I*P*C
I woke up some four hours later, according to the clock on the wall. It was coming on evening, evident from the very slightly darker sky outside casting the room into a shaded hue of its normal colors. I felt... better. Well-rested and able to move without hurting. I wondered, briefly, how long it'd taken for me to wake up alert and awake. In my previous life I normally woke groggy and slow, still tired even after being awake for several hours. Was it an effect of being born into this world? Or was it because, despite all the danger I've been in the last few weeks, I was simply more fulfilled, active, and less stressed than I had been before? Whatever the case, I was awake, and I needed to know what had changed since I'd been asleep. I slipped my feet off to the side of the bed, sliding on my sandals before leaving the room. The hallway outside was empty, and devoid of sound. I had expected that perhaps there might be maids or butlers scurrying about their duties, but there was no one.
I decided to explore a bit in search of someone else, hoping to fid where Vic or Aster had gone. Did we already find where Lusamine was? Had we been contacted at all? Were we still waiting? These questions clouded my mind, among others, as I wandered the long hallways of the mansion. About ten minutes in, I heard muffled voices coming from down the hall. I walked hastily, keeping as silent as I could, but still keeping a decent pace up. As I got closer, I could start to make out specific words.
"-I'll have the everything ready by tomorrow," it was Aster who spoke, and I could hear the anger in his voice. The was a pause as I approached the door the voice came from. "You know my policy, Calen. You'll get everything. Not a single Credit spared." After another moment, I heard the sound of a phone being set down, then that of a heavy sigh.
"Is she alright, darling?" a woman spoke, who I had to assume was Aster's wife. "Is she safe?"
"As safe as can be, if terrified," Aster replied, and I took the moment to turn the doorknob and enter. Inside was what I assumed was Aster's office. It was a relatively small room, no larger than the guest bedroom I'd stayed in, with a large window on the back wall overlooking a pond and a desk resting just before it. On either side of the room were drawers and bookshelves, as well as several paintings of various men that I assumed to be the ancestral patriarchs of the Balsam family. Sitting at his desk was Aster, a single landline telephone set in front of him. To his side was a woman dressed in a lovely sky-blue sundress, her chestnut hair curling and cascading over her shoulders as she turned to face me with curious, teary emerald eyes. Standing to the side was Vic, his expression grim as his gaze lingered on me. "Taiyo. You're just in time. I was about to have Vic go and wake you."
"I take it that was Team Solar?" I asked, my eyes glancing to the phone for a moment before returning to Aster's face. I walked into the room fully, closing the door behind me. In response to my question, Aster gave me a firm nod. "Do we have a location?"
"It's being triangulated as we speak by Rotom," Aster told me. "Once he figures out where it is, he'll return. It shouldn't take long. Please, take a seat," he motioned to the two office chairs set in front of his desk. I obliged, picking the chair to my right side and sitting in front of him.
"Is this Lucy's...?" the woman asked, and Aster nodded, giving her a gentle smile before turning back to face me.
"Taiyo, I'd like to introduce you to my lovely wife, Calli," he said, and in moments I drew the distinction between her name and my mom's. "Spelled C-A-L-L-I, unlike your mother's," he specified, a chuckle on his lips. "Calli, this is Lucy's best friend, Taiyo. I wish you two could meet under more pleasant circumstances."
"You'll be the one we're sending to rescue her...?" she asked, sounding uncertain. She looked to her husband as if to confirm the fact.
"Yes, dear," he answered her, and the woman, Calli, moved around his desk to approach me. I leaned back a bit as she leaned over me, looking for something as her eyes roamed over my form. Her gaze was piercing. If standing under Aster's watchful eye was somewhat unsettling, then being looked over by this woman made me feel downright naked. She was the true power between the two of them, I was sure of it. "Well, darling?"
"I suppose if he's the best we can work with," Calli muttered under her breath, sounding a bit underwhelmed by whatever she saw. I couldn't help but find myself vaguely offended, but kept my stupid mouth shut. I'd gotten into trouble by speaking without thinking ahead before, I wasn't about to make a fool of myself in front of Lusamine's mother of all people. "However, are we truly at the point we're sending out a child to do our work for us?"
"I assure you that I'm more than capable, Mrs. Balsam," I spoke up, the adults in the room turning to look at me when I did so. "Please entrust the safety of your daughter to me. I swear on my life that I'll get her out of there unharmed. I never break my promises." I stared at the woman, her steely expression never changing. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she sighed, closing her eyes, slouching, and relenting. "I can't give you a resume. I can't do anything to prove to you I'm more capable than I appear aside from conjecture. However, I ask that you trust me anyway. Whether or not you actually do is, of course, your decision."
"No need to talk yourself up any more than you just have," Calli spoke, her tone and body language both expressing exhaustion. "Just bring my little girl back home safely. That's all I ask." I stood up, resting a hand on her shoulder. It was... a bit awkward, since I had to reach up to do so.
"Consider it done," I told her, turning to face my host. He looked impressed, if impressed were in the form of a focused, serious expression. "What Pokemon will I be using?"
"I'll organize them from our collection once Rotom-" As he spoke of the devil, the Rotom appeared from the phone with a ringing sound. It zipped around the room before finally resting before the regional map hung against the left side of the room. It penetrated the paper map, one electrical tip zapping away at a particular point on Ula'Ula Island. I knew that area...
"That's Po Town," Vic said what we were all thinking. "I couldn't tell you which building, but it appears to be in the northern areas around the docks. There are also various corporate buildings for local businesses that border it."
"Could it be..." I heard Aster mumble under his breath, "that Team Solar is local to this region...? But I'd thought..."
"Does that surprise you?" I asked. Vic, Aster, and Calli all shared a look. Ah, so I'd been kept out of the loop about something.
"The Balsam Family have had run-ins with Team Solar in the past," Vic explained. So, that explained a lot to me. "They first emerged in Unova some five years ago, and have been hounding after Young Mistress Lusamine for their entire tenure there. We had thought that they were local to Unova, and eventually sought refuge here in Alola due to its remote position."
"You see, most corporate entities outside of Alola don't bother coming here," Aster explained further. "In fact, the only people of note who arrive in Alola are rich tourists, researchers, historians, and thrill-seekers. Alola, otherwise, is... well, most general world maps don't even bother including this place."
"The perfect sanctuary," I mumbled, earning nods from the adults. "How long have you all been in Alola?" I asked.
"Some two months," Aster said. That wasn't long at all, in the grand scheme of things. No, these guys operated far too efficiently for having just set up a base here. I told them my observation. "Yes," Aster agreed with my thought. "In fact, having worked against them for several years in Unova, I can safely say that they wouldn't have had the resources to set up base so quickly within Alola, much less track us down."
"I can speak with utmost certainty that none of our staff have been compromised," Vic added. "This afternoon I held strict interrogations, and all of our staff came on the other side clean as a whistle." I nodded in acknowledgement. That was good to know.
"Well, let's get you prepared for your assignment," Aster stood as he spoke, motioning for me to follow him as he passed Calli and myself. "I'll take you out to the gardens to take your pick of the Pokemon we have available within our collections. You'll find these Pokemon to be slightly stronger than the ones you pitted against Vic."
"You had him battle Vic?" Calli asked. I saw Aster hitch a bit on his next step. "How long have you been planning this, Aster?"
"Er, for the last several hours," the man admitted, turning to face his wife. She was pouting, and I had to admit it was pretty cute to see, even on a thirty-something year old woman. Man, was this what Lusamine was gonna be like when she was older? Well, seeing it on a screen was one thing, but now I knew what I could look forward to in around twelve years or so. "Forgive me later?"
"Only if you do that thing where you-"
"Ahem," Vic cleared his throat. The married couple had the decency to look sheepish. "Mistress Calli, I will escort you wherever you'd like for the time being to ensure that the men are able to focus on their responsibilities."
"Ah, yes, of course," Calli laughed nervously, her face beet red. "Good luck, my darling. You as well, Taiyo." Vic walked off as he followed Calli, l who had a sway to her step the entire while. I couldn't help but stare.
"You're a lucky bastard," I told Aster. He blinked in surprise, before nodding, watching as Calli and Victor turned the corner down the hall.
"Language aside, that I am," he agreed. We continued through the building in silence as he led me out to the gardens behind the house. As he opened the door at the end of one of the halls, I was hit by the tropical air of Alola once more. It was refreshing, and helped wake me up just a little bit more. "Welcome to the garden. We're hoping to dig a bit more into the side of the mountain to expand it, but for now, this is it." He spoke as if it were a small garden with a white picket fence, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. No, what he called a garden was an entire little valley between the mansion and the mountainside that acted as a natural border. On each side leading back were tall, brick walls that each stood around fifteen feet high. I could see no less than fifty Pokemon back here, from Caterpie, to Zigzagoon, and there was even a single Blastoise lumbering through the large pond I'd seen through the window from my room; though it'd be more accurate to call it a small lake.
"This is... incredible," I mumbled, getting an approving grunt from the man standing beside me. He had his hands in his pockets, a look of admiration on his face as he looked over what I assumed was his pride and joy. "Er, do you have a list of Pokemon that are found here?"
"I do, actually," he moved to the side of the veranda that we'd stepped onto when we left the main building. There was a small screen and a keypad on the mansion wall. I had to take a second to marvel at the technological disparity of Regdon. Cars, airplanes, and even advanced electronics systems were common knowledge, and medical tech was far beyond what Earth had, bordering on science fiction. However, firearms, commercial computing devices, and commercial recording devices were considered brand new tech or low-functionality. The best humans had to defend themselves with were flintlock firearms and bladed weapons. It was such a world of difference compared to what I'd known for so long.
"Here," Aster motioned to the screen, allowing me to take a look at the list of Pokemon on it. He'd thankfully shortened the list to only the Pokemon I might find useful. As niche as they could be, Caterpie and Zigzagoon weren't on the list. Even with those weaker Pokemon filtered out, the list was about twenty Pokemon long. "Just three of them, for now," he reminded me. "The more Pokemon a trainer has, the harder they can be to control and care for. Numbers aren't everything, after all. It's why so few trainers keep more than three." I nodded, letting him know I'd heard and understood what he'd said.
I picked my three. Weavile. Ribombee. Aggron. There was concern on Aster's face as he looked over my three chosen Pokemon. Honestly, I was just surprised that he had access to Weavile and Aggron.
"Are you sure, son?" he asked, looking at those two in particular. "Both Weavile and Aggron are very hard to control. In fact, most professionals even have trouble keeping those two in line. I'll admit your ability to control and direct Pokemon you've never met is incredible, but..." He frowned, but shook his head and then offered me a weary smile. "Alright, I'll trust you in this. But only if you can have them return to their pokeballs." I see, so that's what he wanted to see. I agreed, and he handed me three pokeballs, telling me which one belonged to who.
Ribombee was the first one I went to find. I expected to find her flitting about in the flowers, and wasn't disappointed in my expectations. Aster spoke up as we walked that way, "So, tell me why you want to bring Ribombee."
"From what I saw, Team Solar mainly uses Psychic, Ghost, and Steel-Type Pokemon," I told him, seeing him nod. "Ribombee is a good counter to Psychic-Types, and while their Steel-Types will be a problem, those are typically Pokemon you bring out to fight. That's not my mission at the moment. My job is to get your daughter out of there, preferably unseen. Ribombee will make a good scout for me; she's small, is a native Pokemon to Alola, and can easily escape if things get hairy."
"You know, you could have just asked what Pokemon Team Solar use," Aster told me. I chuckled nervously as we approached the little Pokemon. "We've been at odds with them for almost six years, now."
"Ah, well, I kind of forgot about that," I admitted, noticing Aster frown at the admission. "Sorry, I'll try and be more diligent about that kind of thing going forward."
"My daughter's life is on the line, Taiyo," he reminded me. "This isn't some little training exercise. You'll want to go in with as much information as possible." I nodded, accepting the criticism as it was. "Team Solar do indeed use those types of Pokemon, so your choice is sound. I don't know all of what they're capable of, but be wary. They tend to keep several nocturnal Pokemon as well to keep watch during the night, even if they don't share the typing as their main battlers." I nodded in response.
The Bee Fly Pokemon was flitting from one flower to another near the lake, presumably gathering pollen for some reason. I couldn't remember what its Pokedex entry from the games said, but it was always in the flower areas. "Alola, Ribombee," I called out to the little Pokemon, taking her by surprise. The Pokemon buzzed and squeaked and flitted around in a panic as soon as she'd noticed I'd gotten close. "Whoa, whoa, calm down! I'm here with Master Balsam," I told her, hoping the familiar term might calm her mind a bit. She did, but the little Pokemon still looked at me with suspicion. I continued, "Do you know Lusamine? Master Balsam's daughter? Some really, really bad people have taken her, and I want your help to get her back."
"He speaks the truth," Aster took a few steps forward, speaking on my behalf. I was thankful, since I wasn't sure anything but his ringing endorsement would get rid of that suspicion the Ribombee had. "But the choice is yours."
The Pokemon gave it some thought, before giving me a determined nod. I smiled. "Thanks, Ribombee," I told her, holding out her pokeball and returning it her. "Ok. that's the easier member done... Next, the big guy. I looked towards the mountain's cliffside, seeing the reflective armor of the Aggron, clear as day. He was large and bulky, and stood about ten feet tall.
"Now, why don't you explain to me the plan with Aggron," Aster asked as we walked towards the iron behemoth. "Just so you know, he won't respond to mine or my daughter's name the same way Ribombee did. He largely keeps to himself, so be aware of that."
"Noted. Thank you," I told him before delving into my thought process for the man. "Aggron is for when shit hits the fan," I explained. "He's tough, bulky, and has immense physical strength that can outperform nearly any Pokemon that Team Solar might have. He might not have the Type Advantage over their Pokemon, but they won't have any average advantages over him, either. Honestly, I hope I won't have to use Aggron. Given my track record, though..." Aster seemed to accept my words, if his nod was anything to go by.
We arrived by the cliffs in short order, and it didn't take long for the large, territorial Pokemon to notice us. There was a low, rumbling sound as he squared up. Aster kept a few paces behind me, but looked coiled like a snake in case he needed to grab me and run. So, this Aggron was like that, huh? "Alola, Aggron," I greeted it, standing tall and puffing my chest a bit. It seemed confused, bewildered even, at the tiny human trying to look tough against it. It even seemed to look at Aster as if asking what exactly I was doing. "My name is Taiyo, and I've come to challenge you. If you win, then I'll leave without any fuss. If I win, then I want you to obey my orders in a rescue operation to save Lusamine Balsam from evil people." To my joy and nervousness, the Iron Armor Pokemon seemed to take the challenge seriously.
"Son, what are you doing?" Aster asked quietly as the Pokemon thought. "I thought you might have a plan, but this is suicidal!"
"Just trust me," I whispered back as the Aggron came to a decision and nodded, agreeing with my proposal. "Alright. Because I can't physically overwhelm you, I challenge you to a match of endurance and perseverance. Master Balsam will time our match for ten minutes. If, by the end, you have not incapacitated me or pinned me so I can no longer move, then it will be my victory. This will be a physical match only; mno special attacks from you. Are we in agreement?" The Aggron huffed, nodding again. "Do I have it on your honor?" Once more the Aggron nodded. I grinned, my bet paying off. "Master Balsam?"
"Er, of course," the man hesitated for a moment before pulling out his phone. I focused on my foe, his glowing red eyes doing the same. This creature towered above me at nearly three times my height. "Ready?" I gently tapped the toes of my sandals against the ground, ensuring they were tight against my feet. I really should have worn actual shoes for this. "Begin!" Aggron shot forward like a cannon. The massive Pokemon wasn't fast like Galvantula, but his massive fucking size and small area for me to maneuver in kinda made that irrelevant. I dashed to the side, keeping my eyes on the massive beast of a Pokemon as he tracked me and adjusted his path to try and intercept me. I had to avoid him as long as possible, but I knew I wasn't going to out-endure him. I had to get tricky.
I ran around towards the cliff fac, watching as the massive Aggron barreled down on me. I hopped between my two feet, watching the beast's eyes try and use them to track where I intended to go. At the last moment as he was only a few feet away, I skipped to my opposite foot and weaved to the side, letting the charging Pokemon slam into the cliff. He growled, taking a few steps back as he shook off the headache he likely had. Not a bad one, but enough to keep him still for a few more valuable seconds. "Come on, big guy. I thought this was gonna be tough!" I taunted the Aggron. He roared in frustration, obviously not expecting this to have taken this long, even as short as it'd been.
This time around, the Aggron didn't charge straight at me. He instead moved slowly and methodically, trying to pin me against the wall for an easy grab. His arms were spread wide, trying to take up as much of an area with his body as he could. He'd lunge to my side whenever I led myself to an open area, trying to force me back against the walls. This was fine by me. The more methodical he was, the longer it would take. He seemed to realize this a few minutes in, because he became far more aggressive.
"Aww, not sure how to tag a small foe on a timer?" I asked him, trying to get him riled up again. The Aggron kept focus, lunging at me as I jumped back. I blinked as my back touched brick. Whoops. I ducked down and rolled under between his legs as he tried to grab me. I narrowly avoided his tail, taking off running across the stone ground to the other end of the garden. "Almost got me!" Aggron bellowed, and I heard him charging behind me like a freight train. I lunged to the side as I heard him get close, seeing him pass by me and come to a slow stop, turning to once more face me. I could see his jaw grit with irritation.
"Two minutes remain!" Aster called from the side. Both Aggron and I side-eyed the man before focusing on each other again. He knew he needed to change his strategy, but he wasn't coming up with anything off the top of his head. Instead, he ran straight for me with his arms spread. I crouched down a bit, lunging under his right arm as he got close. He tried to bring his arm down, but I was just small enough to slip through. I reached out, grabbing one of the plates on his back and wrapping myself around his back grabbing the other side of the same plate with my other hand. Aggron tried his best to grab at me, but his arms were just too short, unable to reach the spot I was hanging from. He thrashed and flailed, but I refused to let go of his back. His tail prevented him from slamming me up against the cliff wall, so I rode the Iron Armor Pokemon until Aster's voice called out again.
"That's time!" he shouted, and the Aggron let out an angry, frustrated roar into the open air. A few Pikipek flew out of the garden, frightened by the bellow. "The victor is Taiyo!" I carefully got down off of the Aggron's back, backing away from him to ensure he didn't try to crush me from frustration. I stared down the Pokemon.
"So," I began, "will you uphold your end of the deal?" The Aggron glared at me, but he finally snorted, lowering his head in submission. I smiled at the sign. "Thank you. I hope we won't need your help, but I appreciate having you along." I took his pokeball and returned him to it. Aster approached me after I'd done so, letting out a heavy breath.
"I don't know," he started to speak as he looked down at me, concern etched across his features, "whether to consider you brave, foolish, or insane. What drove you to take such a risk, son?"
"Aggron are territorial, but they share a lot of similarities as old samurai from Johto," I explained to the man, catching my breath now that the ten minutes were up. My legs and arms felt weak, and I collapsed back onto my ass to try and take a break. "Which means they're honorable most times when dealt with up front. In fact, many samurai were inspired by Aggron in both their looks, techniques, and mannerisms. I just... I figured one that had been trained to be around humans would be more amicable than those in the wild. Glad to see I was right." I chuckled weakly as I saw Aster's incredulous expression. He merely shook his head, though, opting to keep silent. I got the distinct feeling that he was beginning to question endorsing me being involved with his daughter.
"So," I continued after the moment had passed, "back to work? We've got one last Pokemon to recruit."
"Are you sure you're ready?" he asked. "You can take a few more minutes. Your job begins tonight, so you have a few hours to spare if you need to." I chuckled and shook my head, realizing I'd been dumb and was pushing myself too hard.
"Ah, then I'll just take a few minutes," I accepted his offer, leaning back on my hands as I sat. "So, let me guess. You want to know why I chose Weavile, right?" The man nodded, opting to remain standing instead of sitting won with me. I couldn't blame him, he was wearing a nice outfit while I was in more casual clothing. "Well," I began to explain, "Weavile is known for being ruthless, stealthy, and conniving. As Sneasel, they're known to work in pairs to steal Pokemon eggs for food. I figure that a Weavile will be just as good when it comes to stealing things; like a person, for instance. Once Ribombee has found where she is, Weavile and I can work together to get Lucy out of there."
Aster gave my reasonings some thought, before agreeing with me. However... "Not to step on your toes, son, but are you certain Ribombee will be the best choice?" He asked. I tilted my head, urging him to continue. "Her Fairy-Typing puts her at a distinct disadvantage with Team Solar. I may not be an expert on the matter, nor wholly knowledgeable like you or Vic, but I do have one alternative you may want to consider. Furret."
"Furret? Why?"
"Consider this," he began. "You intend for little Ribombee to be a scout, but Furrt can do the same without being potentially cornered if things end up going badly. The Furret we have here has the Run Away ability, and he can fit into small and tight cracks and cervices to escape should the need arise." I considered his words, nodding slowly in agreement.
"That makes sense," I mumbled, comparing the two options in my head. "The problem is that I already convinced Ribombee to come with me. Can I really just drop her so easily?" The pokeball containing Ribombee shuddered and shook, and I unscrewed the cap to let her out. The little bug had a smile on her face as she drifted over to me. Her tiny hand poked the tip of my nose before she flew off back to the lake.
"I guess you have your answer," Aster chuckled under his breath, giving me an amused look. "I won't force you to convince Furret. A word from me and he'll be ready to go. However, Weavile will be a problem." His levity fell. "The Pokemon doesn't even listen to Vic or myself. For all intents and purposes, he's still a wild Pokemon, just less likely to rip your throat out when he first sees you. Even I'm not certain I could get away unscathed if it came down to it."
"Hm, and there's no easy strategy to deal with a Pokemon like Weavile," I noted out aloud. "Alright. If you could point me in his direction while you get Furret ready?" Aster seemed concerned at my suggestion, but after witnessing me basically face down an Aggron with relatively little issue, it was only a moment of hesitation before he pointed me over to the largest tree in the garden.
"He should be resting over there," Aster told me. "That's where he's always been since we came to Alola." I nodded, and the two of us parted ways for the moment. I went to the tree as directed, already able to see the dark Pokemon's plumage as he sat on the lowest branch. As I got closer, I could make out that he was laying on his stomach, and his expression was one of discomfort. It was... painfully obvious as to why. The very reason I was enjoying the Alolan sun was likely the same reason this Weavile was so difficult. I watched him from the bottom of the tree, seeing as he panted, staring straight ahead with little care for me being within twenty feet of him. He did growl a bit when he finally noticed me, but it was weaker than I'd have expected. threatening, but more bark than bite.
I saw as Aster made his way towards me after a few minutes. He looked surprised that I wasn't already interacting with Weavile in some way. I waved him over, accepting the pokeball that he offered to me and clipping it to my belt loop. "Hey, Aster," I began after Furret's pokeball had been secured to my person. "Has Weavile always been like this? You guys came from Unova, so was he more energetic while you lived there?"
"Ah, come to think of it, I do remember him being less lethargic at our mansion there," Aster acknowledged, glancing up at the Sharp Claw Pokemon. "He's growled a few times when we got close while we've been Alola, and I believe the maids leave his food by the base of the tree, nowadays. Why do you ask?"
"Weavile is an Ice-Type Pokemon," I told him. His eyes narrowed in confusion towards my words, before he turned to face the Pokemon in question again.
"Is he? He looks like a Dark-Type," Aster stated. "What part of him is supposed to be ice?"
"Well, it's more that they're native to cold climates," I told him. "Admittedly, I don't know what makes them an Ice-Type, just that they are. Huh. Something to look into." I wish I had some kind of notebook on me to write this all down. Now that I thought about it, hadn't I brought my backpack from Emmi's house? I hadn't seen it during my entire time at the mansion. I wondered if it got left behind at the Queen Vanilluxe. "Regardless, I have an idea. Just follow my lead." I approached the tree, looking up at the Weavile that glared down at me once I'd gotten close enough. He snarled at me, baring his fangs. "Hey, Weavile! I need your help with a rescue mission of Master Balsam's daughter!" He snarled more, obviously not liking the man standing behind me.
"It won't be for free, obviously," I told the Pokemon. His eyes narrowed with suspicion. "I can tell that you're suffering out here in the tropical heat. You picked the highest and shadiest place you could find to cool off, right? Well, if I convince Master Balsam to build you a cool place to live in out here, would you be willing to work with me?" That got the Pokemon's attention. Weavile looked between me and the man behind me, probably wondering if my words could be trusted. I turned to face Aster, myself. "Can I get you to verbally promise to have a cold place for Weavile to live out here?" I asked him.
"O-Oh, of course!" Aster spoke up, turning to address the Pokemon. "I apologize for not realizing sooner that you prefer colder climates, Weavile!" The man called up to the Pokemon, spreading his arms wide in an attempt to seem sincere. "If I'd have known that, I would never have brought you here, to Alola! I can assure you, that if you help save my daughter, I will have a building out here created just for you so you can live comfortably!" The Weavile's eyes glistened with interest, but it seemed like he wasn't on board just yet.
"I'll personally ensure that the work is done and designed," I offered. "Please, Weavile. I'm sure you're already aware that I've convinced Aggron to help me. It's not like he was being particularly quiet about it. However, you are the most important Pokemon for this mission! Everything we need hinges on you! Please, help us!" I saw the gears turning on Weavile's face, as well as a very pleased smile on his lips. He rolled off the tree branch from above us, lazily standing before me. The Pokemon offered me his claws, and I made to shake it, before he scratched my hand, drawing blood. I grunted, pulling my hand away as I looked between the sharp cut he'd left on me and the Pokemon, himself.
Weavile stared at his bloody claw, licked it clean, and smirked, crossing his arms. "Was that a kind of blood pact?" I asked, unsure. Weavile nodded, and I let out a sigh of relief. I looked to Aster, who looked ready to lunge at the Pokemon, me, or somewhere in between us. "Then it's a deal. Good to have you on board, Weavile." I grabbed his pokeball and returned him to it before looking down at my bleeding hand. "Any chance I could get this bandaged, Aster?"
"R-Right!" the man stammered, obviously taken by surprise. I walked back to the porch as Aster jogged to the door that we'd left the mansion from, heading inside. I sat down on one of the wooden rocking chairs that overlooked the garden, keeping my hand open to avoid it hurting too much. It was nice out. A good time to relax. Unfortunately, I'd be going into the fire come nighttime. I looked out over the garden, seeing how peaceful it was. Yet, underneath it all there were still problems, like Weavile's inability to take the heat. Regdon seemed like it was turning out to be the same way; pretty and safe on the surface, but with twisted evil and villainy underneath it all. I'd severely underestimated just how dangerous this world could be, and now everyone I knew was paying the price for it due to my own pride, or for reasons outside of my understanding.
My eyes narrowed as I gazed out over the garden, the shadow of clouds passing over the sun darkening the view a bit. Aster was right. I couldn't just stand idly by when I stumbled and fell. However, my attempts in being heroic weren't panning out, either. I was still a bad friend. A... not a bad person, but not a good one either. I just couldn't be someone that I'm not. But now I knew I wasn't the only person who was capable of bad things just by my very nature. Maybe that's something I'd forgotten. After all, Team Rocket would eventually be a thing, and I couldn't say that every member only joined because of some tragic backstory. Team Solar was a thing now, and the look in the eyes of that man who commanded the Malamar was nothing short of vile. There was no mercy, no regret, just the desire to hurt people.
I frowned, stopping my thoughts before they got too dark. That wouldn't help anyone. I needed to focus. Unfortunately, my focus was broken as something gently nudged against my leg. I looked down, seeing a pokeball resting against my foot, and a familiar green Pokemon standing just behind it. "Alola to you, Lily," I mumbled, reaching down to gently pet the little Pokemon's head. "Let me guess, you want to join me, huh?" The Petilil nodded her comparatively massive head, a determined look in her eyes. "Mm," I hummed, considering the options. Petilil was still a bit weak compared to the other Pokemon, and I didn't want her to get hurt. I knew she'd want to get involved in person, but such would just be a detriment. And yet... was it not her right as Lucy's Pokemon to save her? It was probably a bad idea, but I took the Pokeball and returned Lily to it, clipping it to my belt and tucking it slightly under my shirt.
"Ah, there you are," Aster spotted me quickly as he arrived with Vic, bandages in hand. "Here, let's get that wrapped up for you, son." I let the two men at my hand as they wrapped it up, ensuring that the injury would be protected from the outside elements. "How do you feel?"
"Angry," I spoke honestly, which seemed to catch the two men off guard. "Those guys, Team Solar. They hurt people. Innocent people, just to get at Lucy. I'm going to make them pay for it in blood." I was surprised at how calm I felt admitting that, as if talking about how it would rain the next day or that the Heahea Tiders had lost five to seven against the Hau'oli Strikers. I'd always tried to pass myself off as a good kid for my mom. Someone redeemable. Someone considerate, and willing to do the right thing for the right reasons. Now, I was just going to be myself again. Damn the consequences. Trying to be completely selfless hadn't worked, it just made my selfish actions worse. I refused to become completely selfish, that way lay madness and loneliness. No, I was just going to be... me.
"I see," Aster replied, sounding unsure of how to respond to a seven-year-old child swearing revenge on a faction of evil grownups. "Then... be careful about it."
"Of course," I agreed without hesitation. "The mission is to retrieve Lusamine. that's more important than anything else." That got the two adults to relax, at least. "What next?"
"Next, we come up with an actual plan of action," Vic said, his expression serious. "As well as gather whatever resources you'll need and want for your operation." I nodded, taking a deep breath before letting it out.
"Alright. Where do we start?"
I*P*C
Victor stood silently as they watched the small, rented boat leave port at a quarter-after-nine, its only passenger being its captain, and a young child and his loaned Pokemon. Aster stood beside him, eyes following the ship's outline in the dark, night sky. Victor removed the cast on his arm, giving it a few stretches as he once more allowed it full movement. "It was rather cruel, Master Balsam, to lie to him like that," Victor told the man. Aster was silent, though his answer was clear to the older man. "What would Mrs. Balsam's father say if he were to hear and see what you've and your wife done?"
"I imagine he would have patted me on the back," Aster replied, his voice dull and hollow. "Told me I'd done well to ensure that our line continues." Silence reigned between the two men for a few terse minutes. "I know you would have punched him in the face for it. I'm surprised you haven't already lunged at me."
"That boy is simple and pure," Victor growled, distaste in his mouth for playing the part expected of him. "Perhaps not wholly good, but he wears his intentions on his sleeve. Unlike you and Mistress Calli's father. The man whose family I swore to serve would be appalled." Aster grunted in reply, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. That was fine. Victor knew it obviously affected the current Balsam patriarch. The butler crossed his arms. "You wish to bring that boy into this family, but send him into the Pyroar's den! Lie to him about his own mother's condition!"
"Omission is not a lie, Victor," Aster shot back, a snarl on his lips. "She's just being kept under for a few more weeks, that's all. Long enough for him to achieve his dream and move on to the next. Better for us if that dream involves my little girl." Victor could respect the motive, but not the means. To endanger one's own child for such a thing was unthinkable to him. "The end of their summer break. That'll be as long as we'll keep her under for. Any longer and I fear she might suffer permanent brain damage."
"I don't believe for a second that it matters to you," Victor spat.
"I'm not a monster," the man replied, a dangerous edge to his tone. "Despite what you might think, I don't take pleasure in lying to a child this way. However, what Team Solar wants can't be allowed to fall into their hands. Taiyo is smart, resourceful, determined, and can connect to Pokemon in a way that the rest of us could only dream of! If I didn't know any better, then I'd say he was a Pokemon, himself!"
"That's no reason to drag him in the way you have, Master Balsam!" Victor shouted back at the man. His cheek stung as Aster's hand crossed his face, steel in the younger man's eyes. "You cannot justify this!" Victor fought on anyway.
"I can and I have!" Aster yelled back. "If it was the wrong decision, then may I burn in the afterlife, but I'm doing the best that I can! Do you think I like using my own daughter as a chess piece!?" Victor remained silent, eyes looking over his master's face for any signs of deceit. "I don't. Yet, Calli's will is law. What she wants, she gets." Aster visibly deflated, gazing back out to the ocean. The ship was now just a speck against the starry night sky. "I don't know how to get through to her, Vic. Any time I try arguing with her she threatens to leave! How can I argue with someone like that? Despite everything, I still love her."
Victor remained silent. He couldn't argue with the man, knowing what he knew. The moment the responsibility of that Pokemon was laid on Calli's, and by extension Aster's, laps, the little girl he'd raised with tender care and the man she'd married had changed. When little Lusamine had been kidnapped, for the briefest moment, Victor saw that lovely young woman return; not the cold beast who had taken her place. The two men remained silent for just a bit longer.
"The cycle ends with me," Aster finally spoke up again. "Lusamine, while she might be a bit much, is still a good girl at heart. I know someone like Taiyo will keep her from making the same mistakes that her mother and I have." He chuckled bitterly to the salty sea. "If nothing else, I know you'll do better with them than you did with us, Vic." Victor let out a long sigh, his mind contemplating the long, agonizing efforts it would take. Yet, somehow, he felt like he could believe those words that Aster spoke.
"I suppose I will have to, Master Balsam," Victor finally relented, the ship no longer visible to them. "I suppose I will have to."
I*P*C
Aster, Victor and I stared down at the town map of Po Town on Ula'Ula Island that had been spread across Aster's desk. It was a small town, consisting of about 10,000 people, and a good majority of them worked at the ports, warehouses, and offices on the north-western side. There was a single mansion located by the water as well, belonging to the Kahuna of the island, Maku Taha, who specialized in Poison-Type Pokemon. Maku was a boisterous and friendly fellow in his mid-fifties, which made it unlikely that he knew about Team Solar operating in his town. Of course, while Aster and Vic were convinced, I wasn't. Pokemon Types have a habit of reflecting someone's personality, and I wasn't about to discount Kahuna Maku just yet. I kept quiet about my suspicions, though. Just until I could get solid proof.
"Rotom was able to narrow down their base of operations to these three buildings," Aster said, and I glanced over at the little Pokemon buzzing about the room, probably happy to just be out of his pokeball. "At least one of them will probably have Lusamine within it. We can't discount the option that they might be using even more of these warehouses. Rotom was only able to get the general location of the phone call, after all."
"It could even be under a shell company's name," I added, getting a nod from Aster. "We also can't discount that there might be underground tunnels we don't know of. Hell, Lucy might not even be in any of these buildings. I'll have Weavile and Furret scout through them all while I keep watch. If they find anything, then we're in luck. If not, then I'll move for personal extraction."
"I can't allow that," Aster disagreed, firmly setting his hand on the map. "No, Lusamine is too valuable to me. She's my daughter. If you can't find her there, at least find out where they've taken her." I nodded, that was fine by me. "However, I can't imagine they won't keep her someplace they've got a lot of eyes. These guys are superstitious, and there's an old Ula'Ula tale about children disappearing when they're not watched."
"Wait, there's a story like that?" I asked. Aster waved his hand.
"For another time," he replied. Ok, yeah, that was fair. I hummed, getting the attention of the two men. "Something else caught your eye?"
"Not that, but you said they were superstitious," I repeated, a plan slowly forming in my mind. Aster nodded, leveling a concerned look on me as my smile slowly began to grow. "Tell me, how many myths and legends are they likely to believe in?"
I checked my things one last time as I stared back at myself in the ship's very small mirror. The captain of the vessel, Briney, his eyes met mine every couple of seconds. Each time, I would hear him mumble under his breath how trainers got younger each and every year. He sounded annoyed at the fact. Still, Aster had paid him well for his silence, so he wasn't about to complain to me. I glanced back at my own outfit.
It was a simple ensemble consisting of a dark blue bodysuit, covered in several pieces of disconnected black armor: tare, sode, suneatte, a breastplate-like do, and a kabuto helmet. They were armor pieces originating in Johto's ancient past used by samurai, but my armor was much lighter due to just how much I'd left off. These pieces covered my shins, my arms, the sides of my neck, my head, and my chest. Most importantly, though, they were reminiscent of an ancient legend known in Johto as The Black Samurai, a ghost story passed on by the ancient warriors of a deadly samurai who would roam Mount Silver and cut down any who would trespass upon it. The legend grew over the centuries as sightings supposedly spread across the world of various figures resembling The Black Samurai appeared. Alola actually had its own version known as The Shadow Man, who was supposedly a long-dead Kahuna who would descend from Mount Lanakila to dispense unholy justice against wrongdoers. While The Shadow Man and The Black Samurai were two different legends, they both shared a common theme; a blood-red Aggron under their control that would have terrified people back in the ancient times.
Suffice it to say, Aggron now had a new paint scheme. Additionally, he hadn't been very happy about the matter. It had taken nearly an hour to bribe him with a cavern all his own in the garden to get him to agree; a small price to pay for Lusamine's safety. My plan was simple. Invoke terror among Team Solar with superstitions coming to haunt them for their crimes. This helmet did more than protect my head; it was an artifact passed down in Sinnoh, then Hisui, to protect against Psychic-Type mental attacks from Pokemon like Bronzong. I didn't know why Aster had such a thing in his collection, but I chalked it up to weird rich people bullshit.
"Are you ready, kid?" Briney asked me, drawing me from my thoughts. I pulled my balaclava down over my face and the kabuto on my head before tossing on the black backpack full of things I'd asked for the mission.
"As ready as I'll ever be, sir," I told him, figuring it never hurt to be respectful. The older man seemed unconvinced, but didn't stop me from disembarking his ship once we made it to the docks. I looked over the town, seeing about where my target was. "Thanks for the ride, old man. Go take the rest of the night off. Consider your dock fees paid."
"Cheeky brat," he grumbled in return, moving to tie his ship to the dock itself. I took off into the night, tightening the backpack to my person with the straps, and tying the extra strap length to wrap around my stomach. The equipment inside shook less and made less noise as I did so, and the weight of the backpack became almost indistinguishable from my own. I ran for what had to be around twenty minutes, and while my breathing was a bit heavier, I was thankful I'd kept up a somewhat consistent cardio regimen in this world. I'd had asthma on Earth, but was no longer held back by that here in Regdon. Thank God for small blessings.
The warehouse I arrived at first was a good two buildings away from my closest target, but that was fine. It was dilapidated and out-of-use, probably empty on the inside. I had a hunch that Team Solar had rented out all of the warehouses around their hideout for emergency use, as well as to keep prying eyes from getting too close without looking suspicious. I didn't see any signs of patrols just yet, but it was better to be safe than sorry. I found a few loose crates and hid behind them, using the cover to shield as much of the red flash as I could while releasing Furret and Weavile from their pokeballs.
"You guys know the plan," I whispered to them, getting a nod from the two Pokemon. Furret seemed to be at attention as I spoke, while Weavile had a cocky grin on his face. One might even call it malicious. "Stay frosty, Weavile. This isn't a game, and I'll need you to take this seriously. Stay out of sight, and Furret, act natural if you're spotted. Flee over anything else and only engage if you have to." I turned my attention to the now frowning Weavile. "Weavile... You have permission to kill if, and only if there's no other option. We want to get in and out fast with Lusamine, got it?"
Weavile growled, but nodded begrudgingly. "Hey, none of that," I chuckled under my breath. "Just think; once this is over, you'll soon have a nice, cold building all to yourself." The smirk returned on his face. "Alright, I'll be on the rooftops scouting the area from above. If you don't find me up there, then I'll be right here. If you don't find me here, meet me outside town on the eastern side for our extraction. Wait for me until morning if I'm not already there. If I don't show up... assume I've been captured or killed." The two Pokemon nodded, Weavile sobering up at my words. "Good. Now break." The three of us took off in different directions. Furret headed into the building, and would move through the sewer systems to get inside and move into the ventilation. Weavile would take the more direct approach, using his natural speed and dark fur to cover him. While his red feathers might cause issues, I trusted him to not get caught regardless of them. I, on the other hand, pulled by backpack off for a moment before sifting through it. I felt my way through the various things inside, not trusting myself to use the flashlight.
"A grappling hook, some fishing wire, and leather gloves," I told Aster as he wrote the items down into a notebook. I noticed his curious gaze at the items. "The grappling hook is self explanatory. No launcher, by the way. That would make too much noise. I can use fishing line as a good tripwire or emergency rope if I need to. If worse comes to worst, I can use it as a garrot."
"What in the world is a garrot?" Aster asked, Vic's nod implying he also had no clue what it was.
"An assassination weapon used to choke individuals to death, or unconscious if need be," I explained, watching the two men pale at the thought. Or maybe it was because a child was suggesting such so easily. "Either way, I can use that in emergencies. The gloves are also pretty explanatory."
"Why does it sound like you're prepared for all of this?" Aster asked, sounding just as disturbed as he appeared. I leveled a flat look at him.
"Do you really want to know?" I asked. The man thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. I left it at that.
"Let's hope this works," I muttered under my breath as I pulled out the small grappling hook and thin rope. It was made of hemp, and the hook itself had three hooked prongs on it. It hadn't been painted, so it would obviously glint in the moonlight, but that was fine. I wouldn't need it for long. I looked around, checking last-minute for a visible fire escape, and when I saw none, I began spinning the hook around in a large circle, looking up at the warehouse's roof. The roofs of these buildings were flat, and I assumed they'd have skylights near their interiors. Either way, I tossed the hook up over the edge of the roof and gave it a good pull. It was slack for a little bit, before I felt it catch on something. I gave the rope some experimental tugs for a couple of seconds before, having determined it would hold my weight, I began walking up the side of the building while pulling myself up with the rope. It took me a minute, but I did eventually get to the top, peering over the roof's edge before pulling myself all the way up. So far there weren't any scouts or patrols or Pokemon on watch. I crouched low anyways, pulling the rope up and placing my grapple back into my backpack. I was in no rush, as far as I knew. Alright, time to do a bit of reconnaissance. I pulled out the night-vision binoculars from my bag as I crouch-walked over to the western edge of the building, closer to my first target. I set the bag down beside me and pulled up the binoculars, sweeping the area ahead of me for anything out of place or strange.
It was frustrating when nothing made itself apparent immediately. I'd expected more security, but so far, I was largely disappointed. I was expecting some Pokemon like Xatu, Noctowl, or even a Sableye or something. I guess I was setting myself up for disappointment. I frowned and let out a sigh, doing one last scan of the rooftops. I guess Team Solar was all brawn and no brains. Disappointed, I put down the night vision binoculars, only to find myself face-to-face with a skulled face with a single, glowing orb pulsating behind it.
"Fuck."
I*P*C
And that's a wrap! A bit shorter than I was hoping, but that seemed like a good place to end things. I hope you guys enjoyed it; please leave a review if you did, or if you didn't, I'm happy to hear what you guys think either way! Thank you so much to everyone following and favoriting and letting me know you guys enjoy this story! I hope you see you all in the next one!