Chapter 3: Destined for greatness
The rest of the Rangers HQ wasn't much different from the infirmary. Clay walls, and not much beyond the essentials within them. Slate had barely had the time to get somewhat used to walking around with his new body before Augustyn had returned. The "Gallade" as the other had called him, told everyone that the chief had called everyone in for a meeting. As everyone but Tressa, who was told she wasn't needed there, left the infirmary, Slate noticed that everyone was slowing down their walks significantly to allow him to keep up. Even Latenna, who was covered in metal plates, outpaced his awkward walk easily when deliberately slowing down.
After about 10 minutes of trying to maintain a decent pace, Augustyn led all of them into what seemed like a meeting room, with a long stone table, and a group of unknown creatures already inside. Dart ran up to another dark canine creature with intimidating horns. Thought they spoke with a low tone, but slate heard him refer to her as 'mom'. Likewise, two hulking beasts greeted Latenna, with the steel-plated one somehow sounding feminine. At the end of the table, there was a brown bull with graying fur, and a serious look on his face. And finally, there was a gray wyvern-looking creatures with a disinterested look resting in the corner.
"Well then." The bull said with a deep voice "If everyone could settle down, we will begin the meeting."
Everyone except the wyvern did as he said, finding a place at the table.
"First, I would like to take up out two trainees who underwent a C-rank certification yesterday." he said, motioning towards Dart and Latenna "Thought one of you required rescue from a sandstorm, you ultimately completed your assignment, as well as saving a life out there, which is what ultimately trapped you in the storm. Judging from how the situation was handled, I have decided to pass you, granting you permission to go on C-rank missions from now on."
A round of applause came from the room, with both trainees receiving proud looks from their parents.
"But chief, how is having to get rescued not a fail condition?" Latenna asked.
"You might now have noticed it, but Minerva was watching over you from afar during the entire mission." the chief answered. "If she had rescued you, I would not have passed you, as you will not always have someone watching over you. However, you got rescued by Reinhardt, who was back at the village. Which ultimately means you solved the risky rescue with means you would have available during normal circumstances."
The wyvern, apparently a female, raised her head and nodded. "You didn't think we would send you out there without a fail-safe, did you?"
The realization that her life was never really in danger made Latenna visibly tense up. Treck had a hard time following everything they said, but he assumed it was about his rescue. But then the bull turned and looked directly at him.
"Now, for the second reason I have gathered you all here. Our guest." He declared.
Slate struggled to look into the bulls intense eyes. Not slightest noise escaped his mouth.
"Augustyn has told me about your predicament. Every mon in this room knows as well, but with instructions of not telling anyone if you don't wish for it to happen." the chief continued, eyes softening slightly "Your situation, while rare enough to pass from history to legend, is not completely unheard of."
This was not what Slate expected to hear. He caught himself gaping as a reaction, which his large mouth really exaggerated. "Does that mean you know someone who can help me?"
"Unfortunately, no. Last time it happened was a millennium ago, and on another continent to boot. I doubt there is someone in the badlands who can help." the bull said, shaking his head "However, I have an offer for you."
He seemed to wait for an answer, but when Slate once again didn't say anything, he continued.
"I am offering you to work here for the time being. This will provide you with food and a roof over your head while you get your bearings, as well as help in doing so."
"This would probably be easier to decide if I had any memories…" Slate answered carefully.
The whole room turned towards Augustyn. The medic sighed, and rose from his chair. "Amnesia comes in different forms. An amnesia caused by physical trauma makes the memories appear broken, patching it up is fairly easy. One induced by a psychic looks more like a locked box, requiring a psychic of equal skill to unlock. Keep in mind, this is an analogy for easy comprehension. Mindscapes do not function quite like the physical world."
"So, you know how to treat my amnesia?" Slate questioned.
"As of now… no. What I saw in your mind, I can only describe as a huge chunk of your mindscape missing. There was nothing there for me to fix, neither was there any signs of psychic tampering. I have never even heard of anything like this. That is the main reason I immediately believed in your unusual story, though it also means I can't help as of now."
'No getting my memories back, huh?' Slate thought. Disappointingly, taking the offer might be his best course of action until a clue of his past presents itself. "Okay… what does the job entail then?"
"I suppose our newest members would be most fit to answer that" the chief motioned toward Dart and Latenna.
It didn't take Dart long before he placed his forepaws on the table, and bring an enthusiastic, but messy explanation.
"Oh, we Rangers do all kind of cool things. We explore uncharted territory. Hunt treasures. Bring criminals to justice. Come on, you have to join! You could even join our team." he said, tail wagging.
"There are hardly any places left to explore in the Badlands. And law enforcement is rarely needed in such a small place, and even then it's for more experienced teams." Latenna interrupted "Mostly we do sentry duty, supply runs, and odd-jobs commissioned by the village."
"And you want to hire someone who barely knows how to walk?" Slate asked, looking back towards the chief.
"If you wonder what I'm seeing in you..." The bull answered "...I'm mostly following a sense of intuition. Also, it looks like you could use wage and a roof over your head. So, what do you say?"
As the entire room went silent, Slate hesitated to answer. With almost no knowledge of himself, or the world around him, didn't really give him confidence to make such sudden decisions. But having money and roof over his head really did sound like just what he needed right now. Everyone seemed to understand that he needed to think a little, but a moment later Slate broke the silence.
"Fine, I'll accept your offer."
"Excellent, we will arrange all of the formal stuff in the morning." He said, once again turning towards Latenna and Dart "Latenna and Dart. I hereby order you two on a mission."
"Sir!" they both answered in unison.
"From now on your mission is to train Slate until he is ready to either start his own team, or join an existing one. I expect you impart any knowledge needed as a ranger and citizen to him. You may also bring him along on missions, but for now you will again be restricted to E- and D-rank."
"Understood!" They both said, though they were visibly upset about the last part.
"Now, show him where the pantry and quarters are. Dismissed."
Latenna, Dart and Slate all rose from their seats. They gathered at the door, whispering a little among each other as they left the room. The Pokemon left in the room made sure to wait a little longer, before the Houdoom spoke up.
"You sure about not telling them about the legends, Treck?" she asked.
"There are many things I'm unsure of Alice." the Tauros answered. "But for now I believe it's for the better."
"But every time a human has come to this world, a disaster of world ending properties followed." the Rhydon stated "Can we afford to pretend like this is nothing?"
"So say the legends yes. But what if the legend is wrong? A thousand years tend to skew the details. Perhaps more humans have arrived since then, but never saved the world, nor experienced it needing to be saved. How many times has it even happened?" Treck answered "We can't force him to become a hero based on an old story with dubious validity."
Minerva finally stood up from her corner, and took a place by Treck's side.
"I've known you for too long to not notice that you are planning something."
The bull sighed.
"Yes, I do have a plan. I've set him up to learn how to fend for himself, as well as teaming up with those who found him. Thus leaving room for the legend to unfold, without forcing any of the parts involved. If they wish to live normal lives, this will not stop them from doing so. But if they are truly destined to be heroes, they must find that path themselves."
The Rhydon and Aggron chuckled a bit, thrilled by the thought of their little girl becoming a legend. The Houndoom seemed a bit more worried, but still happy for her son.
"As for the possibility of a disaster. I believe someone else should told of this turnout of events. Minerva, are you up to visiting an old friend?" Treck continued.
"Of course." came the answer.
Badlands Rangers HQ
The isolated nature of the badlands ensures law enforcement from the rest of Oldega rarely pays them a visit. In order to ensure their home would not become a hive of small time villains hiding out, a team of respected explorers founded the rangers to serve as law enforcent in the area. Though daily law enforcement and rescue mission aren't always needed, making supply runs and other tasks accepted missions as well.