"Hey, do you know where Team Galatic is?"
I repeatedly asked this question, only for people to avoid me. No one wanted to know; one dared look me in the eye. Floaroma Town quickly became deserted, with nothing to show for it. Tapping my foot, I frowned, looking at Zorua. "What's the problem when all of them?"
Zorua gave a faint frown, deflated by our efforts. Taking out my rotom phone, I took a while figuring out how to pull up the map, feeling more lost than ever. "Those grunts said it was here, but I see no sign screaming out Galatic Base right here."
"Umm, excuse me, mister... Are you looking for Team Galatic?"
Turning around, I was confronted by a little girl clenching a Chimchar plush tightly. Kneeling to her level, I smiled. "Can you help me? I got a little lost along the way."
The little girl pointed to the flower shop, whispering. "I see many Galatic baddies go in, but none ever come out."
"None come out?" I respond, curious. "Maybe there's a tunnel underneath, another way out? I'll look into it. Thank you, little one. Stay safe."
Putting my phone away, I approached the flower shop, the girl's words speaking the truth. Nothing was on display, the windows were dirty, and the sign said closed in the middle of a sunny day. Rubbing my hands together, I took a deep breath. "This is it, Mimi; let's go and say hi."
Pushing the door open, the bell rang, and I found the shop relatively empty. While there were flowers, most were well past the sell-by date, with the only thing of note being a water fountain in the centre of the shop. But even with all of this, a shopkeeper was still keeping watch.
Approaching them, I kept looking around. "This is Team Galatic's base, yeah?"
No response.
Raising my eyebrow, I smiled, bobbing up and down. "I was told to come here. I'm a new recruit, well I say new I've been a member for over 300 years... Nevermind."
No response.
Laughing to myself, feeling uncomfortable, I tapped the table, trying to keep a smile. "My name is Y/N; ring a bell. Anyone send for a Y/N?"
The shopkeeper opened the till as the water fountain stopped working. Approaching it, I saw a staircase leading down to a secret entrance. "Now that is cool."
Carefully descending, I whistled to myself, seeing a small thrown-together headquarters; it wasn't anything extraordinary, but thinking it was hidden away made up for it. I caught a few members glancing at me as I kept walking, hands in my pockets, excited for what came next.
"Y/N! Y/N, thank Arcues you're here." Grunt 2 boasted, jumping up from a sofa and looking nervous. "We thought you ran off somewhere; what happened?"
"If I'm being sincere, I can't for the life of me remember..." I admit scratching my head. "I think I travelled somewhere well beyond Sinnoh; I saw some shiny gear?"
Pausing momentarily, it was only when Grunt 2 gasped that he stepped back. "Did you say a gear? The Commander needs to hear this! Quickly, quickly, come with me."
Heading into the heart of the HQ, I saw a few scientists inspecting computers and diagrams. At the back of the room was a woman with purple hair and the same costume as everyone else.
"Commander Jupiter! We found the boy Grunt 1 spoke of; we weren't lying."
Jupiter turned around, seemly surprised by my appearance. "Well, well. So these two weren't talking nonsense after all? So you're this infamous powerful trainer I heard all about wanting to join our ranks, huh?"
"Ugh, yeah, that's me, my name is Y/N, and this is my partner Mimi. We arrived in Sinnoh not long ago from Paldea. We're a big fan." I put together probably the best, not to mention we were a part of the team 300 years ago. But, of course, no one ever believes that.
"Paldea? Hang on a second; I heard a trainer just became a Champion over there. So that wouldn't happen to be you?"
Nodding, I took out my badge collection. "Oh, sure is. So we're Champion trainers."
The room fell silent as even Grunt 2 was shocked. Jupiter had to blink a few times, dazed. "A Champion wants to join Team Galatic? Is this fate? Sorry, the way I see it, we don't even need to test you in that case. So welcome aboard, Y/N."
"Thank you, Commander Jupiter; I won't disappoint you."
Grunt 2 stood next to Jupiter, whispering in her ear. "He's seen the Time Gear."
"Is that true? You came across a Time Gear?"
"A what? Oh, you mean that strange gear in the Time Distortion? Yeah, Mimi and I encounter it. I can't describe exactly what happened, but it was like we were looking through a window to the past. I saw Sinnoh hundreds of years ago, back when it was called Hisui."
"Does that match our data?!" Jupiter shouts at the other scientist, who all nod in agreement. "Mars has to hear about this. Was there anything else at all, Y/N?"
"Well, I managed to catch a Pokemon from said past," I explain, holding my Hisuian Pokeball and sending out my Shiny Shinx.
"A Pokemon from the past? The Time Distortions are all true, then. Dialga's disappearance seems more likely than ever." Jupiter mustered, looking at my Pokemon. "Can we run some tests on this Shinx?"
"T-test? What kind of tests?" I question wearily.
But no one got an answer as the alarms began to go off. "Report, what's happening?"
"It's the international police! They've found us, Commander!"
Jupiter looked at me, frustrated. "Was this you?"
"Was what me? I don't know what's going in." I admit turning around. "Why are the police after us?"
"They think we're responsible for the Time distortions." Grunt 2 snapped. "What rubbish."
"Our HQ has been located; we must evacuate, destroy all evidence and submit it to the boss," Jupiter ordered. "Y/N, we need time; we cannot be allowed to be captured. The fate of the world relies on us."
"I... Well... I'll do what I can?"
The rest of Team Galatic began evacuating as the strange man from Jubilife City confronted me. Looker.
"Halt Team Galatic! Whatever plans you have, it ends here." He orders but pauses on me. "You, I should have known you were in the works with them, Volo!"
I forgot I gave him a fake name.
"I'm sorry, Mister Looker, but I can't let you pass. "Go, Shinx!"
"You're making a huge mistake, young man; justice won't wait for anyone. So come on out, partner."
Looker sent out Croagunk, ready for battle.
"Shinx, start with a Thunder Fang!"Shinx charges forward, its fangs crackling with electricity, aiming to deliver a powerful electric bite to Croagunk.
"Croagunk, Counter with a Sucker Punch!" Croagunk quickly reacts, launching itself forward with a surprise punch, attempting to intercept Shinx's Thunder Fang attack.
The two Pokémon collide with a fierce clash of electricity and fist, causing a small explosion of energy. "Shinx, use Spark to follow up!" I order, covering my face from the blast. Shinx's fur becomes charged with electricity as it generates a powerful electric field around itself, then charges towards Croagunk with blinding speed.
Looker wasn't ready to call it quits as he took a stand. "Croagunk, dodge and retaliate with Poison Jab!" Croagunk swiftly sidesteps Shinx's Spark attack and strikes back with a vicious punch, aiming to poison Shinx with its toxic skin.
Shinx manages to dodge most of the Poison Jab but still gets a glancing blow, causing a minor poison effect.
Biting my lip, I paused, coming up with my next course of action. "Shinx, shake off the poison and counter with Discharge!" Shinx gathers electrical energy within its body, then releases a burst of electric power in all directions, creating a widespread discharge attack.
"Croagunk, protect yourself with Substitute!" Croagunk forms a Substitute doll made of its own energy, shielding itself from the incoming Discharge and taking minimal damage.
"Shinx, concentrate another Discharge directly at Croagunk!" Shinx focused its electricity into a concentrated bolt and fired it directly at Croagunk's Substitute, aiming to break through and deal damage.
"Croagunk, now use Venoshock!" Looker shouted. Croagunk's Substitute disperses and charges up a highly toxic Venoshock attack, launching it towards Shinx with increased potency due to the lingering poison effect.
The Thunderbolt and Venoshock collide, creating a volatile explosion of electricity and poison.
Both Pokémon stagger back, visibly weakened from the robust exchange.
For a mere police officer, this Looker guy wasn't bad. But he hadn't seen anything yet. Raising my hand in the air, I smirked, shouting out our most powerful attack. "Shinx, don't give up! Use Wild Charge!"
Shinx channels its remaining strength, surrounding itself in an electric aura before charging forward with a reckless Wild Charge attack.
"Croagunk, intercept with Brick Break!" Croagunk focuses its energy into its fists and strikes out with a powerful Brick Break attack, aiming to shatter Shinx's electric charge and deal a devastating blow.
A clash of electricity and fists ensues, shaking the battlefield with a tremendous impact. As the smoke clears, the Galatic HQ lies in ruins. Croakgunk was down for the count, with Shinx on the low.
Looker stumbled back, distorted. "No, Croakgunk! You did your best, partner. But, I won't let evil get away."
Looking around, the last of the team had managed to escape. However, my attempts to escape looked desirable as a horde of police stormed the building. Stepping back, I felt a cold shiver down my spine. "That's a lot of police..."
"Wait! There's a misunderstanding!" A voice shouted from the crowd as Dawn pushed through, panting. "He's not a part of Team Galatic!"
"Dawn?" I muttered, confused. "What's going on?"
The police moved aside as Professor Rowan appeared, shaking his head. "It appears we arrived just in time. Are you unhurt, my boy?"
Recalling Shinx, I met with the two more lost than ever. "I am? Professor, can you tell me what's happening?"
"I'd like to know that too," Looker argued, looking at me annoyed. "Volo here disrupted our attempts to apprehend Team Galatic once and for all. Instead, he's in bed with the enemy."
"Volo?" Dawn responded, looking at me with a raised eyebrow."
Lowering my head, I shame I sighed. "Yeah, that isn't my name. It's Y/N, you were some stranger asking odd questions, and well, I didn't feel comfortable giving you my real name."
"Y/N, Y/N, Y/N." Looker muttered, eyes widened. "Wait a second! You're the case Professor Rowan shared with us. The boy lost in time."
"That's the one."
"That doesn't excuse the fact he aided criminals in escaping arrest. I'm sorry, Professor, but I can't look the other way over something like that."
Professor Rowan looked guilty over this, frowning. "No, the blame is all mine. I didn't inform Y/N about the criminal activities of Team Galatic; I didn't believe we would run into them. Forgive me."
"Criminal activities? That can't be right, Professor. The Galaxy Team worked together to ensure we could strive in a world with Pokemon in harmony, to explore our home and discover the past. That's what I stood for as a Survey Corps member."
"I'm so sorry, Y/N, but the Galaxay Team you knew and the Team Galatic today are nowhere in the same," Dawn said, trying to break the news carefully. "Two years ago, Team Galatic almost destroyed the world using the power of the legendary Pokemon in an attempt to create a new world. Instead, they're a bunch of crooks who steal Pokemon and cause mass destruction."
"You're kidding... And I just let people like that escape. I've screwed up big time..."
To be continued...