It seems almost fate that every Pokémon trainer ends up facing off against an obstacle they are not equipped to handle. For GS Transport driver Ken Worth this sure seemed like one of those moments. With a spreading fire threatening to engulf the cab of the wrecked truck on Route 10, with fellow truck Ross Keller trapped inside it, and professional help on the way but unlikely to arrive in time before it burned up he had to attempt to get him out any way he could. With a water or ground type Pokémon he could certainly slow the spread of the flames but instead he had a fire-type Fennekin, a flying-type Spearow, and a dark-type Absol with the later being such a new catch he didn't even know its moves. It was probably a safe bet it didn't know water gun or hydro pump though.

Ken took a deep breath and then ran back from the edge of the landslide area that Ross had crashed off to reach his Truck #653 that he had parked far enough back it was not in danger. Hurriedly Ken started flinging open storage areas trying to grab tools he thought could help him. He settled on the small fire extinguisher from the cab, a crowbar, and several of the cargo straps, hanging them off his belt. He put on a pair of work gloves then immediately ran back to the edge and signaled his Pokemon to follow him. Fennekin and Spearow did without hesitation. Absol looked unsure about it for a second and then followed as well.

Ken slowly made his way down the incline and then sprinted past the destroyed 350 Golempuller's engine to reach the cab, now resting on its passenger side. As he approached, he looked through the windshield and got his first look at Ross after the wreck. He was passed out but still strapped in his seat.

"Hang on Ross, I'll get you out," Ken said to himself.

Golempuller trucks had an older style split windshield with a small metal bar in the middle dividing the glass panels, it made replacing windows easier if you only broke one side but with that little bar in place busting out the windshield and pulling Ross straight out was a no go. Modern trucks like his featured one-piece windshield so this wouldn't have been an issue if he'd been driving a newer model. Ken took out his cell phone, with the dispatcher still on the line, to tell her his plan.

"I found Keller, he's still in the cab and strapped in his seat," Ken said. "The cab is on its passenger side. I'm going to pull him up through the door if I can. He's out cold but I'm pretty sure he's alive."

"Roger, assistance from the Gringey City and Magenta Peak Fire Departments is on the way," the rescue dispatcher said.

"Copy," Ken said, sliding the phone back in his pocket.

Ken reached up to climb up on top of the truck but his hand slipped on the wetter than expected metal. He figured the moisture was just water, he didn't know it was really diesel and he was in more danger than he thought. He tried again and this time got on top of the cab. He went for the door handle only to find it missing from the crash. His attention turned to the window as Spearow flew down behind him and Fennekin hopped up onto the cab.

"Spearow, PECK!" Ken directed, pointing at the window.

The bird's beak glowed brightly as it slammed it into the window and shattered it into pieces. Ken give Spearow a big thumbs up and then reached to try the interior handle. His joy soon turned to sorrow as he realized the interior handle was missing too.

"Okay, Plan B," Ken said. "Fennekin, turn up the heat. Use your spot weld maneuver and burn through the hinges. We'll get the door off the hard way."

"Fen," Fennekin said.

Ken hopped off the truck cab to give Fennekin room to work. Again, his hand slipped as he climbed down with his hand just coming past his face. It was then he caught the odor on his glove of the spilled diesel fuel. The site was full of it but he'd only touched the cab and not its tanks. It took a moment for him to realize it must be spilled on the cab, a result of the post-crash "diesel rain" when they split open, and his slow reaction time would have consequences.

"Fennekin STOP!" Ken yelled.

The little fox had already ignited his ember to cut the hinges but the minute the first spark caught the driver's door the whole door ignited. Ken grabbed Fennekin by the tail and pulled him off the cab and into the mud but away from the fire. It hurt but it prevented a nasty burn. Ken pulled the tab on his fire extinguisher and cut loose with it on the top of the cab. He got the fire out before it took hold of the cab but used up the entire small extinguisher doing it. He was also too late to stop the fire damaging the door hinges. The door was now burned back and the hinges were so fire damaged that they were likely welded in place.

Ken hung his head low. That tactical error just cost him the extinguisher and any chance of opening the cab door. He didn't get much time to think about that as the fuel tank rocking back and forth on the rock beneath the truck broke loose and started rolling down the hill flinging more diesel in every direction. The tank rolled right into the side of the fully engulfed cargo area with a loud banging sound. The fire grew more intense and as it began to grow with the addition of more accelerant. It slowly began igniting the fuel on the hillside as the flames began to creep toward the truck.

Ken and his Pokemon could literally feel the heat from the burning cargo area now. They were fast running out of time to do anything. Ken turned his attention to the other way out.

"Spearow, PECK!" Ken said. "Break the windshield glass!"

"Spearow!" the bird replied.

Beak aglow Spearow launched two fast-placed peck attacks that shattered both halves of the already damaged windshield. Ken's attention turned the little metal support splitting the windshield before he looked over to Fennekin for a second. He was alright despite being pulled off the de facto top of the cab but Ken fast realized that while the fox could likely burn through that support, he probably didn't have enough time for that before the fire reached the truck. Neither Fennekin or Spearow likely had any attack that could quickly take out that support, Fennekin's scratch likely wouldn't even dent it and while flamethrower could weaken it more fire was the last thing they needed. Ken exhaled then pulled out the crowbar.

"Plan C it is," Ken said.

In desperation Ken started smashing the little metal support with the crowbar, hoping to break it. It wasn't a structural part of the truck and it was denting but none of his swings seemed to be doing much. One swing knocked loose Ross' dash camera and Ken pocketed it before going back to pounding away.

Absol watched on puzzled what to do. The man stuck in that truck had literally just attempted to kill him but this one had saved him and now was pushing himself to save that man too. Absol glanced down toward the flames and could feel them spreading up the hill. He could sense the pending inferno that was soon to devour this truck and likely anyone near it. He couldn't just let that happen, could he? No, he wouldn't. Suddenly the Disaster Pokémon felt something welling up inside itself. His teeth began to glow.

"ABSOL!" the Pokemon yelled before it charged straight at the truck with another quick attack.

Ken ducked out of the way as the dark type launched straight at the windshield support and hit it with all the force it had. Absol then chomped right into it. With a mighty bite attack Absol tore the support free from the truck and tossed it off to the side. Absol opened its jaw wide and stuck its head into the cab, rather than go for the driver though it instead went for his seat belt. He ripping it to free Ross from being stuck in his seat.

"Wow," Ken said.

Ken was amazed but didn't have any time to be. Hurriedly he reached in and grabbed Ross before trying to pull him out. As the injured trucker started coming out of the windshield opening Fennekin, Spearow, and Absol all used their teeth or beaks to grab into Ross' clothing and help pull. The unconscious trucker was finally out of his rig and not a moment too soon as the flames were now accelerating up the hill much faster.

Ken looked up the landslide damaged hill and wondered how he was going to lift Ross up it. Suddenly a new voice broke the silence and revealed he wouldn't have to.

"Venusaur, use vine whip," called GS driver Eugenie Euclid. "Let's give'em a lift."

Ken smiled as saw Eugenie arrived. She'd been driving behind him on Route 10 tonight and was ready to help as soon as she reached the landslide-damaged area. Ken pulled out the cargo straps he brought and quickly tied them around Ross as Venusaur produced two sturdy vines for lifting him to safety. Ken tied the straps in a loop and put it on the vines before the fully evolved grass type lifted Ross to safety. Ken took out his phone.

"Dispatcher, we got him out of the truck," Ken said. "He's on the western side of the damaged area."

"Copy that," said the dispatcher. "Ambulance and fire services will arrive shortly."

Ken, Fennekin, and Absol scrambled back up the incline as Spearow flew ahead. They reached the top just in time to turn around and watch as the flames reached Ross' cab. It took only seconds for them to engulf the remains of the truck and the vehicle burned violently as the fire reached the truck's second diesel fuel tank. Nothing would have survive that blaze. Sirens blared as the fire services and ambulances arrived on the scene from both sides of the gap. Within seconds the first responders with their hoses and water and ground type Pokémon sprang into action to fight the flames, it was too late to save the truck but they would succeed in stopping the inferno from taking the forest with it.

Ross was quickly loaded into a waiting ambulance by a team of paramedics. The injured driver was starting to wake up as his gurney was loaded into the back of the vehicle. It sped off toward a hospital in Gringey City. Ken had also been checked out quickly by a second ambulance crew and had avoided injury. Ken and Eugenie watched the firefighters working below as Venusaur, Spearow, Fennekin, and Absol took positions alongside them. Eugenie looked down at Absol.

"Is that the same Absol that got my tire earlier?" she asked.

"Yup," Ken replied. "I caught it. It was trying to warn us about the road. It stopped you but Ross wouldn't let himself be delayed and he nearly killed it. And that decision ended up nearly killing him. My sister is a pro trainer and told me Absols try to prevent disasters and this one certainly was."

Ken glanced toward the burning truck.

"Thank goodness I listened," Ken said. "That could have been both of us too if I hadn't."

"Well, in that case thanks for helping me Absol," Eugenie said, giving the Pokémon a friendly pet on the head. "Come on, I've had enough action for one night. Let's get our rigs and get out of here. There's some parking at the Route 10 Pokémon Center and I suspect your Pokémon could use a recharge after all that."

The two drivers walked back to their trucks before departing the scene. Ken wouldn't make it to Pewter City tonight, and that meant there would be a delay getting his steel coil cargo to the refrigerator factory resulting in a temporary production slowdown, but while that wasn't ideal at least "better late than never" applied to it. Those cell phone batteries Ross was carrying would never be delivered after his truck's destruction. Ken would face some minor reprimands for being late on delivery because of taking a riskier route, the fact that his decision probably stopped Eugenie's truck from meeting the same feat as Ross' one did and the good PR for the company of two GS drivers saving a reckless one from a competitor would prevent more serious punishments.

After some well-earned rest and healing at the center Ken and his Pokémon began the next day fresh and ready to finish this run. Ken had Absol rest overnight at the Route 10 Pokémon Center to make sure that it would be able to completely recover from Ross' attempt to run it down. The results were promising. With Spearow resting in its ball Ken and Fennekin greeted the day in the cab of Truck #653 watching the sunrise.

Elsewhere Ross Keller healed up in a Gringey City hospital. He'd had the wind knocked out of him and it would be a while before he'd medically cleared to drive trucks again but he was expected to make a full recovery. However, while his company Pidgeot Transport agreed to cover Ross' medical expenses under its insurance policy the crash was the final straw. After a series of recent violations, capped off by the bad PR once the footage from his dash camera of him running down Absol then crashing got out thanks to an unknown third party that may or may not have been a certain GS driver, the company unceremoniously fired the "Rubber Psyduck." It was a bitter end to a once promising career.

Ken and Fennekin entered the Pokémon Center to get Absol. Various trainers were ready to start their day with a young boy accompanied by a Seviper and a Clefairy walking out as they walked in. They found Eugenie was waiting for them. She was on her phone looking at a website before closing it.

"Hey Ken," she greeted him. "I was looking into that Ross Keller fellow. You said he talked a big game and indeed it looks like he was a king of the road type once. The "Rubber Psyduck" was a legend on the highways about 20 years and seen as top of the line for the ultra-long haul runs. He was Pidgeot's top driver for a time."

"So what happened?" Ken asked.

"He picked up a reputation as a bean popper," Eugenie replied.

Ken's mouth hung open for a second. Calling someone a "bean popper" was trucker slang for saying someone used drugs frequently. It wasn't uncommon back in the day, things were less regulated and running loaded up on more caffeine pills than a sitcom character in a "Very Special Episode" was downright common. Some drivers used materials even more dangerous than that to stay awake and driving much further than they should have.

"Apparently once he was trying to run from Blackthorn City to Pastoria City nonstop and he was more wired up than a Yamper struck by lightning," Eugenie said. "He was so focused on the road and getting there he hit a passenger car just outside Cerulean City. It pulled out in front of him, not that it mattered much, and he just crashed into it and kept on going. Hit and run, multiple injuries, no deaths by some miracle of Arceus but it wasn't pretty. They stopped him at the Sinnoh border because of the damage to his truck and he did his time afterward. He was working his way back up the ladder in the recent years, he had friends at Pidgeot and they rehired him after he cleaned up, but he was struggling. He totaled another truck a few years ago and ended up stuck low on the totem pole after that. He was driving one of their oldest trucks because they wouldn't trust him with anything newer and taking more dangerous loads or additional risks for faster deliveries to make more money."

"Why did we save this guy again?" Ken quipped.

"No one is without redeeming qualities," Eugenie said. "It looks like he did a lot of charity work too, he'd haul unpaid cargoes on his deadhead runs to help various charities. Real people aren't quite black and white."

"He should have had some better judgement," Ken said. "It didn't have to end like that last night."

"Where are you headed after this?" Eugenie asked. "I'm going to Saffron to get another load."

"I don't know yet," Ken replied. "Once I drop this steel in Pewter City I'm sure I'll get something."

"Well, wherever the road takes you I wish you safe travels," Eugenie said, getting up to depart. "Maybe our paths will cross again some time."

"I'd like that," Ken said. "Safe travels Bulbasaur 5."

"Keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up Vulpix 3," Eugenie replied.

"10-4," Ken said.

Fennekin chuckled at the exchange as Eugenie walked out of the center. Ken meanwhile met up with the building's Nurse Joy to retrieve Absol.

"How's the patient?" Ken asked.

"Your Absol is doing fine," Nurse Joy said. "Your use of a Heal Ball was a good move; it stopped the injuries worsening and with its healing power and a night of rest here I expect he should be ready to go with no long-term effects. He's ready for you to pick him up now."

"Thank you Nurse Joy," Ken said.

Ken walked into the room where Absol had spent the night to see the dark type already up and stretching. Ken took out the Heal Ball. He walked over to Absol, with Fennekin following, and patted it on the head, careful to avoid its knife-life horn. The room had a window to the outside from which the light was shining in.

"I want to thank you for your help last night," Ken said. "You saved at least three human lives from that landslide and it's very much appreciated. You didn't have much choice in my catching you last night after that ram but before we go further I'll give you that option now. If you're game to come along with me on the road there's always a spot for you in my truck. If you want out now, I'll let go here. It's your call."

Ken held out the Heal Ball. Absol looked at it then looked at the window. His species was always iffy around humans, with good cause, and between Ross and Ken he'd probably seen some of the worst and best they had to offer. The big white quadruped looked at the window but then back to the ball with a smile.

"Absol!" Absol said as he pointed to the Heal Ball.

"Welcome to the crew of Truck #653 Absol," Ken said.

Ken called Absol back into the ball and then prepared for departure. Once back in his cab he buckled up, put on a pair and sunglasses and his "Pure MC Power!" trucker cap, and put his truck into gear. He called out Spearow and Absol from the Poké Balls, directing both into the truck's sleeper cab area, with Fennekin at his side in the passenger seat.

"Here's to the good times fellas," Ken said. "What do you say we make this day a great one once we get things sorted in Pewter City. I think the bad times are behind us now."

His team nodded in agreement as Truck #653 drove off down Route 10 in rising sun. Ken had just set the cruise control when his phone started ringing. His custom ring tone of a Poké Ball opening could mean it could only be one person.

"Hello Sandy," Ken said to his twin sister as he answered.

"Morning Kenny," Sandra said. "Did everything work out with you and the Absol last night."

"You could say that," Ken said, looking back to see Absol smiling. "It was one hot night but I actually ended up catching it."

"No kidding, nice change up," Sandra said.

"Yeah, it's a long story and I'll tell you sometime but for now I don't have to worry about any disasters on the road again," Ken said. "With Absol deciding to come along I'm sure he can predict anything bad coming my way."

"Well, not everything," Sandra noted. "Absols can predict natural disasters in advance when they are familiar with the area but that doesn't extend to man-made disasters, crimes, and the like. They aren't an avoid trouble forever card."

Ken had a disappointed look for a second then shrugged it off back to happy. Somehow the open road always had a way of keeping things interesting.

"Listen, I helped you with a Pokémon issue last night but now I've got a trucking issue I need you to help me with," Sandra said. "You see one of the Excadrills lost control during some testing and plowed into a 550 Dittocruiser. We're trying to jump start the truck to get it going again but aren't having much luck. You drove one, right?"

"For a day," Ken said.

"That's good enough for me," Sandra said. "Know much about them? Can we jump start it?"

"Yeah, I do," Ken said with a smile. "And it's not that hard to fire it up. Now you see the first thing you want to do is…"

Truck #653 crested a hill as Cerulean City came into view. This adventure had ended but surely another one is just around the corner as the journey continues…

AUTHOR NOTES

Ken's adventures in the bonus chapters are going to be a bit more episodic. He'll mainly be building up his team as they go on.

Absols can learn a few water moves but usually that's by TM. Ken not knowing that fits with the fact he's still too fresh a trainer to know all the ins and outs.

In the review section The Arcticourt Spellwright asked about real world truck interiors and yeah, in general Ken's "Eeveeliner" isn't all that different from a real sleeper cab truck. His truck is a little more plush and a little larger to fit the purposes of the scenes with him and his Pokémon there but real sleeper cab big rigs are hardly spartan accommodations these days. Companies and drivers want them comfortable because of how much time they spend there. Ken's truck having two bunks is a weird feature though, in real life sleepers usually only have one bed and trucks with two drivers share it. Usually a truck with two drivers takes that approach so the truck can drive around the clock with one driver sleeping while the other drives and vice versa.