Chapter 6: Mirage

In Johto's neighboring region of Kanto, a black jet- embroidered with a P- touched down from the sky. The vehicle reconfigured into a similarly styled car and accelerated into the trees. Brodie was at the wheel, his loyal Ditto upon his shoulder. The task Shelly had assigned him was simple in description but intricate to perpetrate. He reckoned it would take a considerable amount of time before he acquired any information that Shelly could use; the target she had given was overall very unclear. Given the nature of the subject of his mission, which was quite grim, Brodie had first infiltrated several police stations and combed through their case files. According to these files, quite a while ago an incident occurred in this forest that might be worthy of Team Phreatic's notice.

"Well,I guess this is it, Ditto."

Brodie eyed the forest ahead, wary. They drove deeper into the woods, reaching the outskirts of a lake, where a sizable structure had been built on its edge. The building would undoubtedly have been elegant and extravagant, were it not for the fact that it was a hollow shell of its former self, burnt and decrepit- almost a "mirage" on the horizon. According to reports, the mansion used to be owned by a man named Dr. Yung. He was a brilliant scientist whose innovative new Mirage System held significant promise, but after an incident (which had resulted in the burning of this place), his eccentric nature had been revealed and he was blacklisted from practically every scientific community and practically vanished. Where he was now nobody knows, for the last time he had been seen he had slunk back into his mansion, even as it burned around him. It was very likely he had become a casualty of his own malfunctioning Mirage System.

The mansion had been deemed unsafe for entry since then, but Brodie was confident in his ability to traverse it.

"Okay partner," said Brodie as he pulled the car up to the dilapidated entrance. "Let's see what we can find."

Pulling out a flashlight, Brodie entered the crumbling remains of Mirage Mansion. The interior was just as broken down as the exterior, with walls and furniture either unrecognizably burnt or crushed to pieces by the remnants of the collapsed ceiling. Brodie occasionally came across shattered dome-like devices- undoubtedly remnants of the Mirage System. The system itself was a feat of engineering, something that would be of great interest to Team Phreatic, but it held only part of the reason for Brodie even trying to visit a place like this.

Eventually, Brodie reached a room unlike all of the others: the lab. Though nothing appeared usable, either damaged or even frayed, Brodie continued to move deeper into the room. However, as he moved to inspect a massive device at the center, the floor caved in beneath him and he and his partner were sent tumbling into the abyss. The two plummeted for what appeared to be several feet, enveloping darkness surrounding them. Brodie began to prepare a plan for escape, but as he was about to tell Ditto to transform into something that could cease their fall they felt a pair of tentacles firmly grasp them. They yelled in surprise, but soon they were on the ground, as if they hadn't fallen at all. The owner of the tentacles made itself known, stepping out from the shadows to reveal a Tangrowth.

"Oh no you don't!" Brodie reacted immediately. "Ditto!"

Before Ditto could assume any shape in his partner's defense, footfalls echoed from the shadows.

"It's been a while since I've had any visitors," said a voice, a dim light illuminating in the distance, allowing Brodie to see who had spoken. Despite the condition of the house, Dr. Yung looked no worse for wear. He spared the two a glance that bordered on haughty as he began to speak once more. "Tell me, what brings you to Mirage Mansion?"

Brodie recognized this person as Dr. Yung, developer of the Mirage System; the very same system being used to project the Tangrowth before them. He smiled triumphantly. He had come here looking for tangible information on the Mirage System, but this was even better.

"Dr. Yung, I presume?" began Brodie as he stood, his "host" nodding in confirmation. "Team Phreatic needs your unique talents." From there Brodie explained the workings and goals of Team Phreatic, as well as why they require his assistance. "We need someone with your skills to break down and analyze the technology of the DMA so it can be utilized for our purposes."

"Interesting…" hissed Dr. Yung sinisterly, crossing his arms with an intrigued smile. "... very interesting indeed. And what can I expect in return for my aid?"

"You may also direct whatever you discover towards your own personal endeavors," offered Brodie,"I'm sure someone like you would make great personal use of such technology."

"Yes, I will humbly admit that is true," said Dr. Yung, looking at one of his Mirage System projectors. "Very well. Can you take me to this "Team Phreatic"?"

"Of course," confirmed Brodie, him and Ditto nodding.

Yung nodded silently, retreating back into the darkness. From afar, Brodie could hear the sounds of hurried packing. The operative grinned, as did his partner. The Mirage System was powerful, but the mind of its inventor…? Brodie could barely suppress his own laughter at the resounding success of his mission.

Within a few minutes, the pair left the Mansion, entered Brodie's car, which swiftly transformed into its jet form and they flew into the night sky, leaving the ruins of the past behind them.