Pokémon Umbral ~ Ruinous Origins Mission 2, Chapter 2

[DanteFalcon]

To defeat an enemy often times the best method is to understand your enemy. If I can become one I would know precisely what we were fighting and have a far deeper understanding of the way they work. Even if Phantomere isn't an option there are others I'm willing to try. With enough time the command gene could probably be neutralized, or in the worst case scenario it just means I wouldn't be able to access that form against ruin enemies. The gain outweighs the risk in my mind.

He fell quiet again, listening for any information the others could give.

[Geminex]

Impact sighed, innerly. Matt had mentioned his plans, and had scraped up a sample of Phantomere, and he had been afraid of this. And he himself wasn't quite sure of how to regard that problem. Was using the power of a ruin type to fight ruin types bad? Or, rather, was using it worse than using normal pokemon? Using their power, that was acceptable, even with normal pokemon. But they didn't just provide power, they thought, acted for themselves. Humanit's greatest assed had always been its ingeneuity, and it had sacrificed that to pokemon. The last great technological breakthrough had been the creation of pokebrids, the last spark of man's genius had gone into inextricably binding human genius with stagnant pokemon instinct. But was the ruinous instinct truly worse than the "natural" pokemon instinct? He didn't know. So he sat, thinking, waiting for Pierce to reply.

[Dracorion]

Pierce listened carefully to the conversation while he inspected the scythe handle. Apparently, Impact had some political ambitions, and his goal was to create a world where no one needed to be protected again. It seemed far too idealistic for Pierce, but then, Impact didn't seem like much of an idealist. Matthias, on the other hand, was cold and calculating, and worked for PATCA simply because it was the lesser of two (or three) evils.

"I'm from Wintervale. I travelled a bit before I came here, and I joined up with PATCA to help people, and also because the fights are fun." He replied to Impact's inquiry. It was all true, but he ommitted almost all of his backstory. He wasn't very keen on telling them that.

[Geminex]

"Indeed. You seem quite... disciplined. Focused. I got that trait in the military... but where did you? For that matter, where did you learn to fight?" He had toyed with the idea of congratulating Pierce on being almost as vague as matt, but decided to leave it for now. Gathering information was more important than doling out liberal amounts of insults.

[Dracorion]

Son of a bitch. Impact going to keep asking, the fucker. If it came down to it, Pierce wouldn't lie. But he also wasn't going to tell him the truth.

"Well, I've been a trainer my whole life, so that probably has something to do with it. I learned to fight from different teachers while I was travelling. It's good sense to know how to defend yourself when everything goes to hell."

[Geminex]

Impact nodded. That wasn't all there was, casual trainers didn't gain that much skill (Renny was, possibly, an exception, he wasn't sure), but it'd do for now. And speaking of Renny... "So... how about Renny? Why're you here? Though I can imagine."

[Menarker]

Renny yawned a bit, evidently tired but he tried his hardest to think of an answer.

"Well, from a practical side of things, my family moved around from place to place since before I was born after my father retired from being a pokemon trainer until we recently stopped moving not too far from here. I decided to get a job close to home so I could be with my family, so I came here once I heard there was a need for those with experience with pokemon. As for why here... Well... I had Togekiss ever since it was an egg and it never was far from my side once it hatched. He is always a compassionate soul and I feel blessed to have him and my other pokemons as my companions."

^^ Renny smiled broadly as if the memory and the thoughts of his pokemons eased up all his fatigue of the evening.

"Anyhow, when I decided to become a pokemon trainer quite a few years ago, I "technically" got Mudkip as my first pokemon, although Togepi naturally came along with me and I caught a few others the old fashioned way. I done my share of traveling, both as a trainer and along with my mother and father who supported me taking me to more far off locations like Mount Coronet among other marvelous places. Anyhow, I was shocked by a particular gym battle where I saw the challenging trainer losing and his pokemon showed signs of extreme weariness and potential abuse, but the trainer didn't care. It was a hollowing sight to me, but the match ended suddenly and the gym leader actually used his full authority as a representative of the Pokemon League and revoked the trainer's license for mistreatment of his pokemon! I guess that is where I got the inspiration to join PACTA. At the time, I felt that I would basically be searching out trainers both legal and criminal who violate the terms of the trainer license and terminate all unethical or immoral treatment of pokemons which they capture as well as the manner in which they are used. Well, I admit it's not as simple as I make it sound. I mean, Shannon here done a tremendous job tonight, even though her past actions were admitably not as noble, so I know that a pokemon's bond with trainers can be quite so deep or that there could be certain circumstances... In a way, I felt that if I raised strong and happy companions through my actions, then I would set a strong example for others to treat other pokemons and trainers with the same respect which should also extend to all others without pokemons or those who don't raise them in the same manner as a trainer. Although I admit that the assignments we done by far is quite different from what I envisioned I would be doing, I still believe that what we have done is a vital contribution."

Renny turned his thoughts inwards a bit more as his words leaked out in the middle of his soul-searching.

"I always felt that everyone was responsible for the connections they make throughout their lives. That living with others meant that our very interactions touch each other in different ways. It is because of those differences that we struggle because we perceive kindness in different ways, and we may hurt each other in the attempt to be kind. But those differences are meant to be celebrated. The way I see it, the befriending of a pokemon or a human and how we interact with each other are really not that different... and that things will change if we behave as if those differences don't make a difference at all. But I'm afraid to admit that I'm still thinking of what I'll ultimately do with my life further down the line or how I'll do my part to make that dream a reality."

[Geminex]

And this was where he broke sometimes. Pokemon for power, he could decry. But... companionship, that was another thing. He would have to... reevaluate. Not change his mind, god no, but consider how this kind of trainer fit into the grand scheme of things. But first... "I see. An interesting story, certainly, interesting motivation. I've also frequently thought that there are individuals who just shouldn't have pokemon, that a pokeball in the wrong hands can be so very dangerous. But tell me... you seem to have great respect for life, particularly for that of pokemon. How do you feel about destroying the ruin types?"

[Menarker]

Renny looked pensive and solemn as he pondered the simple question but complex situation. His visage was an odd sort of serenity as if his consciousness was heavy but at peace.

"I pity them. I really do. Even as warped as they may very well be, they are still living creatures who may have yet to develop fully. They may very well not have the ability to act as their own advocate and be responsible for their actions, lashing out at whatever they see as a threat or being the puppets we have seen them as. And that they are at the hands of those who use them as a weapon makes me wished I knew there was a way to take them back. However, it would be ill to deny that the reality is that there is no room left to negotiate or I would have done so... well, more than I tried already. Some, like the ruin types aren't in the position or able to comprehend negotiation. Some truly believe that their way is the right way or that they can't live peacefully with others... and as much as I hate to think it, some just want to watch the world burn."

Renny cleared his throat and looked at everyone who paid attention to the conversation with a brief but bold expression.

"One of the other reasons why I joined PATCA is because not everyone is capable of defending themselves. Some fear the dangers involved. Some don't even know it exists. Many may not be strong or experienced enough. Others don't have the means to do so. You told me before that I think about the needs of the ones who may deserve a second chance, but also not to forget the victims. I don't believe I have ever forgotten. I joined because I believe I have the means and the will to fight in their place and my comrades all support the cause, acknowledging that others need help. The best I can do is to fight and negotiate when possible as best as my abilities can manage so that the quarrel may be solved with as few casualities as possible. When everything is over, perhaps there can be a resolution where we can make amends with the ruin types... maybe not. We all joined PACTA for varying reasons, but ultimately I believe our efforts support the whole of Honmyr and beyond, even if we aren't directly aware of our effects on them."

[Astral Harmony]

Armored Bishoujo: "This is something Menarker presented to me in PM...with some heavy modifications."

----- Two Weeks After Mission Two -----

Renny stands in front of the hospital where Rayleen and Dormond were administered after the first mission and bank incident. Things have been quite busy, and he felt embarressed to not have visited them sooner. But in his defense, Lola had said that the District Chief and her Mawile Pokébrid butler would have returned over a week ago. What were they still doing in the medical ward of Ricewood Masterworks?

Then again, there was a bit of runaround. As two the first people, Darcen's corpse included, to receive injuries from Ruin Pokémon, the Pokémon Professor of Honmyr, Jeanette Ricewood, had a personal interest. After all, a lot of money that funded her research projects came from PATCA's budget. And Jeanette was a hands-on kind of workaholic.

Renny was admitted after some over-the-intercomm dialogue between the professional and well-dressed male receptionist, and finally saw Jeanette and Dormond...watching Rayleen go to town on a boxing bag. This was mostly due to Rayleen have a different left arm than she did in the first mission. A cybernetic prosthetic of sorts. Dormond noticed Renny first and walked over to him. "Ah, Master Tresserhorn, good to see you. I'm sorry that we haven't stayed in contact with you and the others. Lady Crosswald and Lady Ricewood have been up at all hours of the day and night, testing various breakthroughs in the scientific world."
"Don't call me a lady," Jeanette said crisply. "It makes me feel old."
Rayleen reared back and then slammed the mechanical fist into the punching bag with a blazing fast thrust punch, detaching it from the chains that held it to the ceiling and sending it crashing into the wall. "You have a ten-year old daughter, Jean."
"Still, I like to think I'm still an attractive young woman."

True. Jeanette Ricewood was quite decidedly "smexy". One would describe her as looking much like Shion Uzuki from the Xenosaga series. Science hot, to put it bluntly. She certainly didn't look her age of thirty-five. Rayleen turned to Renny and she and the professor joined him and Dormond. "Sorry that we haven't come back when I said we were going to. The mission where I was defeated taught me something. I think we're playing hardball, Renny. And you know that when the enemy plays hardball, we come bringing the hardest balls there are. But it's good to see someone come, worried about us. Anyways, don't worry about my arm. Actually, if let it heal, I could've kept it, but I'm woefully impatient. I wouldn't even give Dormond time to talk me out of it."
"Lord knows I've tried," Dormond said sadly.
"But enough about us. Lola gave me a thorough report, but you guys haven't been doing much of anything agency related since then, have you? What've you been up to?"

Renny told Rayleen plus two that for most of the past two weeks, he was on a sabbatical of sort, traveling with his Pokémon. In particular, he replaced all his Pokéballs for his Pokémon with Luxury Balls thanks to a particular artisan dealing in that line of business. Needless to say, Togekiss and the rest were elated at this new development as well as the overall relaxing journey enjoying nature.
"Yeah, that sure sounds like you," Rayleen said, chuckling.
"Don't be mean, m'lady. I remember all the times you'd drag me outside when you were young to have fun with Pokémon and nature."
Rayleen blushed and couldn't look at Renny anymore. "Yeah, thank you for reminding of what a dork I was as a kid, Dormond."
Then she quickly straightened up. "Ah! Not that I'm calling you a dork, Renny. I wish I still had the close relationship with my Pokémon that you have now. Anyways, I'm sorry, but I intend to keep working out a little more here. A week or maybe two, tops. After all, the Ruin Pokémon aren't going to take it easy on us, and with some of Faynoc's cultists as well as a Ruin General taken down, he's going to have his eye on PATCA, and us specifically."

A beeping sound was heard. "Professor Ricewood? There are three ladies here to speak with one District Chief Crosswald."
Rayleen and Dormond exchanged looks. Then Rayleen snapped her fingers as though she figured out what this meant. "Hey, are they wearing mini-yukatas?"
Not even a second passed. "Oh, those are what those are. And they all have weapons and look pretty dangerous. I called security, but they knocked them all out in just two seconds."
Rayleen turned to Jeanette. "Professor, please admit them. They're with those girls I've told you about."
Jeanette nodded. "Please allow them through."
It was their first time meeting a true demon. The one in the red mini-yukata was in front. She had beautiful black hair like Chizuru and the same red eyes, but her eyes were sharp and the way she carried herself spoke of many years of combat, perhaps decades or, since she was a demon, centuries. The woman and her two escorts, one an orange-haired beauty in glasses and a blue mini-yukata and the other a very young girl with short black hair and blue eyes holding, of all things, a skateboard. She wore a yellow mini-yukata. "Excuse me for the intrusion. My name is Shizuka Mizuno. I wish to talk of a great many important issues here in Honmyr and would like to propose an alliance of sorts since we all seem to be working towards the same goal."
"And what goal would that be?" Rayleen asked carefully.
"Read this," the little girl said, stepping forward and offering up a tome.
Rayleen looked at Jeanette. "You're the smart one. Can you read all that really quickly?"

Jeanette sighed and took up the book and began reading quickly, her eyes darting quickly across the pages. "This...this is incredible!"
She rapidly closed the book. "But is it true?"
"I think the book contains enough proof, particularly the sketches."
"The pictures, eh? Let me have a look."
Rayleen took the book from Jeanette and rifled through it. "These are really good pictures. A Narcham, a Pulverot, an Omnisroth, and who is this?"
"That is Phantomere, the Ghost Ruin General."
Rayleen confirmed this with Renny who was actually there that night. The picture was perfect and included shading and little snippets of information on various parts of Phantomere's anatomy. "Who drew this?"
"Chizuru Suzuki. She's very good at drawing."
Rayleen continued to flip through the book, allowing Renny to see more pictures. "Hmmm. Oh, what's this bulbous thing?"
Renny couldn't identify it.
"That, according to vague descriptions in the murals I've been deciphering, is Primal Exist."
"You're not certain? Wait, I'm sorry, let's do introductions, first. My name is Rayleen Crosswald. I'm the District Chief for the Pokémon Advanced Tactics and Counterterrorism Agency based here in Fainas Metropolis, and the acting leader of the Watchmen. This is my butler, Dormond Ferguson. That is Jeanette Ricewood, President and CEO of Ricewood Masterworks and is considered the Pokémon Professor of this region. And last but not least, this is Renny Tresserhorn, an outstanding Pokémon trainer in the Watchmen."
Shizuka bowed again, this time the two girls with her doing the same. "I am Shizuka Mizuno, leader of the demon force called the Kimonos and a top swordfighter in our home netherworld. To my right is Kiyomi Matsuraba, the mechanical genius of our force. To my left is Mika Mutsumi, the magical powerhouse and intellectual prodigy of our force. And while you may not necessarily believe it, we are indeed demons from the netherworld, and we have come here to investigate and eliminate the Ruin Pokémon threat in its entirety."

Rayleen blinked. "Under whose orders, exactly?"
Shizuka placed her hand on her chest. "Well, I am the leader of the force, so I guess that means we're doing this under my orders."
"So you're from the netherworld. How did you know about the Ruin Pokémon problem here before us?"
"When we're not beset by some kind of problem, we tend to go out looking for problems. I believe you call people like that adventurers, don't you?"
"That kind of differs wildly from my definition of an adventurer, Shizuka."
Shizuka shrugged. "Then what would you call us?"
"I can't come up with a nice way to say it. But I will say that I'm thankful you did get involved. There's no exact telling how many lives your heroic actions have spared."
"Saving lives is its own reward. At least that's the way most of us in the Kimonos feel."

The friendly banter and more serious discussions continued on for what felt like a couple of hours, and ended with Renny inviting Rayleen, Dormond, and the three Kimonos to the party. Ricewood politely declined, stating that things were picking up too fast for her to afford some free time for a good time.

---- The Next Day -----

Renny goes into the PATCA building and invited Rachel and Lola to a party he was planning at his home shortly after Rayleen returned. Shannon, Moon, and Evangaleen were also nearby, and of course the very nice Renny invited them as well. Renny hadn't seen Moon before today, mainly because Moon was being patched up at a normal hospital. Moon was holding a Pokéball and seemed to be really happy. Ah, that Starmie Shannon captured in the second mission. But the way Moon was staring at Shannon...

Shannon had sealed her own fate in the romance department. Hopefully, she did it intentionally.