Roach's notes on the enemy

  2028

  March 7th

  Today was not a good day, for one, the 30’s pushed our line back further. They had breached the defense screens in Europe, forcing through a beachhead. This essentially meant that Europe was lost. No one said it but everyone knew it. No matter how many bullets or bombs were thrown at them, they would keep coming. A never ending wave that absorbed everything and replicated. Default global strategy was to never allow MACH to gain a beachhead, but things rarely go to plan which meant we had to fight regardless. That was a bloodbath like no other. Later in the day CMD transmitted a message, describing a recent discovery that could affect TerraCMD global strategy in a huge way. One of the lead researchers described that the MACH 30 rely on different types of metal for survival and the reason for their rapid evolution. This manifested as the 'Classes'. A different 'Class' for every unique problem humanity could throw at them. However a plan was devised: If we can limit or cut off access to certain metals, we could theoretically railroad MACH 30 into certain predictable 'Classes' that the world could fight much more easily. I doubt it will be so easy, but time will tell.

  2029

  4 months till projected end of humanity

  Reflection on past notes

  It did not work. They started digging. Seismic readings even say they have breached the crust.

  We are fucked. Only ‘immovable Object’ has not yet been discovered. How long till they find us. I don’t even want to think about it.

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  A fist slammed into a desk and paperwork flew everywhere. Pens and staplers bounced off to hit the floor.

  Sergeant Sarah stood at attention in front of the desk, eyes locked straight forward and stock still.

  “Excuse me Sarah, this is just very bad news.”

  She had known the Lieutenant a very long time and had never seen him this agitated before. But she could relate. She was pissed as well. They had lost a ranger. That was bad enough, but a psychic ranger she had trained? That was bad news when bad news went to the farm up north. We need t--

  Johnn interrupted her thoughts. “They should be coming in the next two hours. Make sure to retrieve Renault’s tags from Warden when you bring them here.”

  All banter between the two had gone once they had read the report. A ranger had died and they had found another that turned up out of nowhere, saving the team? Sarah was immediately suspicious and had prepared countermeasures if this ‘green man’ turned out to be a spy. Terrorist teams had had a sharp increase in activity in recent months and she wouldn’t be surprised if this 'Roach' was a scout. The Rangers as a whole had not been of great interest for these teams, but maybe they had readjusted their plans.

  “Yes Sir, I have also prepared measures in case this ‘Roach’ is what we think he is.”

  “Good, we will need Golduck. Make sure she is prepared.”

  “Will do.” so saying, she marched out. Plans already on her mind.

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Pokerra

  1 AIF

  8:45am

  ????

  Ringtown

  Roach

  The three rangers and Roach crossed a small bridge over a wide, fast flowing river that skirted around the sides of what Warden mentioned was Ringtown. The town to Roach’s eyes was more like a large village. Small log cabins dotted around, surrounding much larger wooden buildings. Placed along a strip of gravel road that the group was walking down. He had been told that they would go and report formally to the man in charge, Lieutenant John Bushwell, and he was to attend, to add more accuracy to the report.

  Hopefully they aren't super suspicious. I have no idea where this is in regards to the region, but all I've seen so far are rangers. Maybe rural Hoenn? I remember in the games it was somewhat more wild and untamed than both Johto or Kanto. Sinnoh is another possibility. regardless, I’m here for multiple reasons and hopefully they let me stay.

  The four humans made their way through town, different ranger teams acknowledging Warden with a strange gesture as they passed by. A very familiar building stuck out to Roach. It wasn’t made from the same wooden materials as everything else seemed to be, it was a modern looking, metal and concrete structure with a bright red ceramic roof. A Pokecenter he realised. A building essential for pokemon recovery and healing. He hadn't spotted the blue roofed equivalent however.

  Roach wondered out loud. “Hey Warden, is there a pokemart or equivalent here? I should probably get supplies for Babayaga.” Gesturing to the ghost somehow stuck to his shoulder. Yaga had never been in direct contact with him before, and felt comfortably cold, like a personal air conditioner.

  What a weird ass thought.

  Warden looked back at Roach. “Yeah sure, I'll give you a small tour after this debrief with the Lieutenant.” He sighed. “I’ll probably be assigned to escort you anyway.”

  Roach only nodded in reply.

  I also must try to get my weapon fixed. If Yaga cant scare off other aggressive pokemon or people I need an option other than the knife.

  The group soon found themselves outside an unassuming, wooden longhouse. As Warden knocked, Yaga grinned at Roach, body language saying. "Watch this."

  The door was answered by a small but professional looking blonde woman, who proceeded to take in the group with a soft look. That look turned steel when her eyes landed on Roach himself, then transformed into well hidden terror when her eyes flicked to his shoulder. The ghost grinned a fanged smile in return but stayed unmoving on his perch. Roach caught the flash of emotion but the others didn’t seem to notice.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  She coughed into her hand, hiding the emotion and addressed the rangers. “Good to see you three made it out of that terrible situation, don't blame yourselves for Renault’s loss, we will celebrate his actions in life at the pub with some of the others. A final farewell to a fellow ranger.” She paused before the other three nodded firmly to her.

  The woman addressed Roach. “Now… Roach I assume?” He nodded. “You may call me Sergeant Sarah. I want to personally thank you for helping out in an emergency, not many would, and even fewer would survive.”

  Previously confused at her reaction to him and his partner, brightened considerably at the compliment.

  “However before we go on, the lieutenant wants a debrief.” And snapped a turn, gesturing for them to follow inside.

  She led them through a cosy looking house, to a set of doors which Roach assumed to be the office. Not knocking, she pushed the doors open and his eyes were greeted to a large study. A comically large amount of papers were piled neatly on an overly large desk. The ‘Lieutenant’ sat in a comfortable looking animal fur chair, and almost impatiently, without looking up from a report, addressed them. “Good morning to all of you. We lost a good man, a good ranger yesterday, but your report was unclear as to how and why this happened. Please enlighten me.”

  The rangers were all at attention while Roach stood easily at parade rest. Warden marched forward to report. He then ran through the events about their team tracking down this Alpha Girafarig, Renault contacting it for peaceful talk, and then finally the meeting that led to his death. Throughout the retelling, the Lieutenant nodded at certain points but then held a hand up when the giraffe ran away.

  He looked up for the first time, eyes flicking over Roach and Yaga but didn’t physically react. Yaga frowned in disappointment. The lieutenant locked eyes with him. “Roach… No other name, I am Lieutenant Johnn Bushwell. Now tell me why you did the unbelievably stupid act of jumping into a deadly situation which you had no knowledge nor control over?”

  Roach, standing easy, held his fiery gaze. “I moved on instinct Lieutenant, I heard the scream and psychic build up when travelling along the coastline. That was the only course of action.” He paused, and with heat added. “I was not going to leave someone to die. Their group were the first humans I had encountered in a week. Being lost in an unknown forest alone... ahem, only with Yaga, led me to some desperate measures.”

  A confused expression flashed across the Lieutenant’s face. “Wait what? Then how did you end up in the forest randomly wandering? How did you get here to Fiore? Because that isn’t any issued ranger uniform I know of.”

  Roach sucked in a deep breath.

  I can’t hide this otherwise they won't take me seriously about the MACH 30.

  “I bring a message from a planet far, far from here, however I know for a fact that you would never accept it without something to detect the truth from lies.”

  “Sergeant” The lieutenant replied stone-faced, nodding to her.

  She didn’t move from attention but in the next second a pokemon opened the doors, and waddled into the room. It was a blue feathered, humanoid looking duck with a red gem set between the eyes.

  The Golduck, without any spoken direction, moved over to Roach. Yaga suddenly twitched and hissed when the Golduck reached to place a webbed hand against his head. The blue duck squawked and flinched back in shock but Roach reached a hand to settle the floating basketball.

  “It's ok Yaga,” he consoled. ”I know, they need to see it to believe it.”

  Johnn and Calir both arched an eyebrow at that while Warden and Sarah eyed him curiously. Marty looked like he had one puff to many from a weezing.

  The ugly duckling then put its hand up to his forehead and closed its eyes, red gem glowing while it concentrated. Roach felt certain recent memories get guided to the surface of his mind.

  Helping Warden and his team.

  Trekking through the forest not quite alone, following the coast.

  Meeting Yaga and terrified of the pokeball at his waist.

  Darkness and wind. Yawning out at him, welcoming him in embrace.

  Madness, a blinding white flash.

  An encouraging cry to fight till the end.

  Unbeknownst to Him, the others watched as Roach’s eyes glazed over and tears slowly dripped onto the floor. They observed his oddly coloured Gastly get progressively more agitated, a low howl growing from its throat. The Duck strained in effort as more memories surfaced.

  And a wall overrun, melted bodies everywhere.

  Machines, alien, almost animal in design, devouring everything.

  Unstoppable, Unending, Waves.

  Friends, allies, brothers, sisters consumed.

  One thought rose like a whale breaking the surface for air.

  Red lights, RED LIGHTS, RED LIGHTS, RED LIGHTS, RED LIGHTS.

  They might be coming, no they are co–

  The blue duck shrieked, piercing the silent observation while Sarah gasped and clutched her head, falling to the ground.

  Roach came to, still tense and standing at rest with the others staring in shock at Sarah on the ground.

  Johnn was the first to move, he released an already growling Weavile. The purple weasel pokemon flexed jagged white claws which it pointed immediately at Roach and snarled, to which he interpreted as ‘Don’t move a muscle bastard.’

  The room seemed to sharply drop in temperature as Johnn nursed Sarah, dropping all decor.

  He shouted to the others present. “Get nurse Joy here ASAP. Tell her that both a ranger and a pokemon are injured.” Managing to glare at Roach in process, while Calir charged out the door.

  Johnn practically barked. “You better have a bloody good reason for that Roach, cutting off a memory reading can severely damage all connected psychers.”

  Roach, still slightly dazed, sharpened and a cold rage simmered at the accusation. “You try to relive the memories of your world dying Lieutenant. The MACH 30 devoured our entire world and wiped out all of us. And yet I can't die when the last of my brothers fall?”

  He seethed, pointing towards Sarah, who was still unconscious. “She saw the result, the last moments. What do you think would happen? Sunshine and rainbows? No shit Sherlock, try again.”

  The Lieutenant looked surprised that someone would talk to him that way.

  Roach paused, taking a breath to calm down. “For what It’s worth, I had no idea that could happen to psychers, and for that I am sorry. No one should have to witness that disaster.”

  Warden helped Johnn put Sarah into a safe position while Marty gave his full attention to Roach, eyes wide and mouth open from a world ending bombshell.

  Minutes went by in awkward silence as they waited on Joy to arrive. Soon enough a pink haired, middle aged woman rushed into the room, running straight for Sarah and Golduck. The pokemon was conscious, but according to its deep grimace, obviously in pain.

  The nurse checked both patients and after four or five minutes of examination announced that they would be fine, getting a sigh of relief from Warden and Johnn.

  “Golduck will feel the psychic backlash for a few days, but Sarah will need more time to recover.”

  Joy’s voice was stern but kind. “At least a week for her Johnn, and don't let her do something so dangerous again without healing pokemon on standby. And you, young man.”

  Holding up a finger at Roach. “Will come to get your loyal pokemon a check up as soon as you have finished here. I wondered why the room was so chilly.” She left just as quickly as she came, rushing out the door.

  Johnn waved Roach away. “This will be dealt with soon enough. Go get out of my sight and explore town or get acquainted with the locals. Do not leave town, there are much more dangerous things in the surroundings than what you have seen. I will have another meeting with you and Sarah when she is well enough to back up or refute your claims. Until then try not to fuck anything up and take a shower.”

  Marty looked at Johnn with a question in his eyes.

  Johnn let out an exhausted sigh.

  “Yes, you can escort him. Make sure he doesn't leave, we have unfinished business.” The lieutenant said, dismissing them.

  “Sure Dan.” Roach snarked as he left.

  Once Roach had got back under the bright morning sun, Marty asked. “Who’s Dan?”

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  A man in a dark room strode up to a specially designed storage tank. He observed the tool inside. Even during sleep, it never moved unnecessarily. The perfect tool. A blindside to the entire League. No one would see this coming, not even Lance.

  That bastard champion had helped unite two regions at war. Even Samuel Oak, in all his power, could only force a treaty.

  A small smile came over the man. He would tear Johto and Kanto apart. Kanto was his home and had sacrificed mountains of blood for it. He would spill mountains more.

  To make things even more interesting, his 'friends' had mentioned strange activity in Fiore. He would have to tread lightly with this opportunity.

  The man prepared carefully, patiently, oh so patiently, waiting for a moment of weakness. He would get what he fought for long ago.

  END OF CHAPTER 3