NOTE: same concept, just taking it a different way.
* Jan 1 2005, Earth-Bet, Strand 20971 *
The bell rang, a protaganist entered with her mother and best friend.
Pahaliah wasn't sure who was responsible, probably someone on his side nudging probability a bit.
The mother had heard of the other kind of Shop That Wasn't There Yesterday and was suitably cautious.
It was a good sign, the Throne-level celestial felt.
There were signs up. That First Folio having a curse where those who disturbed the rest of the spirits within it would find themselves in one of Shakespeare's little plays.
The Thinking Cap that would leave a tendency for the wearer to procrastinate until they were paralyzed with indecision.
There were downsides to everything but less than 10% of the items were actually cursed and those were only stocked because there were rules about such things. Even the Needful Things type of store would have a few items that didn't screw over the user.
The usual sign near the door which warned about trespassers being violated, and no - that was not a grammatical error.
The Shop That Wasn't There Yesterday was an old trope/story after all. Starting as a mysterious wandering trader, which had actually persisted as there were still a couple roaming around, and eventually including that Shop Of Wonders or a Bazaar of The Bizarre. Stealing from one always had Consequences.
He was Pahaliah, a Throne-level Celestial, that didn't mean he was always nice.
The music was something he'd just thrown on. Not a Celestial hymn or anything of the sort, it was in fact from a videogame series where there was a similar plot device from someone in a similar line of work. As that song was of a non-antagonistic such being's lair, he was hoping for the extra clue that this was not the sort of shop the Other Side usually manifested.
Ah, the little girl of perhaps 13 years was looking over the Pokemon device.
That could work out.
* Annette *
"Enter. And Be Not Afraid," said an old man behind the desk who looked about Half Past Ancient.
The way the shop was bigger on the inside was one clue. The old man's words another clue. The music a third clue as to what this place actually was.
She'd had a roomie back in the 90s who was into videogames, also music. She'd immediately recognized "Aria of the Soul" (aka the Velvet Room theme) because Cynthia had been passionate about the musical side of the whole thing. Which had mainly amused Annette at the time.
The shop being an eclectic collection of things had reminded her of a pawnshop, or perhaps one of those bazaar stalls she'd visited in the mid-East as a child.
Despite the music, there was no Belladonna or Nameless Pianist, Demon Artist, and so on.
What was even more different from the usual depiction of such shops, such as "Friday the 13th - the series" was that there were labels on the various cases explaining what the curse was.
Taylor had immediately gravitated to a cabinet which held things out of various videogames.
Annette didn't recognize the first card game. Magic:The Gathering also had a Starter Deck there - but it had been way too complicated for her to get into back in college.
The "PokemonGO Queen Administrator Starter Kit" that Taylor was pointing out to both Emma and herself had a couple of things to recommend it. First, the "Queen" reference. Not a Princess which had probably been trademarked by Disney by now. An actual Queen as someone who had some form of authority as confirmed by the 'Administrator' portion of the title. THAT was something that sounded a lot better to her own sensibilities.
"What does THAT do?" asked Annette of the apparent owner of this shop.
"Causes a divergence of destiny that I'm hoping will lead to a happier future," said the old man. There was a flicker of something just for a moment.
Wings. Eyes. Things that had impossible angles.
Annette knew that whatever this shopkeeper was, she'd been allowed to see that. After a moment of consideration, she thought she had the idea. She was being given fair warning. There were a few faerie tales like that.
"I would appreciate more details," said Annette.
"The timeline as it was would have you dying not long from now in a traffic accident," said the old man, looking up from his book. "Your passing would devastate your family and leave them unable to cope. Taylor gets bullied, friendships betrayed, and would eventually save the world from destruction but it would go very poorly for just about everyone. All I'm selling is chance for a happier outcome. You are welcome to take it, or not, that is all."
"No, I meant details on what THAT set of pokemon equipment does," said Annette Hebert.
"Ah. The rules are simple," said the old man. "The owner gets the device. You get a certain amount of pokeballs per day, usually one or two. It's random, you understand. Rules. You can spot manifestations of elemental forces that will take the forms of pokemon from the franchise."
"'elemental forces'?" repeated Annette.
"Yes, the universes are rather more complicated than your current science is able to determine. Chin up, if you survive you'll get there eventually," said the old man.
"That's not as comforting as you probably meant it to be," noted Annette.
"There's also places of note or of power which would become 'pokestops' where the user can get additional items and where pokemon gather, leylines and the like," added the old man.
"Okay, I follow so far. Emma, you don't want that candy. It'll do something besides stunt your growth." Annette rolled her eyes. At least Taylor wasn't getting into that sort of thing.
"I wouldn't recommend the Snickers, no," admitted the old man. "Though the uncontrollable laughter only lasts for five minutes."
"What are the downsides?" asked Annette. Not referring to the display with the candy.
"If the timeline had continued, after your death, Taylor would have been bullied for a couple of years and eventually gone through a traumatic experience that ended up with her being a parahuman who could control swarms of bugs." The old man waited for the appropriate reactions from little girls before continuing. "All of that wouldn't necessarily happen but it would definitely lock her into a different but no less demanding destiny."
"And if we chose not to go either path?" asked Annette.
"Most likely? Your world will end in less than twenty years. More than five, but less than twenty. Depends on a lot of different people with different choices being made."
"Great," said Annette with considerable sarcasm.
"Life is often about making the best of a number of bad choices," admitted the old man. "Due to a deal I made with her parahuman power, she'll be able to give out pokeballs to her friends and coordinate things by setting up a pokecenter here in Brockton Bay."
"Why so helpful?" asked Annette suspiciously.
"Because the world ending in twenty years is not a desirable outcome?" suggested the old man. It had the benefit of being the truth, after all.
* Warehouse #13, Docks Area, Brockton Bay. *
* Three hours later *
The device unfolded in a way that caught the eye and that the brain immediately said it was folding outward from nowhere.
"This is what again?" asked Kurt.
"A pokecenter that will eventually become a pokemon gym," said Annette, going through the manual. Because she DID ask for the instructions and she DID ask about warranties (90 days) and full documentation. As well as a spare copy of the manuals involved because she knew damn well how easy it was to misplace such things even without involving celestial or infernal influences.
"What's a pokecenter?" asked Kurt.
"A place you take your pokemon to be healed and recovered from various conditions," said Annette.
"What's a pokemon?" asked Kurt.
"Elemental spirits or something like that," answered Annette, taking out a red-and-white sphere and pressing a button. "Sprigatito!"
"Mew!" said the green kitten that appeared.
"Is it supposed to be green?" asked Kurt.
"Yes, Kurt," said Annette.
"So 'pokemon' is a green cat-thing," mused Kurt.
Danny smirked, held up his own sphere, and added his own two cents. "It's apparently all sorts of things. Wimpod!"
"What is that and why is it eating that can?" asked Zephron.
"It's a Wimpod, and that's what a Wimpod does - it eats trash," said Danny. "Not very powerful but if you need an area cleaned up it's very useful."
"Taylor will be by later, right now she's out with Emma and they're catching more pokemon to hand out," said Annette.
"Isn't that dangerous? Just the two of them out this late?" asked Kurt.
"They're not alone," Annette stated.
* Taylor *
Taylor glanced over at Emma who looked back at her. They nodded.
"Well," said the lead of the three guys. "Give over your purses and maybe we won't hurt ya."
"Can you be any MORE cliche?" asked Taylor, lightly tossing a red-and-white sphere into the air. "Pikachu!"
Emma held out her own red/white sphere and pushed a button. "Donatello!"
"You named your Squirtle 'Donatello'?" asked Taylor.
"What the hell are these stupid looking things?" asked the same tough who'd spoken earlier.
"Donatello! Water Gun!"
"Pikachu! Thundershock!"
Stepping around the three fallen thugs, Taylor thought for a moment. "Huh. That was quicker than I expected." Though soaking the muggers in water and then throwing lightning on them did seem to synergize well.
"Should we loot the bodies?" asked Emma.
"They look kinda nasty," pointed out Taylor. "We'd have to touch them to loot them."
"Good point," agreed Emma as they walked past.
* Shop-space *
Kenta looked at it. A soap bubble. A soap bubble that felt like it weighed perhaps two pounds and had a faint white glow. Though honestly it weighed so much more.
"If this works as advertised, why so cheap?" grumbled Kenta finally.
"Because, Mister Nakamura, I understand regret. I understand it very well indeed."
With a grunt to acknowledge that, Kenta closed his hand. His decision made. He relived a time which seemed very long ago and changed a single decision.
Then he held absolutely still as the moment passed and little sparkles in the air faded away. He had known this wouldn't work. The past couldn't change. Regret was useless.
"Anata?"
Kenta froze, the voice familiar to him despite the years between then and now.
"Papa?"
"Go outside," said Kenta. He recognized the voice, a bit older than he remembered. That faint whiff of perfume that was so achingly familiar. "I will join you in a moment."
"Very well," said the woman's voice, the door shutting a moment later.
The shopkeeper pointed towards a door. "There."
Kenta went into the little washroom, his face stony and holding quite still until the door was closed.
It was only then that Kenta, the crimelord Lung, allowed himself to weep.
* Taylor *
Taylor brightened. "Fang! I haven't seen you in awhile!"
"Ah," said the Chinese girl. "Taylor, Emma. It's been awhile. Mother, this is Taylor Hebert and Emma Barnes. We had classes together."
"I see," said the mother, executing a slight bow. "I am pleased to meet you then."
"You went into 'Pahaliah's Sundries' then?" asked Taylor, looking at the dingy storefront that was visible from the street.
"A most curious place," said Fang's mother.
"Yes, it is," agreed Taylor. "It definitely is that."
A particularly large man left the store, then needed introductions to be made.
The man, Kenta, nodded to them and then hustled his wife and child along.
"You didn't give Fang one," noted Emma.
"Nah. We'll keep it secret mostly for now. Don't want anyone panicking or something," said Taylor.
Emma was quiet for a few moments. "I can't see you keeping quiet for any length of time, Tay."
Taylor was silent for just over one block before speaking further, just to show Emma she COULD keep from talking. "Besides, Mom made me promise to not give out any without her okay."
"That makes sense," agreed Emma. She didn't care. She had hers after all. She just wanted to get another three turtle types to complete the set.
* January 30, 2005 *
She was not Skitter, she was not Khepri. If either existed in this cosm - it would be years off.
Instead there was something new. Something different. Which was both hated, as it threw off the various plans, and desired, because it was new data and combinations that were the entire reason for the plans in the first place.
So she waited, for now. The time would come to direct one of her brothers to the area she could barely see to force the unknown out into proper view.
While it was not her usual modus operandi or anywhere near her own specialty, even the Simurgh knew that a crop had to be nurtured before it could be reaped.
* Dock Workers Association, Head of Hiring Office *
Wimpod was aptly named, decided Danny Hebert.
Oh, it was useful enough in its own way. It ate trash after all and in a city on a downward spiral there was plenty of that.
Honestly, other than the eyes and antennae and coloration it looked like a horseshoe crab. So it at least wasn't anything terrible to look at. A little unsettling when it was scuttling around or eating some of the garbage it found, but there were a whole lot of other creatures that weren't that pleasant when it came to feeding habits.
Spiders for example.
Fortunately the pokecenter occupying Warehouse 13 had a pokechow dispenser, a healing station (Lacey had taken that over), and the beginnings of a gym.
The few pokemon that Taylor had given out were all in use by various dockworkers who knew damn well to keep their existence an open secret. Open in that the core individuals who had been told about it (like Kurt and Lacey), or who had somehow figured it out and just shown up (like Old Erwin), knew about it. Secret in that they were only set loose when nobody else was around.
Kurt had a Machop, which was a little guy but pretty damn strong. You needed something moved in a hurry, like when the scaffolding collapsed on Dangerprone Darren, Kurt had that covered. Lacey had a Chansey, which was good at first aid and such. Also useful around Dangerprone Darren.
Darren was perhaps the clumsiest person in the state if not the East Coast, hence the nickname. Good work ethic, lousy reflexes.
Darren didn't have a pokemon. It wasn't that he wasn't trustworthy in that he'd give any job his best effort. It was just, well, he was Dangerprone Darren. Nobody wanted to see that disaster.
Zephron had a Growlithe, the puppy-like tiger-striped dog passing for an unusually colored Husky since he was about that size.
Old Erwin had gotten a Vulpix, a fox-like pokemon. Except a week later he'd shown up, somehow having evolved the Vulpix to a Ninetails. Which was a good deal bigger and sleeker and more foxlike. Also lazier.
Pat, the bartender down at the Captain's Table, had somehow finagled Annette to give Taylor permission and given him an Espeon that Taylor said had come from that old reputedly-haunted abandoned mansion over on the East side of Wharf Street.
Marcos Esteban Phillipe Delacruz had gotten a Geodude to help out with repairing some of the train tracks. Using an earth elemental to smooth out some of the terrain seemed to be working out.
They were managing to keep things quiet, but it was only a matter of time.
Now if he could figure out what was going on with Lung and the rest of the Docks that were under ABB control. There had been all this talk of a shift in management over there but he wasn't sure what that shift was. Lung had a reputation of anger management issues but there were lines he wouldn't cross and he made sure those under his command didn't cross those lines either.
Mostly. If he caught them.
He had a sneaking suspicion that some of the more recent jobs coming to the DWA were from Lung's little cartel. It was work, honest work, and as far as could be told the money was clean. Still, it was a mystery as to the why. Not that he wouldn't take work as long as everything was legal and above board, it was just something he'd eye warily in case it would come back to bite him.
Oh, there went Stan "The Man" Leiberwitz. He had his Spinnarak out, and was apparently relating some story way back when comic books were actually a thing.
Actually Stan had a few ideas about spidersilk if he could get a few more of the spider pokemon together. Could be promising. Danny hadn't even known that spiders produced more than one kind of webbing.
* Store-space *
The usual ting-ting noise indicated someone else had found the store, which was not a common event.
There were Rules about such things after all.
The storekeep didn't even look up from the book he had been reading. "Ancient books and scrolls, first aisle to the right. Secrets of the Multiverse, first aisle to the left. Your fate: not a pleasant one but there are steps in motion to derail that."
"Uhm. I am the champion of..."
"Yes, I know who you are. No reason for us to go through the whole introduction, Mouse Protector."
The woman in question pouted.
The shopkeep rolled his eyes, just glancing up from his book for the first time. "Very well. If you must."
"Ahem. I am the Champion of the cause of Gouda! I am Limburger That Flaps In The Night! I am Mouse Protector!"
"Fine," said the shopkeep. "At least you kept it short."
"What is this place anyway?" asked the mouse-themed superhero.
"A store that sells possibilities," said the shopkeep.
"What are you reading?" asked Mouse Protector.
"The Earth Zeta-Zeta-Five's graphic novel about 'the astonishing Atropos', sort of an anti-hero type who goes about ending threats to society in a whimsical manner," answered the shopkeep. "She just dethroned a Master who styled herself a goddess."
"Any good?" asked Mouse Protector, going to tippy-toe and leaning over the counter to get a better look.
"It's enjoyable. Character has a nice sense of irony," said the shopkeep.
"Ah, well, do you have any swords? I could use a better one," said Mouse Protector, drawing her sword partially out of its scabbard.
The shopkeep looked up again. "Oh. Yes. We have swords."
* Mouse Protector *
The place was weird, it was obvious just from how I'd had a teleport line going past it and I'd been flung a good fifty feet and landed spinning around.
Which was fun, so I'd done it twice more. Wheeee!
The door, old and with faded wood and peeling paint, hadn't been locked. Second point of weirdness because leaving a storefront open past 10pm in this part of town was asking for a burglar.
The place was way way bigger on the inside that could possibly fit. So some kind of Tinker base maybe? Except it was rows of books and cases showing all sorts of things. So, third and fourth point of utter weirdness.
The guy was reading some 'graphic novel' which was what they called those comic books that were a bit thicker and usually dealt with either a long story or was one of those compilations of several stories from an actual comic book. From way back when comic books were actually a thing. This wasn't weird enough to count as a Weird Thing because there were still people who read comic books. Just a really rare thing.
The old man didn't move right. His stride covered more ground than the length of his legs would allow. He reached a large bookcase, swung it around on a central pivot, and suddenly it had swords on stands instead of books on its shelves.
There was a massive zweihander that looked like it could be used from horseback to cut an opponent and their horse in half.
There was a calvary-style cutlass that looked shiny as hell.
There was a Roman gladius that looked old and worn and absolutely functional.
Sharing a shelf with the gladius was a Japanese sword, the wrong length to be a katana, but it was covered in a red-black shifting aura that outright declared its ability to freaking murder the hell out of just about anything.
"Yes, I don't believe the Muramasa would fit your intended modus operandi," said the shopkeep, apparently figuring out which sword I was staring at.
"What is that?" I asked, the other swords seeming tame and lifeless compared to that. And honestly, prior to seeing THAT I hadn't been in the habit of thinking of a sword having a will or life of its own. That thing there? Just looking at it I could tell it had some form of both and was NOT in any way shape or form friendly.
"As I said. It is a Muramasa blade. It is suitable for killing, not wounding, not defending. Hmmm. Perhaps a replacement shield would do you better?" asked the shopkeep.
"I have to replace shields every so often," I admitted. Last time I had to block a stream of lava had pretty much destroyed that shield and I'd had to leave it behind in a hurry. "Something I can drop fast if I have to. Durable. Has to be able to take a whole lot of weird projectile attacks and such."
The shopkeep nodded, spun the shelving around again, and as before the selection changed when it stopped again.
Round shields, tower shields, little bracers, one shield that I was awfully tempted to get for Militia due to the whole star-spangled look on it, one that looked like it should be in some Viking hoard, and others.
"What about that one? It'd barely cover my arm," I told the guy.
He picked it up, gestured for me to hold my arm up, then strapped it into place. Two sections extended to a thumb ring and a ring that went around my middle finger but only to the second joint. The guy adjusted my stance as if I was trying to block some incoming attack with that arm, but I still couldn't see how this would stop anything. "Make a fist."
I did.
"The hand that the shield is on, Mouse Protector. I told you I don't have time for your fripperies."
"You should always make time for fripperies," I told him, making a note to use that word more often.
I clenched the hand, thumb ring met the ring on the other finger, and suddenly there was a disc of yellow that looked like some of those fancy sunglasses. "Tinkertech?"
"No. Enchantment. Magical technology or magitek," answered the shopkeeper guy. "The shield is transparent from your side, opaque from the other. It will absorb some attacks like lasers or kinetic energy to power itself, and likewise can stop a good number of other attacks."
"I think Armsy would take it apart first chance he got to see how it worked," I told him, because strange Tinkertech would be taken apart by him or anyone else in the Protectorate.
The shopkeeping dude just took the thing back, unstrapping it and putting it back in the case. Before he considered and pulled out another one. Just a round domed shield made of some silvery metal.
"Shiny, seems pretty light though. Aluminiumdedum?" I asked.
"Adamantium-vibranium alloy," said the shopkeep.
I hesitated for a moment. That sounded like something I should get a sample of. And tease Armsy about because he couldn't have one of these. "How much for it if you can paint it? Maybe with my logo?"
* February 17 2005 *
"Experiment 02072005-1015-07. Material of straps is cow leather reinforced with aluminum mesh. Material of shield has so far resisted analysis. Anomalous materials have resisted taking a sample so far by methods including laser and diamond-tipped drill. Welding torch, electrical arc cutting tools, and acid have all been ineffective. I have constructed a valence cutter which should allow me to finally-"
"WOULD YOU STOP STEALING MY SHIELD?!"
"It is important that we understand these materials for potential use-"
"MY shield. MINE. I paid for it. I have the receipt. It is MY Shield of Cheesy Awesomeness!"
"It is an anomalous shield that has to be investigated for its anomalous properties."
"Get your own Shield of Awesomeness!"
"There is no store at the location you described, and your receipt is written in Minoan hieroglyphs. A language that has been dead for about four thousand years. The store's name is written in Linear A - also from the Minoan civilization."
"So they're foreigners. Ain't nothing wrong with that."
"AND the receipt is written on a synthetic polymer that resembles spider silk and uses a form of biologically produced ink."
"It came straight out of the cash register like that. Looked pretty normal to me."
"Nothing about this is normal. Except the straps and the magnets holding the straps to the shield."
"Did you see how I can detach the shield from the straps and throw it like a frisbee?"
"It breaks the laws of physics when you do that! This is why it needs to be researched!"
"You can't even use a shield Armsy, you got that halberd thing going and it's a two-handed weapon. By the power of Gorgonzola, I can't understand why you keep swiping my shield. I gotta take that into the shower from now on?"
"Ah, Hannah. You're rational. Can you explain to Mouse that I must run these tests on this shield?"
"No. Armsmaster, give her back her shield. Mouse, lock that thing up where someone can't keep taking it. And for the sake of all that's holy, don't tease him with it."
* July 7 2009 *
"Dad. I told you this was the wrong way."
"I'll just back the car up and... oh dear. They're walking up to the car. I'll handle it."
"No, Dad. I'll just... Blastoise, I choose you!"
"Grah."
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
"Cape! Shoot it!"
"That ain't no cape! That's a freaking pokemon?!"
There was a shot, an angry noise produced by a non-human throat, and then flood waters at very high pressure were utilized.
On a rooftop above, a parahuman crouched in the shadows and wondered what the hell she'd just witnessed.
* July 12 2009 *
Lung looked down at these minor minions. "Pokemon. You were defeated by a pokemon in an extortion attempt."
"Yes, Great Lung."
"Which pokemon?" asked Lung.
"A Blastoise, Great Lung."
"You," said Lung, pointing at the one who had spoken. "You have at least some intelligence while your compatriots look as if they still have no clue. What is your name?"
"Nathan Wing sir."
"You are now leader of the squad." Lung stood up from his recliner, the throne being very uncomfortable. "I shall investigate further. Go now and choose your targets more carefully."
"Yes, Great Lung."
Lung waited a moment. "The rumors are true then."
Oni Lee stepped out of the shadows, silently awaiting a command.
"I shall inquire personally," said Lung. "I merely require you to give the notice of time and place for me to meet with them."
Oni Lee nodded and got out his cellphone. A text message would be the simplest method.
* July 16, 2009 *
Lung waited, Oni Lee to his right and two steps behind. The table was set, the meal a simple bowl of white rice. With miso to the side. The little boat was a food truck, sitting at a dock that was bordering territory. It served the Dockworkers and a fair number of people who were technically ABB even if they worked the more legal end of things.
Lung maintained a diversified portfolio. Couldn't completely rely on the more criminal things as supply-demand fluctuated even more than the legal parts of the network.
The other party had apparently been watching because he showed up as soon as Lung sat down, made a gesture and was served a large coffee, and then made his way over.
"Lung," he said.
"Hebert," acknowledged Lung.
"What does the warlord of the ABB mean to do with the head of hiring for the Dockworkers?" asked Hebert.
"There was an intrusion into an area under my nominal control, injuries taken, and for once it wasn't the Empire," said Lung, sipping on his miso to give the other a chance to speak.
"It involves the Dockworkers?" asked Danny Hebert.
"She is described as a teenage girl with red hair who used a pokemon to fight off the gang members," said Lung. "Didn't even identify herself. I have heard... rumors."
"I suppose it had to come out sometime," admitted Danny Hebert.
"Most people dismiss it in the same vein as the crocodile man in the sewers, the powers-in-a-can people, and Leviathan having a PHO account," admitted Lung.
"So what is it that you want, if I might cut to the relevant point?" asked Danny.
Lung shrugged one shoulder. "It is not commonly known, but I have a certain someone who could benefit from having a protective unit she could put in a pocket."
"I see," said Danny Hebert. "Having a pokemon rival is certainly in-genre from what I've read."
"That is so," agreed Lung, pausing in his rice consumption to speak and then taking a swallow of the scorching hot green tea. Just as he liked it.
"I shall speak to our manager of pokemon," said Danny Hebert. "And will send details to you. This clears us then."
Lung made a show of looking around despite Oni Lee having gone over the area earlier. "I look forward to hearing from you. You might also consider dropping all the secrecy. The rumors have steadily been growing with more sightings."
* August 3 2009 *
"Fang?" asked Taylor. "So it IS you."
"Taylor?" asked Fang Nakamura.
"Okay, well, here's this one. I think you'll like her," said Taylor, handing over a pokeball and then making notes on her phone for the transfer.
"It's a cute one, right?" asked Fang, who was only a year older than Taylor or Emma but in the same grade due to gaps in her educational history that had her held back.
"This one seemed open to the idea of pairing off with the non-gang member of a gang that needed protection," said Taylor, still a bit bemused from having her suspicions confirmed like this.
"It's a cute one, right?" repeated Fang. Yes, her father wanted something intimidating. Something that would put the fear of something besides himself in any of his gang members.
"Well... I figured a Water Type, because they're strong against Fire and not easily injured by it," said Taylor.
Fang tossed the pokeball, wanting to see who she had gotten.
(FWOOOM!)
"A Mantyke? Water/Flying, if I remember correctly," said Fang.
"Kya!" said the Mantyke.
Fang eyed the manta ray-shaped blue pokemon bobbing in the air like some balloon. A little under a meter tall if you balanced her on the bump he had instead of a tail. Wider with the 'wings' than she was tall. Weighed maybe a hundred pounds?
It was, however, not the sort of thing to intimidate anyone. So her father was not likely to approve of it.
* Later *
(WHANG!)
The car door now had a considerable dent in it. The flying blue mini-manta was apparently uninjured from ramming itself into a large metal object.
The assembled gang lieutenants watched the cutesy little creature coo at the daughter of the boss and understood the message.
That Lung sat on his throne (not the more comfortable recliner) in his official capacity and looked appropriately menacing was not lost on all of those lieutenants. They were, after all, sufficiently intelligent or at least clever enough to have become trusted with higher status among the gang.
Mess with the daughter and she might have her pokemon smash you. Then Lung would hear about it and you might end up with a closed-casket funeral.
"Her only attacks are Tackle and Aerial Ace right now," said Fang. "She's just a child though, so that will change."
* PRT ENE HQ *
* January 1 2011 *
"We've heard rumors about some kind of Tinker in the Docks area for several years now," said Armsmaster. "Every investigation has so far been unable to verify these rumors."
"Yeah, you've been trying to strong-arm or intimidate the DWU for a couple of years," said Assault. "I tried a different approach."
Director Piggot stirred. "And?"
"It's something that originated from the Wharf Street Anomaly," said Assault. "The parahuman in question can hand out pokeballs and her power is creating pokemon."
"She hands out what and creates what?" asked Armsmaster.
"'Pokemon'? Assault, will you stop joking around? This is a serious matter," said Director Piggot, who was eyeing Battery. Battery just looked uncomfortable when you could usually count on her to rein him in.
Assault's relatively serious expression and stance fell away to a grin that foretold problems for everyone else. He pulled a red-and-white sphere out of a pocket, enlarged it, and then said a set of words that made very little sense to almost everyone there.
"Pikachu, I choose you!"
(FWASH!)
"PiKAAA!" called out the little animated yellow creature standing on the conference room table.
"That's a pokemon," stated Miss Militia, staring. She wasn't into the franchise by any means, but she HAD seen some of the merchandise from Aleph.
Crossing his forelegs as he sat back on his haunches, the little creature nodded. "Pika pikapi!"
"You obtained a specimen," said Armsmaster. "Excellent. I'll be able to settle whether this is evidence of a biotinker or a Tinker-based projection in my lab."
"How would you do that?" asked Assault, noting that the pikachu had gone from preening at the attention to looking at least a bit miffed.
"As soon as I cut it open," began Armsmaster.
"Pi. Ka. CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" (Snap crackle pop!)
With the lights out, Armsmaster's armor looking a bit more scorched than it had, and everything electrical in the room shorted out, Director Piggot glared at Armsmaster and not at the little yellow creature. "I think he heard you."
"Pika."
"I also think that both Assault and Battery would like to discuss your ideas of acceptable testing of apparently animals," stated Director Piggot. "Assault and, uhm, Pikachu. I would request that you at least determine what level of testing is acceptable. Oh, and how did you get this..."
"Pikachu!" said Pikachu.
"I named him 'Sparky'," said Assault. "I was going to go with Jean-Luc Pikachu and get him a little Starfleet top to wear."
"I stopped that," put in Battery.
"Thank you," said Director Piggot with a nod towards Battery. "How did you get this..."
"Pikachu!" said Pikachu.
"Yes. That."
"I heard about the goings-on, investigated by watching, striking up conversations, agreed to hold certain secrets, and then asked politely," said Assault. "Pikachu can do nonlethal takedowns and synergizes well with Battery's powers."
"When I'm charged, I can redirect the electrical discharge to hit something out of Sparky's direct line," admitted Battery.
"Pi pi pika," said Sparky, sounding excited. "Pika pi pikachu chu pi pika!"
"Armsmaster?" asked Assault. "You okay in there?"
"May I at least take apart the pokeball to see how the device functions?" asked Armsmaster.
"He's okay," concluded Assault. "And in answer: No."
"What about yours?" asked Armsmaster.
"Mine?" asked Battery. "What makes you think I have one?"
"Battery," said Director Piggot in a tone that indicated she'd already had more than enough of this.
Looking a bit sullen, Battery pulled out and enlarged a red-white sphere and flipped it into the air. "Abra."
The sleepy-looking pokemon looked at everyone there, sighed, and promptly seemed to go to sleep.
"He does that," noted Assault.
"Can I take that one apart?" asked Armsmaster, not making it clear if he was talking about the pokemon or the pokeball.
(BAMF!)
There was a sudden absence of both Abra and Battery.
"That was a teleport," noted Armsmaster.
"Yes. Yes, it was," agreed Assault. "If Abra senses immediate danger to himself or Battery, he teleports away."
"And you were planning on reporting this?" prompted Director Piggot.
"After we manage to evolve them, if we can do so before we actually deploy them on the job," admitted Assault.
"'Evolve'?" asked Armsmaster.
"A lot of pokemon can apparently change into a more powerful form, called 'evolving'," explained Assault. "One of the girls involved had a Squirtle which she evolved to Wartortle which evolved to a final form called Blastoise. So it started out as a little knee-high turtle guy, became a twice-that-size turtle guy, and finally a nearly human adult-sized turtle who can imitate a high pressure water cannon."
"That is NOT how evolution works," pointed out Armsmaster.
"I think they went with that term for lack of a better one," counter pointed-out Assault. "Maybe they didn't want to shell out for a better term, or their creative muses left them dry?"
"Stop that," said Miss Militia. "This is serious. Just the potential Master situation complicates things enormously."
"What 'Master situation'?" asked Assault.
"You have a minion," countered Miss Militia.
"I have a pet who can throw taser blasts around," said Assault. "This also gives us an excuse to talk to the other people down there."
"And what are you going to do if the Empire or the ABB get these?" asked Director Piggot.
"The ABB - maybe," admitted Assault. "And I would challenge them to a pokebattle."
"Pika!" declared Pikachu, clutching a forepaw and looking dramatic.
"The Empire?" continued Assault. "Can you picture Kaiser indulging in a Japanese franchise? Openly carrying around some 'inferior species'?"
"Pika Pi!" agreed Pikachu, sitting on his haunches and crossing his forelegs in order to nod.
"How much do they understand?" asked Director Piggot.
"Varies, as I understand it," said Assault. "They understand a lot about tone and human body language. Other than that, each species can be anywhere from a human genius to a particularly dumb animal."
The door opened and Battery walked back into the room. "Teleported me to the lobby."
"So that thing, that pokemon, can teleport you?" asked Director Piggot. "Defensive teleport even while apparently asleep. That could definitely change some things."
"Abra is just at the first stage of development," said Battery. "If I get him to his third stage that will change a lot of things."
"Such as?" prompted Director Piggot.
* Docks *
"Was it wise to let them leave with pokemon?" asked Danny.
"The PRT already knew something was going on, and the precogs all agreed that the secrecy was going to be completely gone within two weeks at most," said Taylor.
"So, Taylor, what pokemon do you have but not given away?" asked Emma, looking innocent.
Danny twitched. Several of the Dockworkers nearby started stamping their feet in rhythm.
Taylor flinched, looked for an escape, didn't find one, and then took a deep breath before answering her long-time friend. (Who she was planning on getting even with.)
"Absol, Aerodactyl, Aipom, Amaura, Ampharos, Arbok, Aracanine, Arctibax, Aron, Aurorus, Bagon, Baltoy, Banette, Bayleef, Beedrill, Beldum, Bellsprout, Bibarel, Bidoof, Bisharp, Bonsly, Bounsweet, Breloom, Bronzor, Buizel, Bulbasaur!"
(Clap clap) went the Dockworkers, many of whom had gotten the duplicates as she attempted to just have one of each herself.
(Deep breath) "Bunnelby, Burmy, Carbink, Cascoon, Castform, Chansey, Charizard, Charmander, Charmeleon, Cherrim, Cherubi, Chespin, Chikorita, Chimecho, Chinchou, Claydol, Clefairy, Clodsire, Cottonee, Crabrawler, Cradily, Cranidos, Croagunk, Crocalor, Croconaw, Cubchoo, Cubone!"
"Cubone!" cheered one of Lacey's pokemon, who was a Cubone so that was understandable.
Taylor took another deep breath. "Cutiefly, Cyndaquil, Darumaka, Dedenne, Delcatty, Diglett, Doduo, Dolliv, Dratini, Drifloon, Drilbur, Drowzee, Ducklett, Durant, Duskull, Dwebble, Eelektrik, Eevee, Electrike, Elgyem, Espeon, Exeggcute, Exeggutor, Falinks, Feebas, Fennekin!"
"Ma!" called out a Fennekin belonging to Emma.
"Feraligatr," continued Taylor after another deep breath. As the Brockton Bay Gym Leader, and maintainer of the various pokestops around the area, she had a lot of pokemon. "Flaaffy, Flabebe, Flareon, Fletchinder, Fletchling, Floragato, Fomantis, Foongus, Frillish, Furfrou, Furret, Gardevoir, Gastly, Gengar, Geodude, Gible, Girafarig."
"She got that one this time," said Kurt from where he was keeping up the beat.
"Glaceon, Glameow, Gligar, Gloom, Golbat, Golem, Goomy, Gothitelle, Greavard, Grimer, Growlithe, Grubbin, Gulpin, Hakamo-o, Happiny, Hariyama, Haunter!"
A Haunter in the corner cackled an evil cackle.
"Herdier, Hitmonlee, Hitmontop, Hoothoot," continued Taylor. "Hoppin, Houndoom, Hydreigon, Igglybuff, Illumise, Ivysaur, Jangmo-o, Jigglypuff, Jolteon, Joltik, Jumpluff, Jynx!"
"Halfway there," encouraged Emma.
"Karrablast, Kecleon, Kirlia, Koffing, Krabby, Kricketune, Lairon, Lampent, Lanturn, Larvesta, Leafon."
Several of the pokemon were gathering, looking curious to see if she'd make it this time.
"Lechonk, Ledyba, Licklicky, Lilligant, Lillipup, Limoone, Litleo, Lopunny, Lotad, Loudred, Lunatone, Machoke, Machop, Magcargo, Magikarp, Magmar, Magnemite, Magneton, Manectric, Mankey, Mantyke, Mareep, Medicham, Meditite, Meleotta, Meowth, Metang, Mightyena, Misdreavus, Monferno, Morelull, Mudkip, Murkrow, Nidoking..." Taylor gasped and gulped air. "Take it, Emma."
"Me? No, you're doing so well, Tay. Finish it," deflected Emma.
"Nidoqueen, Nidorino, Ninetails, Noibat, Nosepass, Numel, Nuzleaf, Nymble, Oinkologne, Onix, Oricorio, Panpour!" continued Taylor with a glare at her friend.
"Didn't she forget one?" innocently asked Emma.
"Passimian, Patrat, Pawmo, Pawniard, Persian, Petilil, Pidgeot, Pidove, Pikachu," continued Taylor.
"PikaCHU!" exclaimed the three Pikachu in the room.
"Pikipek, Piloswine, Piplup," continued Taylor. "Ponyta, Psyduck, Pumpkaboo, Pupitar, Purloin, Purugly, Pyroar, Quagsire, Quaxwell, Qwilfish, Raichu, Ralts, Rapidash, Raticake... oh bother."
"Hey, you got up to the letter 'R' this time," consoled Danny. "Your main team still the same three?"
"Yeah. Gym themed. So - Glaceon, Feliagatr, and Gardevoir," answered Taylor.