Urban Sapient Classification System (USCS) for all things from accessing certain public facilities, living accommodations, employment, or residency. Employment isn't necessary for residency, but that was only up until recently.
The Oathkeepers are made up of a singular Latios and Latias and have been dispatched to intervened in battlefields all across Unova Pokènoa. Their first involved conflict was the Unovan Draconic Civil Wars, and their most recent was the Kanto - Johto War of Annexation.
While all Lati's Oathkeepers have direct orders from Arceus for Guardianship over certain earthly domains., the Oathkeepers serve under the command of High Priestess Victini as her personal Army. Rumors are that they Ray and Rio each served directly underneath each brother during the Draconic Unovan Civil Wars before Lady Victini recruited them to her ranks.
Ever since the disappearance disposal of high priestess the first Victini, they have been reassigned recruited to guardianship duties, like the rest of us. In the time they have been reassigned, recruited, they have provided the council with invaluable information on Human society during this time, deciding to blend amongst them as their fellow Pokemon. However, until Lady Victini's return to the council, they are sworn by oath to never interfere with human governments ever again.
Peacekeepers for some, warmongers for others, they are undeniably the most proficient killers out of the High-Lati council. in the Order's ranks. Only time will tell if they are needed once more to bring any conflict to its swift end and break their oath.
- Scribe July of the High Lati Council. Head Scholar Lok, Order of Arceus
Three days ago, an Unbound Hoopa crossed into our reality. In his time here, he has created multiple tears in reality across the globe and has injured Lady Celebi in the process. This Unbound Hoopa has been summarily dealt with.
However, the aforementioned tears are still in repair. We have contacted Lord Hoopa in hopes to patch these breaches with the help of Lord Palkia, Lady Dialga, and Lord Giratina.
All field agents are to be aware that there may be anomalies in time, space, and distortions in the laws of nature. However, the most pressing matter is the ongoing encounters with unusual pokemon and humans with varying sapience, locomotion, intellect, and physical attributes.
For lack of a better term, we have dubbed these anomalous beings as "Alternates."
Fortunately, none of our encounters so far have been hostile. All Oathkeepers are to take any necessary action to ensure the security of our reality, but no efforts shall be made to antagonize any Alternate unless they have been deemed as a threat.
Most alarmingly, there have been alternative Gods inhabiting the same place of origin as our own. Personalities, powers, names, and lifespans differentiate from what we have grown accustomed to. All of the higher Gods have been made aware of these alternates and any lesser God shall be spared from this knowledge on a "need-to-know" basis.
Fortunately, it does not seem that these Alternates can damage our reality more than it already is. As long as our Gods are not harmed, we should still be in complete control of our fabric of space and time. However, this is purely speculative. An Alternate can still affect the people or places they inhabit. You will make any and all attempts to make sure the worst does not come to pass.
If for whatever reason, the Oath must be broken to ensure the safety of our reality, do what you must. The Triumvirate will see to your transgressions with grace depending on the context and severity of action.
Heavily affected areas include the following regions with increasing severity as the list goes down:
Hollis
Unova
Orre
Sinnoh
Alola
Johto
Kalos
Hoenn
Galar
Paldea
If possible, do not make physical or mental contact with any Alternates. If necessary, egress from the area and contact the local Shepherd after every encounter. No matter how small a breach, report any and all anomalous activity to the Research Branch. More information is to follow as this situation develops.
|| Operation Sunburst Orders and Terminology | Previous Post | Side Story Chrono. ||
[[ Recorded video has been lost due to in-situ interference and deliberate tampering. The following is the only recorded audio and PsyCommunications recovered that was reconstructed and cross-checked the the tactical operations center (TOC). ]]
[[ This audio transcript and accompanying visual may be disturbing to some individuals. Listener discretion is advised. CW: blood, death, medical trauma, and upsetting imagery ]]
All staff, Cipher's time is over. Before the sun rises, our sins will be bare for the world to see.
Leave them nothing.
SORCERER: (Telepathically) Last room. Clear it.
MAGE 2: (PsyComm) Copy.
CIPHER ELEMENT: (Shouting) Wait-!
(Screams are followed by a quick burst of gunfire)
MAGE 6: Three bipeds down. No lab coats.
SORCERER: Shame. Proceed.
(A hydro pump is stopped by Sorcerer before it can hit Mage 3. Bullets whizz down the hallway and Mage 3 and 4 return fire)
SORCERER: (Shouting) 3, 4; focus fire on the enemy torrent. Force him back into the room.
(Loud crashing is heard as various office equipment and concrete debris is thrown at the enemy shadow pokemon. Gunfire recedes when the remaining Cipher agents are neutralized)
SORCERER: (Telepathically) This is taking too long. (Pause) We’re leaving the incapacitated and trapped to CLERIC. MAGUS, give condition.
SORCERER: The first floor is all clear. Assault team is green to green and heading to the second floor. They know we're here and they're scrambling down the stairs--leaving BDA to CLERIC to maintain momentum. We're facing numbers that far exceed our estimates.
TOC: Acknowledged, Sorcerer. Be advised, we won't be able to make direct contact with you from the second floor onward. You'll most likely be on your own until the facility is completely neutralized, over.
SORCERER: I copy. Sorcerer out.
SORCERER: (PsyComm) Stand back. I’ll get the door.
(Large creaking as door to 2F is ripped off the hinges. Sounds of electric and fire attacks can be heard from the stairwell. Combat continues until communications cease shortly after)
...
ACOLYTE 1-1: TOC, This is Acolyte 1-1. Stand by for SitRep.
TOC: Send it.
ACOLYTE 1-1: The first floor was mainly admin offices and security. We're unable to access any of the facility systems or data vaults without explosives--any override code we try on the security panels is getting rejected. We think there's a master control room at the very bottom floor and MAGUS is moving quick to secure.
ACOLYTE 1-1: Break.
ACOLYTE 1-1: No surviving hostile elements. We’ve got a handful of incapacitated shadow pokemon that we’re processing. We’ll be moving to secure whatever sensitive data we can on this floor, but we don't anticipate anything of importance.
TOC: That's for us to decide, 1-1. Solid copy on all. Try to salvage whatever you can.
ACOLYTE 1-1: No promises, TOC. Sorcerer tore this place to shreds. 1-1 out.
((PsyRadio Hardlink is established))
ACOLYTE 1-1: TOC, this is 1-1. Stand by for SitRep.
TOC: Send it.
ACOLYTE 1-1: MAGUS gave us the all clear for the second floor and is heading to the third floor. We've started SSE on the second floor--it's clear this place was used for processing and holding. We're going to need a full medical suite--everything we got and more. Over.
TOC: Give me specifics. How many?
ACOLYTE 1-1: There's hundreds of pokeballs crammed in here. Might be close to a thousand. Dozens more pokemon in holding cells that need immediate MedEvac.
(Pause)
TOC: Acolyte 1-Actual, say again?
ACOLYTE 1-1: I've got fucking pallets of pokeballs stacked to the ceiling. It's not just Orrelian, it's everybody. Quick scan shows that the serial numbers belong to different countries of origin. This isn't just a lab, it's a goddamn shadow pokemon factory...
(Long pause)
TOC: Continue, 1-1.
ACOLYTE 1-1: ... Something is wrong with these humans. 6-4 did a quick scan on the ones we found alive and they're infested with the same aura as the shadow pokemon. We've checked their ID's and they've all got different nationalities-
TOC: (Interrupting transmission) 1-1, cease all communications and stand by.
(Long pause)
TOC: Acolyte 1-1, you are to proceed behind MAGUS. Do not fall behind. Remember your tertiary objective.
ACOLYTE 1-1: I can't. There's a ton of pokemon here who don't have medical stasis available. 1-2 and I are the only one who can stabilize the non-combatants. All of them are condition red. I am planning on sending Acolyte 6-4 and Acolyte 5 Ripcord with a spliced hardlink.
(Long pause)
ACOLYTE 1-1: TOC, please acknowledge.
TOC: 1-1, was it Sorcerer who downed these non-combatants?
ACOLYTE 1-1: Negative. Cipher was in the middle of liquidating all of their assets. Literally. MAGUS tried to incapacitate the shadow pokemon, but it looks like they went condition black before we got to them.
TOC: Acknowledged, 1-1. If you can, commandeer any medical equipment on that floor--there must be some nearby if this is a processing area. Have your team make way and prep for the Orrelian medical teams. They’re on their way down, ETA 2 minutes.
TOC: Break.
TOC: Acolyte 5 and 6-4 are to continue your tertiary mission. Have Acolyte 3 and 6-5 ready to follow. Acolyte 1, Acolyte 2, and Acolyte 4 are to perform MedEvac.
ACOLYTE 1-1: Acknowledged. Stand by.
(Long pause)
ACOLYTE 1-1: TOC, Acolyte 5 is hard wired with fiber optic and moving down to the next floor. Passing her comms to you now, over.
TOC: Acknowledged. Shifting secondary and tertiary mission command to Acolyte 5-1. Out.
...
ACOLYTE 5-1: TOC, this is 5-1. We got word from Sorcerer that the third floor just got cleared. Expect a longer period between transmissions.
ACOLYTE 5-1: Break.
ACOLYTE 5-1: We found the schematics for the facility and we’re passing it to you now. There’s five floors and we’re gonna have to get creative with our hardwire comms--you might want to send down extra fiber optic wire, over.
TOC: Solid copy on all. Orrelian authorities are sending whatever they can. Take caution, 5-1, out.
ACOLYTE 5-1: TOC, this is Acolyte 5.
TOC: Go ahead, 5-1.
ACOLYTE 5-1: Passing third floor SitRep up the wire, starting with BDA.
TOC: Send it.
ACOLYTE 5-1: 33 hostile elements KIA and 5 labcoats InOp. All biped. There’s no pokemon on this floor for whatever reason. MAGUS went all-in on making it to the bottom floor so we’re left with dealing with some of the unchecked areas.
ACOLYTE 5-1: Break.
ACOLYTE 5-1: 6-4 is trying to use her aura to feel out the rest of the floor, but she’s coming up with nothing.
ACOLYTE 6-4: (Interrupting, in the background) There’s too much behind it, I can’t make sense of the noise…
ACOLYTE 5-1: MAGUS has superficial wounds but are yellow and red on ammo... They're having to scavenge off the downed hostiles and…
(Long pause)
ACOLYTE 5-1: 5-2 and 5-3 have been recalled and are InOp.
TOC: Condition?
ACOLYTE 5-1: No physical casualties but they're mentally out of the fight. Their noses are too strong for what we're seeing down here. I... I don't blame them.
TOC: ... Acknowledged. Continue SitRep.
ACOLYTE 5-1: MAGUS is clearing the 4th floor right now. We're almost through a locked door. We’re sensing movement and 6-4 feels no hostile intent.
ACOLYTE 6-4: Stand back.
(Door is broken into with a force palm.)
ACOLYTE 5-1: What the fuck...
ACOLYTE 6-4: What... what is this?!
(Acolyte 6-4’s breathing gets erratic)
ACOLYTE 5-1: 6-4. 6-4, hey, look at me.
ACOLYTE 6-4: How could anybody do this to them? God, they're not even… God!
(Concrete blasts off the walls from 6-4's outburst)
ACOLYTE 5-1: Yuna! Yuna stop!
TOC: 5-1, 6-4, you are hot-mic'd. Focus. Remember, all transmissions are recorded and these talks of ours can be intercepted. Refrain from descriptions to maintain OpSec and victim privacy.
ACOLYTE 5-1: R-roger.
(Long pause)
ACOLYTE 6-4: (Short breathed, sobbing) How can Austin keep going after seeing this…?
ACOLYTE 5-1: I…
(After a long pause, a deep rumble can be heard in the background.)
TOC: (Urgently) 5-1, we felt that from here. Give status.
ACOLYTE 5-1: I can't. There’s something down there, something big… I can’t-
TOC: (Interrupting) Acolyte 5-Actual, get off the line and report to 1-1. Out.
...
TOC: Acolyte 3-1, this is TOC. All Acolyte 5 elements and Acolyte 6-4 are InOp. Gather your elements and take her place with 6-5.
ACOLYTE 3-1: TOC, this is 3-1. Do they require MedEvac?
TOC: No physical casualties. All elements are emotionally compromised and relieved of their duties for the rest of the operation.
ACOLYTE 3-1: Shit, that bad? The hell did they see down there that's worse than what we're dealing with here? Did it have anything to do with the shakes we felt earlier?
TOC: 3-1, button up comms and acknowledge.
(Pause)
ACOLYTE 3-1: I copy. Moving to the third floor to continue SSE and await the "all clear" from Sorcerer. Out.
TOC: ACOLYTE 3-1, this is TOC. We’ve passed the five minute interval, give me a SitRep.
(Loud klaxon is heard in the background)
ACOLYTE 3-1: Stand by, TOC. Trying to get this thing shut off.
ACOLYTE 6-5: (Translated, background) How is this possible…?
ACOLYTE 3-2: (Translated, background) Th-these beings are Gods! We’ve already purified the one! How is there-!
ACOLYTE 3-1: (Interrupting) Shut up and help me with this! Pull that lever, 3-2.
(Klaxon fades)
ACOLYTE 3-1: TOC (pause), you need to send some sort of medical team down here.
ACOLYTE 3-1: There’s... There's another one. I think it’s still breathing.
TOC: 3-1, if I'm believing what I'm hearing-
ACOLYTE 3-1: (Interrupting) TOC, it’s in critical condition. I have an idea and I need you to relay me to ACOLYTE 1-1 while I try to stabilize it with what I have.
(Wheezing and uneven breathing gets louder and faster as 3-1 moves closer to XD-002)
ACOLYTE 3-1: It's okay, it's okay. I'm trying to help you, I promise.
(After a sustained spray from a potion bottle, the bottle clatters onto broken glass. The uneven breathing is alleviated, but the wheezing remains)
ACOLYTE 3-1: Alexa, get under its head and use your body to raise it a bit. Let's try to clear its airway and make ‘em more comfortable. Brie, see if you can sweep some of this glass away-
TOC: (Interrupting) 3-1, we're connected with 1-1. Go for relay.
ACOLYTE 3-1: 1-Actual, this is 3-1. We passed by a prototype snag machine on the third floor--I need you to bring it down here so we can get this HVT into medical stasis.
(Loud bang heard as door to B5F staircase flies open)
ACOLYTE 3-1: Sorcerer...?
SORCERER: We need to get everyone out of this facility, NOW.
[[ End of Reconstructed Audio ]]
[[ All recordings from this point on are missing due to the deliberate tampering by TOC Command William K. Fitzgerald. No punitive action by the Orrelian government was pursed in accordance to C.O.L. 2 § 11. ]]
… Oh confound it, is this damn thing working? Test. Oh, it writes my words down as I speak. Finally. Wonderful.
Ahem. Cipher scientist Tanji Koji. I have some thoughts I’d like to write down.
|| Side Story Beginning ||
Before, we've been able to use pokemon as the sole frontline soldiers--no need for advanced training or an exorbitant usage of national funds. Even a pokemon captured from the wilds can overwhelm a Johtoan defensive position when released in droves. When damaged, a pokemon can be quickly returned to an optimal condition with a healing station and returned to the battlefield with expediency.
With the advent of pokecenters and medical technology, we’ve been able to exceed anything our predecessors could ever imagine. Using this technology, we've come to learn that the process of creating a shadow pokemon is very simple:
Break a pokemon over and over again until the pieces fall into place.
As long as it is continually returned to the healing station or given enough potions, the psychological toll of constant and continual near-death experiences eventually cracks it. At a certain point, the pokemon mind ceases to process stimuli other than orders and the base instinct to survive using the most violent actions at its disposal.
The methods to bring a pokemon to this state may vary as long as it is followed by repeated usage of a healing station. Bodily harm is not only encouraged, but required. We’ve tried non-percussive methods, but they're much too slow. The more distressing and psychologically damaging the harm, the less time it takes for shadowification to take hold.
Nothing is off the table as long as the healing technology brings it back to a baseline. Eventually, even the most rebellious ones become obedient with enough elbow grease. You will know when you’ve succeeded when you’ve taken away any of their autonomy. They won’t even eat unless ordered to.
Of course, there are limits. There is only so much that the pokemon mind can take before it refuses to process any stimuli. If one goes too far, there is a high probability of a completely defective product. It will cease any bodily function that isn't breathing.
The threshold varies per pokemon, of course. Contrary to initial beliefs, pokemon age correlated to a larger margin for error. If one were to increase their chances of success, one must start young.
The extreme amount of decay that follows a shadow move is currently an issue we’ve been trying to solve. A pokemon body, as a being mostly made of energy, does not take well to over-stressing itself. Eventually, the body fails to “keep up” with its output. Even a healing station fails to repair some of these pokemon past a certain point, which, of course, varies depending on level and age and the extent of degradation.
We emphasize “quantity” over “quality.” The more shadow pokemon, the less of an impact this degradation has to a fighting force made entirely of shadow pokemon.
We’ve called the process “corrosion,” for the lack of a better term. Quite an oversimplification, really, but our clients have no desire to know the process. If only they knew how much work we’ve put into this. Agh. Irrelevant. Remove that. Delete that. Backspace. Stupid program… I’ll come in to excise that portion of this journal with my keyboard later.
What else, what else… Oh!
Our effectiveness has increased tenfold when using the biomass of a lugia that was found in the Rhodo Desert. A lugia, imagine that! More than one!
Its genetic makeup is fascinating--while it is undeniably a carbon based life form like us, its cells have the ability to phase-shift into different material, replacing it with its own. They override a host’s immune system so it doesn’t get recognized as a foreign body. It’s similar to cancer, but it also shares some similarities with parasites in how they keep the host alive.
Of course, while a pokemon may not get sick, this takeover of foreign cells is extremely painful. It's the fastest way for us to create new shadow pokemon. If it worked on the other lugia, it'll work on pretty much anything!
Since XD-002 has become a shadow pokemon, injecting its cells via intravenous methods has proven to quicken the shadowfication process. These parasitic cells give us the opportunity to control a pokemon with ease, giving us the ability to issue verbal commands on a cellular level. Quite a preposterous feat, if you were to ask me twenty years ago.
The usage of cells like these hold some precedence--we used a unique cellular makeup in the M2 project. M1’s cells had a similar ability to override the host cells, but our limited technology at the time was only able to replicate its destructiveness and life longevity rather than its other… creative properties. Ditto were the closest we got in that regard.
Back on topic... this intravenous injection is undeniably difficult for the pokemon, of course. Not all bodies take well to the XD-002 cells, but the high chance of failure filters the chaff from the grain. The process inevitably results in a highly effective product if given enough time and bodies.
Although, we’ve learned that the healing technology we possess isn’t as effective on XD-002. It heals slower. Anemia due to rapid blood loss is still a concern. It needs a longer timeframe to re-attach lost extremities. We must be careful in using its likeness in our experiments--there is no use in a dead legend in our basement. Then again, that thing is far from a god.
End recording. End recording. Stop. Goddammit, this program is going to make my hair fall out. Stop program.
Journal 2
The clock is winding down. Cipher’s time is at an end. It’s only a matter of time and I fear that I am one of the sole researchers left to continue our legacy. And, of course, I am struck with inspiration!
While I was looking into XD-002’s cells and working on XD-001’s development, I had an inkling of a theory that I have yet to fully entertain until now.
XD-001 was captured prior to our experimentation with XD-002. Since then, we’ve been able to find a remarkable finding that her cells didn’t erode compared to the others when we converted her. Of course, she’s a god so that’s no surprise, but she had an undeniable effect when we put her in charge of other shadow pokemon. Their corrosion seemed to stop entirely.
What if we could apply this line of physiology to a standard pokemon instead of finding another god? What if we could do it to a human?
Something similar to how XD-002’s cells operate, but an outside influence instead of an internal one? What if we’ve been too focused on the physical aspects instead of the psychological? What if there was an entity capable of leading the afflicted pokemon through an ordeal of extreme mental and physical stress?
An ordeal like war?
Think about it! The Continental War held the perfect circumstances and parameters for the creation of shadow pokemon! Extreme physical and psychological distress; constant near death experiences; starvation and sleep deprivation; the need to survive using extreme violence; only to be brought back to the front lines with state-of-the-art healing technology! It would break a soldier down to a point where shadowfication is guaranteed! No wonder our equipment survivability rates were so low. They were probably all afflicted with shadowfication and we had no idea.
Yet! Yet… I’ve seen examples where pokemon would hold themselves together because they were guided by something. No, someone... A guide of some sorts to keep their minds intact throughout the ordeal--just like XD-001.
My colleagues refused to acknowledge the undeniable success of Johto’s armed forces. Combined arms doctrine, seeing equipment as people? How preposterous, I thought to myself. How arrogant we were! May I be the first to point out our collective hubris! To think that the final key to our corrosion problem was in our enemy’s hands, all along!
I should have been looking at Johto’s most notorious infantry battalion. The abnormally high casualty to survivability rate? Their anomalous combat records? The ratio of distinguished soldiers? I should have looked at them sooner. They unknowingly perfected the idea of shadow pokemon before we even thought of the concept.
I have to try a new batch with this in mind, I need to find an applicable candidate for this guide… someone similar to-
…Ah.
The facility is under attack.
… I suppose all good things must come to an end.
All staff, Cipher’s time is over…
Final Interview
Saisho: Anything you have to say for yourself?
T. Koji: Did you destroy it?
Saisho: (Scoffs) You told your entire staff to burn the library down with them, but you never planned to destroy your work. I’m not giving you the satisfaction of providing you with an answer.
T. Koji: (Smile) Ah, so you didn’t.
Saisho: …There’s no one to continue your work. Are you sure you don’t want to express your final thoughts--on where you would have continued?
T. Koji: With no one to appreciate my work after I’m gone? Anyone who would continue my work would undeniably fail in the next steps, even with my help. Please. I know I am getting no award for this. I’m not giving you the satisfaction of providing you with an answer.
Saisho: (Grunts) Consider yourself lucky that I’m not planning on rooting around in your memories.
T. Koji: I’m afraid that whatever you find might drive you mad. (T. Koji motions to the guard present) Science knows one of you have already tried.
Saisho: (Turns to look at guard and frowns but receives no verbal confirmation)
T. Koji: The stomach has the ability to purge itself whenever it detects poison. The brain has no such luxury. Unless, of course, it’s followed by irreparable change. Luckily for you, I happen to know how to get you there if you decide to take a look behind my curtains.
Saisho: … You are by far the most unpleasant person I have ever had the displeasure of meeting.
T. Koji: What even is the purpose of this meeting? Have you come to gloat? If you have, gloat away. If you intend to make me feel some sort of… remorse, I must warn you that I have no regrets.
Saisho: Why?
T. Koji: Hmm?
Saisho: Why do any of this? It’s obviously not because of monetary gain. You don’t want recognition for your research by the public. You love your work, but I want to know why.
T. Koji: Ah. You’re a curious one. Curiosity is good, it makes you different from the rest. I’m very glad my colleagues and I were so successful in your creation.
Saisho: Is that it? (Scoffs) You wanted to... make something new?
T. Koji: New? No, my boy. I wanted us to return to something old. A time before you and a time before (gestures wildly) any of this.
Saisho: … Unbelievable. Someone with your talents shouldn’t be following human supremacy logic.
T. Koji: (Disgusted noise) Speciesism? What a painful oversimplification! Our progress as a humans, humanity’s rightful place is the progenitor of this planet before Arceus came to inhabit our world. Do you know what we humans were before you came here?
Saisho: Primitive.
T. Koji: Conquerors. We humans are molded by insufficiency. Progress, technology, science is born through insufficiency. You pokemon are born with bodies that far outperform ours--bodies that adapt instantaneously. You have no need for ingenuity-
Saisho: (Groaning) Spare me the fucking lecture, doctor-
T. Koji: (Interrupting) We rose to the challenge to conquer this world! With ingenuity, we’ve bent everything, even nature, to our will. We reversed the flow of rivers, we’ve beaten the earth into submission, we’ve transformed rocks and mud into iron and steel--every place, no matter how inhospitable, was changed and formed to fit our needs.
T. Koji: (Leans forward) We humans have forgotten our nature, which is to take control of our surroundings, to use everything and anything at our disposal to continue to dominate the planet. Humanity, as it is now, is too content to live in such a regressed state! Think of the countless more things we can do with you if we took away our obstacles, such as empathy.
Saisho: And shadow pokemon are… Just tools for your… return to form?
T. Koji: Yes! Even after pokemon arrived here, we’ve pioneered everything-
Saisho: (Interrupting) With pokemon doing all the work-
T. Koji: (Interrupting) Is a carpenter known only for the tools of their trade?
Saisho: (Interrupting) What a shitty comparison. As far as I’m concerned, you, doctor, are only known for what you make.
T. Koji: (Smiles) That suits me just fine.
Saisho: (Sighs) Perhaps I hit your head too hard on the way out of the lab. I have no idea how your colleagues managed to follow whatever twisted logic you have.
T. Koji: Oh? Indulge me. You can at least try to convince me otherwise. It’s so boring in here.
Saisho: You say humanity needs to regress to a time where they… “conquered” everything via science and ingenuity. History has countless examples disproving your claim of a “stronger time.” The world as a whole has made leaps and bounds ever since Arceus’ arrival.
T. Koji: Again with simplifying it to speciesism-
Saisho: (Interrupting) Is that not what this is? Your rationalization is the same type of language used to twist Kanto’s public. A land of medical science, as many scholars as there were soldiers--all of them thought they were superior because you used scientific rationalism as a weapon. I can’t believe you buy into those theories--that same rationalism has been disproven many times over since the Continental War.
T. Koji: Ah, but look how far we’ve come because of it. So many wonderful things were created because of our eagerness to express our sovereignty. It resulted in your creation, didn’t it?
Saisho: Arceus you are insufferable. My next question: your name was all over the data that was used for my creation.
T. Koji: That’s not a question, my boy-
Saisho: (Interrupting) I’m. Fucking. Getting there. The purpose of the clones was to make more of me, right? The experiments where you placed my cells into the others, just like XD-002… are they experiencing a form of corrosion? How do I stop it?
T. Koji: Of course they are! What else would it be? Well… I suppose we never entertained any idea of what it might be because they were marked for disposal. Why keep defective results?
Saisho: Careful with your next words, doctor.
T. Koji: Ah, but am I wrong? Look at yourself. You are the product of genetic science that has led us to create the perfect bioweapon. Custom built to remove any imperfection. Those other pokemon? Rough drafts. Impurities. Slag. Perhaps I was right in my theory on having someone shepherd them-
Saisho: (Interrupting) You classified them as defective, yet they are still strong enough to bring Team Rocket to its knees when push came to shove.
T. Koji: Yes, with your help-
Saisho: (Interrupting) When Daiya was burying her fangs into a Rocket admin’s skull, I think she was too busy to have me move her jaw up and down so I could help her chew.
T. Koji: … Daiya? You named it?
Saisho: Her.
T. Koji: … They're your friends.
Saisho: I consider them family.
T. Koji: Family?!
Saisho: (Scoffs) Unbelievable. This conversation has been pointless. I’ll figure out how to do it, myself.
T. Koji: I suppose I have Dr. Monoghan to thank for your imperfection. She was always the sappiest of us. You were built to be self-sufficient, not weighed down by notions of place or… belonging. You were supposed to be filled with nothing but hatred!
Saisho: I’ve learned to hate just fine, doctor. I just happen to hate everything you stand for.
T. Koji: See, this is why we remove every emotion from shadow pokemon--so we don't have more of… whatever you’ve become.
Saisho: (Sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose) I’m done with you.
T. Koji: … Our most brilliant minds and resources burnt the candle on both ends so we can create you, the seemingly perfect specimen (wistful sigh) only to build a failure. What a waste.
Saisho: (Stands abruptly. The metal table underneath his hands is warped)
Guard: Sir! Sir. Your time is up.
Saisho: (Stands still for a moment before turning to exit the interrogation room)
Saisho: When the gallows call for your name, look for me amongst the crowd so your failure can watch you hang.
Johnny sheepishly looked away from both Shiro and Denny, but not before he caught their crestfallen looks. Even though he listed a variety of reasons to vote the other way, he trusted his gut for the first time in a while.
5 green. 2 red.
“Mage 2, Mage 3, please move,” Saisho said as he walked within arm’s length, his forearm glowing green.
Denny and Shiro gave each other a look. Any words they prepared disappeared when they saw Saisho stand uncomfortably close. Denny looked down at his hands and Shiro’s. Five magnum rounds and a half-empty rifle magazine between them-
“Don’t,” Johnny whispered to them. Saisho shook his head.
“They won’t. One way or another.”
|| Mystery Dungeon Argument | Briefing | Side Story Beginning ||
As much as Denny felt like he was making a huge mistake, he tucked the revolver into the small of his back with bitter resignation. Shiro reluctantly followed by flicking the safety on her rifle.
Saisho, when walking between the two, placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
“I know you two have been doing what you believe is right. I wouldn’t have held it against you, even if you tried,” Saisho looked down at their hands. Even if they knew he was genuinely trying to make them feel better, Shiro and Denny couldn't help the sinking feeling in their gut.
“Regardless of what happens next, you two are more than welcome to join me in hunting down whoever this data leads us to.”
That put a salve on Denny’s metaphorical wound at least, but Shiro looked away. “I might be done after this. I’m so tired,” she muttered.
“That’s fine, too. All of you will be welcomed to my region as esteemed guests. If you ever need a permanent residence in the rubble, let me know,” Saisho said as he finished his heartfelt olive branch with a touch of black humor.
Saisho raised the scientist ungracefully with his telepathy. Still unconscious, the scientist’s upper torso and legs hung downwards as if he was being held in the air by his tailbone. Saisho dug into the scientists’ lab coat and slipped the hard drive underneath his armor between his skin and the chest plate.
Everybody finally took the chance to take a good look around. All of the CRT monitors were connected to burnt piles of electrical components, which upon further inspection, used to be computers and server towers. Any trace of paper was stuffed into a metal drum and turned into smoldering embers. Upon first inspection, it seemed like the hard drive was truly the only thing left that was salvageable.
Now that the threat of getting blown up by Denny was no longer there, they shifted their concern to the threat of getting blown up by Cipher, instead. Denny was finally able to get a good look at the screen.
“Shit. I’ve seen this terminal command before,” Denny came to life as he made a dash to the monitor.
“Is there a way to stop the facility from exploding?”
“Probably not. The last hideout that used this SDS command had a staggered detonation. The first set of thermobaric charges burn away evidence and suffocate everyone inside. What does your HUD say, sir?”
“My helmet says that oxygen levels are higher than normal.”
“I don’t have time to explain, but their vent system has a dual purpose so they can breathe down here and flood this place with flammable oxygen if they want to. That’s the fuel for the first set of charges. The force from the explosi-”
“Austin.” Logan deadpanned.
“The second group of explosives collapses the hideout,” Denny explains, his fingers mashing the keyboard in an attempt to enter a command. No dice. The cursor wouldn’t even move.
“There’s no way Cipher would risk having any of their data stolen. They have something stronger prepared,” Saisho glowered.
“There’s no way for me to tell where the charges are set around the facility.”
“Even if you did, would you have time?” Saisho asked as he turned to look around the room. As he rotated his torso to look around, he unintentionally swung the ragdolled scientist into the side of a filing cabinet with a meaty thump. Nobody cared.
“No. If I were them, I’d invest in a seismic charge to make sure this entire place got buried for good. They obviously have the budget to do it,” Denny shook his head.
“This place is going to collapse. 12 minutes… We’ll be cutting it close. We’re evacuating everyone above us,” Logan ordered.
Everyone took that as a cue to form a straight line and move up the rectangular stairwell to the upper floor. Saisho took the lead, dragging the scientist up the stairs with little concern of how much he was bumping into everything.
“Hey, you get part of your wish, at least,” Austin nervously laughed. Denny took a breath to sharply tell him to shut up, but he let out a pained sigh.
“I’ll take it.”
"Mage 3, when you said Orre was a backwater country, did you mean it?” Shiro asked, trying to settle her nerves as she looked at the walls around them. Between getting buried alive and shot, she’d rather get shot. Still, either was preferable than getting crumpled into an oversized meatball by Saisho. She has that to be thankful for at least.
"... I mean, sort of. I was planning on moving here, actually. This place is beautiful in its own, rugged way."
“Hell, we could share a border. All I gotta do is hop over Twist Mountain," Vera said, “I could use a drinking buddy after this Op."
Logan took in a breath to tell them to cut the chatter, but he suddenly found himself wanting to join the banter, “I think we all can. Mage 5.”
“It’s going to take way too much for me to forget this,” Denny muttered, “You might get me once.”
“Oui. We’re bringing that lugia with us, right?” Johnny asked.
"Of course we are. That's not up for a vote."
Saisho busted the door open to B4F with a loud crash by using the scientist as a crude battering ram. He was met with Lee (Acolyte 3-1), Paxton (3-2), Brie (3-3), and Alexa (6-5) tending to the shadow lugia. The massive beast flinched at the sight of Saisho and stirred under Lee’s hands. Fresh tears started rolling down his face as Saisho approached.
“Sorcerer…?” Lee (Acolyte 3-1) muttered as he ran his hand along XD-002’s cheek to keep him calm.
"We need to get out of this facility, NOW,” Saisho urgently remarked. He tried to make a telepathic link to the lugia, but flinched and abandoned the attempt shortly afterwards. He couldn't reach past the never ending internal screaming.
"This facility is going to explode.”
"Oh. Fantastic. Well, I can't move them until I get a snag machine down here. I think these tubes might be surgically attached… I don't know if I'll have enough time to maneuver them into the cargo elevator before they bleed out…”
The rest of the assault team got to work with whatever spare medical equipment they had, desperately emptying their potion bottles and tying bandages together so they could reach around lugia’s body.
“You made it," Alexa said with relief. She was straining herself to act as XD-002’s makeshift pillow.
“Can't get rid of us that easy. How's everyone else?” Vera asked as she plucked pieces of glass out of XD-002’s skin.
“Bad. Not hurt, but bad."
“Yeah, same."
“How much time we got?" Lee asked nervously.
“10 minutes!"
"Fuck,” Lee muttered before cupping his left ear-protection to active his push-to-talk radio:
"Netcall, Netcall, Netcall! All Pathfinder and Orrelian elements, this facility is scheduled to detonate in 9 minutes and 54 seconds. Wrap it up! I say again, this facility will detonate in less than ten minutes! Start the evacuation procedure immediately!”
"Oh my god.”
Everyone turned to see Lina (Acolyte 1-1) run into the chamber with an arm covered in wires and tubes. On her back was a haphazardly assembled snag machine and in her hand was a snagball. She was covered in dried blood.
“Hey 1-Actual, does the snagball do medical?!" Lee shouted across the chamber.
"If those extractors on his back are surgically wired in and connected to the ceiling, it doesn't matter what we use," Lina said as she ran forward, looking frantically at the tubes for any type of connection point, “Any ball will think that the entire facility is a pokemon and reject it-”
With a sudden downward flick of his wrist, Saisho forcefully ripped the other end of the tubes that were connected to the ceiling. Metal screeched against metal and a shower of sparks fell harmlessly onto the group. The torn edges of the tubes spewed a mist of purple-black ichor before Saisho tied them into an oversized knot.
Needless to say, XD-002 was wailing and crying buckets, now.
“We’re losing time, we need to find a way to keep moving,” Saisho said as he neatly folded the tubes underneath XD-002’s wings. “I hope this helps. If not, we’re going to have to drag him out of the glass and metal.”
"Arceus on a cracker, warn me next time you do something like that!" Lee shouted, eyes wide. The other Acolytes looked at Saisho in a mix of fear and awe.
"Lina!” Johnny yelled to snap her out of her stupor. She ran up and tapped XD-002 with the snag ball with one hand and crossed her fingers with the other.
To everyone’s immense relief, XD-002 disappeared in a flash of light, tubes and all. Lina looked down to see the snag ball close with a click. The snagball began to flash red and listed an extremely distressing list of medical trauma on the ball’s surface.
“Let’s get out of here. I hate this fucking place.”
With Saisho’s help, the last of them made it to the surface with 47 seconds left to run to a safe distance.
With a muffled implosion, the facility crumpled in itself and was flooded with sand. A burst of fire spewed into the air from the opening, turning the surrounding area into glass. The facility was gone.
AFTER ACTION REPORT - ADDENDUM INCLUDED (2009)
The facility imploded and was destroyed utterly and completely. Any attempts to recover additional items of importance proved to be futile due to the explosions and the surrounding sand that filled the empty space.
Unbeknownst to all at the time, this raid is Pokenoa’s first recorded mystery dungeon.
The recovered data contained the schematics for a purification chamber, which was fabricated, replicated, and immediately put into service.
Exposure to the facility, no matter the length, no matter the species, resulted in extreme psychological distress that led to shadow infestations in every ICSR member who took part in the raid. Without the chambers, they would have had to struggle with life-long adverse effects.
All staff who participated in the Operation were subjected to mandatory psychological evaluation. A quarter of the participating units were deemed as "unfit for service" post psych eval. The afflicted have been referred to psychological specialists for post traumatic stress disorder. After five years, some were able to make a full recovery. Most still require therapy.
The human Cipher agents in the facility underwent a similar physiological change like the shadow pokemon they were tasked to create. Of the six humans apprehended during the raid, one made a recovery from shadowfication. All six were sentenced to death by public hanging under Orrelian judicial law.
1,081 pokemon were recovered, 670 of which were shadow pokemon.
Of the 411 non-afflicted, 230 pokemon were of sound mind and refused service to return to the wilds. The remaining 181 pokemon were returned to their respective homes with full access to applicable medical services and witness protection.
All 670 shadow pokemon were purified using the research recovered from Cipher lab data. Of the 670 pokemon, 632 pokemon had to undergo an invasive amnesic treatment. They currently have no recollection of being in the lab, nor do they have any recollection of who they were before the raid. The remaining 38 pokemon did not survive after the purification process. Of the remaining 38, the longest period between purification and complete bodily collapse was seven minutes long.
The Kaido Region is born out of the mountain ranges north of Kanto and Johto, stretching from coast to coast. Various non-profit organizations provide restoration support in the form of workers and equipment. The work is extremely hazardous and any mistakes are fatal. Those who are employed in restoration efforts for a minimum of one year gain continental-wide citizenship in all three regions and are compensated with a 90% federal tax reduction.
Humans and pokemon are welcome to apply for residency as long as they can survive the harsh environments. The region is mostly occupied by pokemon searching for asylum and those whose bodies can handle the wasteland.
The Orre Region and the Kaido Region were accepted into the ICSR in the months following Operation Sunburst. Alola, Galar, and Paldea join the coalition in the span of the following five years.
Project Monaghan was greenlit immediately after the Operation. One Mewtwo is made per charter region under Saisho's strict observations. Currently, it is a point of contention that the charter regions are the only ones given Saisho’s biological data.
None of the Mewtwos have been deployed in any official capacity. All of them are currently undergoing socialization and education efforts. Saisho treats them all as extended family and they all bicker like one, too.
Top secret research is done on the extra dimensional aspects of the shadow pokemon phenomena, but the research is fruitless. Any further attempts to reach an alternate dimension have resulted in failure, but Alolan scientists believe they are close to a breakthrough.
Cipher exports were traced and local authorities have raided over twenty terror cells in all of the human-led regions. A concerning number of high ranking government officials across the globe were arrested.
Unfortunately, due to the data making it to the surface, the instructions for creating shadow pokemon were disseminated through backdoor channels. The ones responsible were put on trial and sentenced to life in a maximum security prison.
Shadow pokemon are now a common phenomenon amongst the opposite ends of the criminal spectrum. It is common for professional criminal organizations to sell shadow pokemon to individual felons and gangs. They’re not as effective during Cipher’s heyday due to the lack of XD-002’s cells, but they are still effective enough to create a highly lucrative business.
Purification chambers are a commodity in major pokecenters across ICSR regions, but are seldom used. Shadow Pokemon are frowned upon by even some of the hardest criminals and the smarter ones know they invite extreme measures of retaliation by law enforcement. The low frequency in public appearances combined with the volatile nature of shadow corrosion results in an extremely low survivability rate.
Great lengths in pokemon psychology were made as a result of saving the data, despite the clearly unethical methods to obtain it. The most notable progress is a variety of cognitive behavioral therapy methods that are pokemon specific.
XD-002 retains his physical appearance and attributes. He has lost his status as a shadow pokemon and was forced to undergo amnesic treatment due to the immense toll on his mind and body. He remembers nothing up until the treatment, but is lucky to have his body in a stable condition. He currently resides in the Kaido region under Saisho’s care and intends to return to the Orre region when he feels ready.
After comparing lab data from Cipher and Team Rocket, Saisho discovered that he and XD-002 are more alike than they realize. Their physiology is not native to this realm, which allows them to perform reality bending actions. He is currently keeping this as a secret with no intent on sharing this information.
Lugia has made contact with XD-002 on friendly grounds while he was alone. He recalls that in their brief meeting, she called him “extraordinarily shy.” He has yet to choose a name for himself, and he says that he’d like to earn his name from Lugia herself, one day.
Lugia met with ICSR leadership to discuss the ramifications of having two of the same god. XD-002 seems to serve a different function than lugia and does not seem to have any deity-like powers.
As a reward for purifying her, and the pokemon after, the coalition gained the God of the Seas’ favor. All ICSR equipment and regalia continue to adopt her and XD-002’s colors in their names.
The International Free Information Act (2009) reveals previously classified material regarding the Cipher raid.
PARTICIPANTS AND ICSR STATUS (AS OF 2009)
ASSAULT TEAM MAGUS
Saisho [ ACTIVE ]
Appointed leader of the Kaido region and ICSR representative shortly after the Cipher Raid. His main goal is to currently restore the region to its former beauty. He is the head of Project Monoghan currently looking after the other six Mewtwo who were born in the charter regions of the ICSR.
Logan S Watanabe [ RETIRED ]
No longer an active ICSR Operator. Logan has returned to leading the operator's union from a desk. The raid proved to have an immense toll on his body. His dragonite is an extension of his executive power and is stationed in the Kaido region to protect the restoration efforts.
Shiro M. Mikazuki [ RETIRED ]
Retired from ICSR service shortly after Operation Sunburst with distinguished honors. She currently lives in Ecruteak City, Johto near the border to the Kaido region. She was last seen with her feraligator and her husband at the burial site of 1st Lt. Ikari Ryoh (MIA). It’s an annual gathering in Ecruteak’s War Cemetery by her Continental War unit, of which all three of them were a part of.
Austin F. Denny [ RESERVE ]
Currently works as the ICSR's liaison to the Orre Region and leads a domestic investigation unit revolving around the mistreatment of pokemon. Due to the raid’s lasting impacts on his psyche, he’s since been separated from his wife and two daughters who still live in Hoenn. His donphan looks over them at his request.
Austin O. Bauer [ ACTIVE ]
Currently works as the security team lead of a local Sinnohite Operator Union protecting the legendaries on Mt Coronet. He is part of the local task force that is currently hunting down ex-Team Galactic members. Off duty, he's notoriously known as a "coordinator’s nightmare," oftentimes steamrolling through local competitions with his lucario.
Vera T. Kasyanov [ RESERVE ]
Forcefully placed on reserve duty due to failing psychological evaluations post-raid. She adopted (and currently works with) one of the rescued pokemon from the Operation, Trace Kasyanov, in the Opelucid City Fire Department. You can read more about their future on pokemon-fd.tumblr.com. Her houndoom also failed the psychological evaluation and lives in Nimbasa City as a nightclub bouncer.
Johnny S. Neuman [ RETIRED ]
Retired this year after five years of continued service. Johnny has turned his part time teaching career into a full time position as a professor in Shalour University. His seviper decided to stay behind in Orre to provide support in protecting local wildlife.
SUPPORT TEAM CLERIC
Lina F. Bryant [ RETIRED ]
Works as local EMS in Lumiose city with her Gardevoir. They lead a book club held every month. No longer active ICSR reserve due to psychological issues post-raid.
Judy M. North [ RESIGNED ]
Resigned after failing psychological evaluations for active duty and reserve duty. She and her five audino work at the Nacrene City pokecenter.
Lee T. Shinohara [ ACTIVE ]
Currently working as an undercover agent with his two pokemon.
James F Natsuki [ RESERVE ]
Currently works as a personal trainer on his off-time in Blackthorn City. With his two chancey and machamp, the four of them have made a name for themselves as well-known kinesiologists.
Ela N. Faulkner [ DISAVOWED ]
Member of Team Galactic. Has yet to be apprehended.
RECONNAISSANCE TEAM ORACLE
Deacon D. Klein [ DECEASED ]
Passed away peacefully at home, buried with full honors. His flygon has returned to the wilds to enjoy the rest of his days wandering the globe.
Franky S. Cole [ RETIRED ]
Stationed at Pyrite Town as town Sheriff with his camerupt. Their efforts to focus on rehabilitation have been fruitful and they run multiple programs together on community service.
Hana F. Griffin [ RESERVE ]
Stationed at Phenac City as ICSR reserve. She is a professional photographer, earning critical acclaim for her beautiful photos of the Orre deserts. She credits her two yanma for the majority of their work.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS CENTER (TOC)
William K. Fitzgerald [ RESIGNED ]
After a brief discussion with the Assault Team, William Fitzgerald deliberately tampered with records and recording devices in the name of “victim privacy.” While he acted in a manner expected of his station, he was demoted for insubordination and obstruction of transparency. The retaliation was deemed as unfair when brought to the ethics committee by intelligence staff and Orrelian government officials. After he was returned to his old rank, he tended his resignation immediately. He now gladly works as an air traffic controller in Lumiose City.
(( Stand by for the Scientist Journal and Final Interrogation ))
