expect tomorrow. Plus, I know Victini would love to see you're performances."
"Of course." Said Dawn with a smile. "It'll be great to watch a contest performance. I promise."
"Same with Showcases." Said Miette. "Its not as flashy as Contests, but I'm sure you'll like what you see with Showcases." Carlita smiled at that.
"I'm sure I'll like both of them." Said Carlita. Before they could leave for the Pokemon Center, they suddenly heard their names being called. Hearing their names being called, the girls looked to see a robot coming at them. One that looked more aesthetically pleasing than those they encountered today. Walking up to them respectfully, the robot stood before them for a few moments before speaking.
"Greeting, my name is Stone." Said the robot as it looked at the girls before it. "I'm sorry to ask this of you all, but there's something that I would like you all to do for me. Something very important." Upon hearing that, the girls looked at each in wonder and curiosity.
Later
Pokemon Center
"So you want us to go looking for one of your fellow Gatekeepers?" Asked Carlita as she looked at Stone as he stood in the rented-out bedroom for Serena and the other girls for the event tomorrow. The robot had asked that they speak in private in the Pokemon Center, specifically in their rented-out bedroom. Curious, the girls obliged him and they all went to the Pokemon Center. After checking in and confirming the identity of the girls, they were given on the rooms available to participants of the special event occurring tomorrow.
The given bedroom was your standard dual bunkbed room for trainers, but they all expected that. Carlita was surprised when the girls invited her to sleep with them, saying they had a spare bed. Grateful at their generosity, Carlita accepted. Something that seemed to catch the eye of the robot, who they just now learned was one of the Gatekeepers for the tournament, and who is also sending them out to look for another Gatekeeper it seems.
"Correct." Said Stone as he looked at the girls, all on their beds as they listened to him. Once they got all comfortable, he explained the situation to them. "Fixer, is…well let's just say he can get distracted easily. When he finds something that interests him, he tends to drop whatever he's doing and focus on that instead. Often times this leads to him to neglecting other, sometimes more important, things. This issue is exuberated by the fact that he seems to lack any sort of ability to tell the time. Combined, these two create an issue in getting him to do…well anything in a timely manner."
"Wow. How come he's a Gatekeeper then?" Asked Miette upon hearing all this information about this Fixer guy. "To me, it sounds like he doesn't have what it takes to be a Gatekeeper."
"It does sound like that, yes." Agreed Stone. "However, rest assured, he's fully qualified in being a Gatekeeper. Believe me, he's much more than what he sounds like. That being said, his distractions can be an annoyance, especially right now. That is why I'm asking you to help us search for him. So he'll be able to actually be here to judge the event happening tomorrow. Don't worry, you'll all be appropriately compensated for the time it takes to search for him. That is if you all wish to help find him." Upon hearing all that, the girls looked at each other for a moment before looking back at Stone and giving him their answer.
"We'll help." Said Dawn with a smile. "It's the least we can do. I mean, searching for one of the judges for the event is kind of important to do."
"Yeah, besides, it sounds like it'll be fun searching for him." Said Miette with a smile of her own. Serena nodded, also agreeing to help. Stone looked at Carlita, who just nodded.
"Thank you all." Said Stone as he looked at the girls. "Like I said, you'll be compensated for your time in searching for my friend. And don't try to convince me otherwise. It's the least I can do for you all after taking some time from you that can be better spent on practicing for the event tomorrow." The girls just nodded at that, seeing he wasn't going to budge on that. "Now, before you go out searching for him, I do have an idea where you can start looking. Well, more like a place actually." With that, Stone began telling them where they can start looking for his fellow Gatekeeper.
Later
Rustboro City
"So this is where we can find him?" Asked Miette as the four girls walked around Rustboro City, following the address that Gatekeeper Stone provided them.
"We're close, Miette." Said Dawn as she looked at the piece of paper containing the address that Stone provided them. In addition to the address, Stone also gave them a description of the building that they were looking for. So they should be able to find it without issue. "It should be just up the street."
"Never been to this part of Rustboro City." Said Serena as they walked, looking around the street they were on. They were deep within the city, much deeper than any of the girls have ever been in before. Granted, some of them have never been in Hoenn before and the others were just there for Contests, but they were still in a deep part of the city. Way past the Gym and Contest Hall and also most of the shopping centers in Rustboro City. "Have to say, this is making me a bit nervous."
"Don't worry, Serena." Said Carlita as they walked. "That robot wouldn't have sent us to any dangerous part of the city. He told us himself. And even if we do get into trouble, we got our Pokemon and he said that police were close by as well. So we should be fine. And, if that isn't enough, Victini will be on the lookout for any bad people. Won't you Victini?" The Mythic Pokemon appeared before the girls with a smile, calling out its name, before disappearing before their eyes again.
"Yeah, plus this part of the city isn't exactly a dangerous looking place." Said Miette as she looked around their surroundings as well. She then adopted a teasing smile on her face. "Unless you want it to be in hopes that Ash would come and save you." Upon hearing that, Serena blushed hard while Dawn looked at Miette in shock.
Stuttering to make a response, Serena was trying in vain to say that was not what she meant while Dawn was trying to process what Miette just said and Serena's reaction. Before she could come to any conclusion, Carlita yelled out.
"That must be our location!" Yelled Carlita as she pointed to a three-story building with a brick fence around it and its yard. "It matches the description that Stone gave us. Let's go. Hopefully, Fixer will be inside." With that proclamation, Serena quickly ran towards the building, leaving the other girls surprised at her reaction. Dawn especially.
"Does Serena have a crush on…" Dawn's thoughts were interrupted when they suddenly heard the sound of a roar followed by Serena screaming. They all looked at Serena to see a massive, Beedrill like bug in front of her, its stinger in front of her. Seeing this, the girls ran to save their friend, their hands on their Pokeballs. They were about to send out their Pokemon when suddenly the Beedrill like bug disappeared in a flash of light, stunning them. They then heard the sounds of a woman scolding someone.
"Tom, how could you do that." A womanly voice spoke as the sounds of a struggle were heard by the girls. "You're not supposed to use that to scare people. Mr. Fixer gave you that as a means to entertain you, but not as a means to scare the living daylights out of people. Now give that here."
Curious and a bit cautious, the girls ran up to Serena, who was on the ground in front of the entrance, still recovering from her fright. While Miette went to take care of her friend, Dawn and Carlita looked forward to see a woman taking some cards and a strange device from a young boy. Upon seeing the woman, Dawn was stunned.
"No way." Thought Dawn in shock and horror as she looked at the woman as she pulled the device from the boy's wrist with a stern look on her face. The woman had long silver hair cascading down her back and sapphire blue eyes that complemented said hair. To anyone else, she was just a beautiful woman. To Dawn, however, she was someone that scared her. Though she had longer hair there was no denying that she looked exactly like someone Dawn met several years ago. Someone that she would very much like to never met again. "She looks exactly like Hunter J!" That was Dawn's thought as the woman turned to look at the girls, adopting an apologetic look on her face. Though, prior to that, the stern look she gave to the boy was disturbingly like Hunter J's usual cold expression, something that unnerved Dawn a bit.
"Forgive me for that. My name is Serenity." Said the woman as she looked at the girls, her voice also shockingly similar to J's. "And welcome to my shelter." Dawn just stood their in shock as the woman approached them with a smile on her face.