บท 76: The Pioneer
The Previous Generation, the world before worlds, was a shrouded past, a bygone era of humanity. No tales nor person survived into that Generation to this, and if there were, only a handful had done so.
However, their technology or so-called 'artifacts' survived and aided the new humanity. 'Magna' was one of the pioneers that casted these technologies and allowed humans to advance at a fast rate, spearheaded by an unknown individual who went missing for a better part of the decade, but now, they have returned.
Lyra, the warrior of the Previous Generation, but this name was not her true name nor the mask that we call 'a face' is not her true identity; Nobody knows her true self nor intentions.
-
Thunderous marches echoed through the vacant halls, a legion of men and women walked across these confinement. They were all nervous, it was an ungritting force that swallowed them whole, for she had finally arrived. One single call and that was enough.
Once they reached the end of the unbearing walls, in front of them lies a silver-blue door, bleeding with azure crystals, chains were seen at its frame, slowly opening itself, allowing the visitors to be devoured one by one. As the entrance finally opened, they were greeted by a familiar figure at the other end. She sat on her throne, undiminished and unshattered.
Though the halls' intensity gave them dread, it was in this room that they faced a menace. They felt their shoulders heavy, their face mopped, and their heart bled.
"Our deepest apologies that we couldn't give you a warm welcome, my lord." said by one of the petrified people in the group, who was coincidentally the current CEO of the company.
"Any updates?" Lyra asked.
"We've found him, my lord. One of our teams managed to pick-up their signals; they're drawing closer to the Falls. If all goes to plan, you can achieve the greatest of powers, and your disciples are willing to listen to your gospel." He stated.
"We are not alone in this race." Lyra muttered.
"Team Rocket had long passed its expiration date, it is nothing more than a mere nuisance amongst the fleeting fields of the elysium." she continued.
"However, this small conspirator shouldn't be underestimated. It may be small but its languishing torches continue to pass on."
The brunette remembered an old story of the past, the city of Krakow. After the Napoleonic wars, the Polish-state was soon dissolved and annexed by its powerful neighbors, what was left was the free-city of Krakow. Though small, it garnered the tenacious will of the Polish People, their exurbs of freedom and isms. Poland may be gone from the maps, but the people shall never waver. They passed this legacy to the people of Poland till this day. Though it is insulting to compare the Polish people's trials with Team Rocket's malevolent empire; for her, the mere similarities bothers her the most.
'If there is smoke, there is fire.' was one of her philosophies that she learned throughout 50,000 years. Team Rocket's ember is still shining but it was already passed on.
"We also intercepted a transmission from one of the warehouses at the Goldenrod city, we assume this is the workings of Team Rocket." The CEO stated. One of his cohorts took a tablet out of a bag and showed its screen to the brunette. It was a picture, the fabled R slowly fading its right leg, turning into a P.
"As of now, we don't know what 'P' means but all we know is that it's an abbreviation-"
"Plasma." Lyra cutted him off. She understood what it meant, there is no denying that this new group would be more dangerous than the former.
"When a rocket launches off, its thrusters' fuels are being burned, those will become Plasma. Once it lifts off, Plasma will remain at its former launching site. Team Rocket did speak truth to blasting to the stars, but those stars were their graves, and the Plasma will be its continuation." Lyra explained.
The entire room was shocked to see the logic behind the naming scheme, rationalization would assume this is too ambiguous, while as the Cynics would say otherwise. But it somehow made sense.
"We must hurry then, my lord." the CEO stated. Lyra agreed.
"But before you could take your leave. We would like to give you this gift." the CEO grabbed the parasol behind him and revealed it to Lyra.
The once crystalline shades no longer embraced this artifact but with one touch from Lyra, it rekindled and it finally found its long lost master, The Fisher of Men.
"Hello old friend. May we continue to spread the old apocrypha like we used to." Lyra spoke to the Parasol.
-
"You know, you remind me of my younger sister. She's the same age as you are" The ginger complimented the young trainer.
The two were eating their meal at one of the tables near the center of the dining area. The boy had his steak while she had her vegetarian diet.
"She is a trainer like you are. She's currently competing in the Galar league as we speak." She stated.
"She must be a strong trainer then, what's her team?" The intrigued boy asked.
"I don't know but last time I checked it was a Yamper and a Rookidee."
Though he has never heard of these Pokemon before, he assumed that they were strong if they were the only Pokemon in her team.
"What about you? Were you a Pokemon trainer?" The curious boy asked.
A brief silence dissipated in the winds, her warm stare faded off and gazed upon the food on her platter. It was a dysphoria that she had anticipated. Why didn't she become one?
"I had a dream once, 'To become the very best like no one ever was', but ever since our parents died, I had to play as the figure to my little sister. Though our Grandma provides, she was busy, so I had to do things in my own ways. Bills don't come cheap neither does care."
"I had to sacrifice that dream for the greater good for me and my sister. It takes responsibilities as being the eldest sibling." She explained.
"Besides, Pokemon training is seen as a kid's thing. Adults have less time in their hands." She took a sip from her drink after explaining.
'School is getting closer, I have to become the Johto champion as soon as possible.' Yoake thought to himself.
He realized that his time is getting scarce yet his road was a kilometer longer. He had the option to enjoy the fruits of being a Kanto champion but pride and a stroking ego pushed him into a wall where he had little to no breathing room. So many sacrifices were done for this child yet he wanted more.
"May I ask why you have decided to join the Johto league as well?" She asked. "It's always interesting to see a champion of another country decide to join the other leagues as well, it's rare."
He had many reasons yet he chose the cowardice and shallow answer.
"I just want to be the very best, I suppose." a demeaning reply spoke from his mouth.
"Ah… I see."
"Seems everything is set." a cheered tone entered the scenery, breaking the two's silence and interrupting their lunch. The tone came from Lyra and behind her was the CEO.
"Ahhh mister Katsuragi, apologies for not being able to give you a warm welcome." the CEO greeted.
"Nice to meet you."
The boy saw the CEO's ID, a familiar name exposed itself in the small case, P. Sherman.
"Wait a minute, you must be the guy who's been paying Leaf's hospital bills."
"Indeed, I've been providing aid for you and your sister throughout your adventure in Kanto, including Leaf's. And it was us who also provided assistance when you two were orphaned."
It was him, the man whose shadowy presence finally revealed himself, though it was unknown at that time but the revelation was an honest welcome.
"Thank you for everything, I guess."
"No need to thank me, thank your father. Without him, Magna wouldn't be as successful as it is today." P. Sherman stated. "If we weren't so in a hurry, I might tour you around and show his office at."
"Nevertheless, if you need anything, you can always count on us, Mister Katsuragi." He continued as he gave him his personal calling card. It had a subtle white-coloring, the tasty thickness, and it even has a watermark. It made every businessman on Earth jealous.
"This is my personal number, which I always reply to asap." He said.
"Thanks." Yoake was grateful for the kind gesture of the CEO which brings him an idea.
"May I ask if it's possible for this to decipher?"
The trainer revealed the keypad phone in front of them, they were shocked as messages began to pop out from the phone yet it was indecipherable.
"This is the phone that my father gave me upon his death, ever since then, this phone started to send these messages. We tried decoding it but not even a single language is a match. I was wondering if you guys could." He continued.
While the others were shocked, Lyra was bewildered. The messages were written in a language that is far beyond time, far beyond human history, a language that was lost many millennia ago, it was English.
"We'll work on it." The CEO said upon taking the phone from the trainer.
"Yoake, can you come with me to Whirl Islands?"
"Sure."
"Our choppers and the team are on standby." The CEO stated.
'A team? What for?' Yoake thought to himself.
"Let's go then."
With the brunette, the boy, and a handful of scientists heading towards the elevator, the ginger and the CEO followed them afterwards. As soon as they entered, the CEO and the ginger stayed as they watched the crew set foot on the steel cabin.
"It's an honor to meet you Mister Katsuragi, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call." The CEO continued.
"Will do." Yoake smiled.
Both Lyra and the CEO looked at each other one time, though he was used to her visage but it was odd that she managed to pull out a complete 180 from her true self.
"Take care then."
A/N: Hello everyone. I'm sorry for the long hiatus, I was busy with school and college stuff so I couldn't update the book. However, now that I'm on vacation, I can write as many chapters as I want but of course I will not be hindering its quality. Don't worry, this book will not be discontinued. This shall be a verdict.
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