Before getting into the story of the elusive Rotom, it is necessary to understand how a Ghost-type Pokemon is 'born'. Many of them come into the world as every other species does, from eggs. However, the large number of Ghost Pokemon inhabiting the planet cannot be attributed purely to breeding. It has been speculated that when a regular Pokemon of any type besides Ghost dies in an unnatural manner, their soul remains bound to the physical world. (The word soul is used due to lack of understanding of what a Ghost-type's body is made of) It is believed to be the subconscious of the passed Pokemon in a state of hibernation. The soul, after attaining 'optimum conditions' becomes a Ghost-type Pokemon. As a subset of this theory, it has been proposed that when an Electric Pokemon dies unnaturally, it has a high probability of becoming a Rotom. This has been backed up by census statistics, showing that the number of Rotom born every year was close to the number of unnatural Electric-type deaths. As a Rotom cannot survive outside a device for too long immediately after rebirth, theorists believe that if an Electric-type meets with an accident at a large distance from a device it will just dissipate. There is still a lot of speculation regarding most of the finer details of reincarnation, however, a band of Psychic-types have recently formed a private organization with the sole aim of rehabilitating these reborn Pokemon back into society. They are the only ones with the ability to detect incorporeal Ghost-types, i.e, 'invisible' Ghost-type. The organisation is called the PRG (Psychic Pokemon for the Retrieval and Rehabilitation of Ghosts), nicknamed the 'Spook Troop' and the PRG officers, the Spook Troopers.

The Rotom woke in a state of complete serenity. It was ironic, considering how terrible his death had been but reincarnation was always very peaceful. Getting used to life after death, however, was another story. Moments later, his mind was a jumbled mess, he had realised he did not know who he was or even what he was. On surveying his surroundings he identified his location to be in an extremely large room filled with loud, rusting machinery. The reason he was able to analyze his surroundings was due to the fact that he had only lost personal memories. His body was as still as from when he awoke, albeit his extreme state of panic. This fear finally took over and he did what any cornered creature would do; hide. The light bulbs underneath him had evaded his attention, that is, until he was inside one. His body felt warm and a blue light was cast over the other light bulbs surrounding him. Turning around, he came face-to-face with crates upon crates of other electronic equipment, to which he felt a strange attraction. The paint on the crates was worn out, and all he could really make out of the text that had prior been on it was "Bun...T...", in a drab blue color. As his mind needed some semblance of reality to cling onto sanity, these words stuck in his mind. Repeating them calmed him down, and he began to think more clearly. The Rotom finally realized that he was indeed, a Rotom. He started to explore in hopes of finding other Pokemon. This took a while, but eventually he came across a Magnezone instructing a group of Magnemite in the heart of the factory. More Magnemite were scattered around, operating machines and keeping busy. The Magnezone noticed him and came over to where he was standing. Once it came to his attention that he was not a new recruit, he called for security. The Rotom suddenly felt a hand grip his body. It was the security guard, a Bisharp wearing a blue hat. When the guard began to feel the sparks sting his hand, he threatened to crush the bulb, which stopped the Rotom's attempt at freedom. Once they stepped out into the sun, it appeared that they were in the middle of a forest and from the outside, the towering structure appeared to be desolate, save for a few puffs of smoke. More Dark-type Pokemon littered the barren ground surrounding the factory, but none of them really cared to give the Rotom a second glance. They all believed him to be another Ghost-type squatter. In a state of panic, he began pleading with his captor; he told him that he did not know who he was or how he got there. The Bisharp's steely face seemed to soften in understanding. In a more calmer tone he explained to the Rotom that he was probably reincarnated. Memories of a painful death began flashing through his head, yes, he remembered dying clearly but he still had no idea where and how it happened. He continued to explain that the Ghost and Dark-type population in the town were quite close, as most of them were outcasts. He introduced himself as Barone and called out to a shadowy figure in the trees, who apparently had been watching them the whole time. As the figure descended, its coloration and shape became obvious, it was a Honchkrow. Her mannerisms were a lot more elegant than the rest of the 'guards' around the factory. Her name was Lira and she was acquainted with a few people that could assist the Rotom. Without another word, she picked the Rotom up in her vast talons and took flight. He faced upwards, so his vision was blocked by the bird Pokemon's feathers. All he felt was the sensation of extreme speed. While most would have been scared of this, the amnesiac didn't as he only cared about his missing memories. His mind was still processing the painful recollections of his death, and the words Bun and T recurred as his psyche's way of coping. Before he knew it, Lira began her slow descent. As she landed, she gently let go of his glass body. His eyes slowly began adjusting to the light and the first thing he took notice to was a large pink mass. Lira greeted the pink Pokemon, who appeared to be a Musharna. She explained the Rotom's situation and bade farewell, before B.T was able to thank her. Suddenly a voice filled his mind. It was soft, motherly and was somehow able to put him at peace. She introduced herself as Mal the Musharna of the PRG. As she was able to read his mind, she was able to provide an answer to all of his questions. But, first, she wished to assign a name to him. He decided to choose 'Bun T.' as a name, due to it bringing him comfort during his panic. She amiably called him B.T after that, and that name stuck. Mal explained the phenomenon of reincarnation to Bun in detail, and made him understand that obtaining his memories, even with the help of a Psychic Pokemon was near impossible. The only reliable way of recalling a past life was to interact with a prominent person such as a close friend or family member. Finding the people close to him would happen towards the end of the program. First, he would have to take a basic test. The results showed that he had the intelligence of at least a high school graduate and based on her psychic evaluations, he appears to be at least 21 in personality development, from his mind alone. The test also revealed an interesting fact, Bun was suffering from some form of dissociation. This explained the disconnect between what he was thinking and what he was saying. Only he and a Pokemon reading his mind, would be able to comprehend how far apart his mind and voice were. They were practically two different entities. Mal attributed it to the trauma from his death. She hoped that their program would be able to help him. He hoped so too, but it had been too much to hope for. The program lasted a month and all it achieved was to sharpen B.T's memories of the town. He was also able to leave his light-bulb body for the first time, ever since possessing it he felt comfort in occupying it. Even though he was able to leave it, he remained in it as his regular body felt clumsy. As he did not require food, water or sleep, a job was not really necessary. The only basic necessity he required was electricity, so he had to recharge every week at a power source. Mal still recommended him to pursue a work license but he was on the fence about it. He was free to stay the nights at the PRG Warehouse for up to 3 months which he appreciated. He wished to figure his pas out and Mal had a pretty good idea about his identity.

There were a string of disappearances of Electric-types 3 years prior, with no culprit caught. The general public were under the impression that these Pokemon were murdered by a serial killer, infamously dubbed "Volt Killer". Their bodies were never recovered. She believed that there was a good chance that he was one of these victims, as even though it was 3 years ago, their times of death could be a lot later. Using the Troop's resources, she compiled a list of the missing Pokemon along with their families. The families of 3 among the 6 no longer resided in the town. One of the Pokemon was an orphaned Pachirisu with no education or family, so Bun being that one was ruled out. Another one was an aged Luxray, who lived alone in a run-down apartment. The third was a young Blitzle. She was pursuing a Masters degree when she went missing. Her family moved away to get away from the drama and the memories. Even in the unlikely chance that Bun was once one of these Pokemon, there would be no way to find a person that was related to them. So, only 3 more victims were left over. Jack the Pikachu, Caddick the Electabuzz and Marisa the Flaaffy. The Flaaffy was immediately eliminated as she was both Female and too old. Caddick and Jack, however, were both fair game. Jack's parents had died when he graduated high school due to a terrible freak accident. He inherited a large sum of money too, as he was the only heir. He used most of this money to put himself through college. His dream was to become a doctor, but 4 years into the course he went missing. He was known to be extremely charismatic, intelligent and a loyal friend. Not only was he a model student, Jack also participated in community service and was not a stranger to the slums of his beloved town. It is safe to say that the entire town mourned his death the most of all. The only relation this beloved Pikachu had, was an Alolan Meowth named Jasper who was his lover. It is not know how the two met, all that was known was that the both were deeply in love. Other details about the Meowth are about his various rumored connections. He was seen several times with gang members and it is said that he acts as a courier for information. Jasper was the only questionable thing in Jack's, otherwise, admirable life. Caddick, who many called Caddy, on the other hand was significantly less popular. He was a mechanic who ran a maintenance shop with his wife, a Magmar named Bertha, affectionately called Berry. He began working at his father's shop, "Mortar Maintenance" after graduating high school. His father, a robust Magmortar passed the store down to him and went into retirement after teaching Caddy his craft. Soon, the young Electabuzz married Bertha, who was a childhood friend and longtime love interest. She was also very proficient in working with technology, so they revamped the shop and reopened it as "Cadd-Berry Maintenance". It became a go-to place for any type of electrical maintenance required due to their fast and friendly service. Their regular customers were distraught and even provided support to Bertha after Caddy was legally declared to be dead. She tried running the store without him for a while, but business ran dry as Caddy's electrical prowess was fundamental to the store. She was also still in grievance and did not work as efficiently. She still lives in the city and works as a cashier at a general goods store. "Cadd-Berry Maintenance" is now closed, but it is still owned by her. She hopes to reopen it once she saves enough to employ an Electric-type full-time. Mal provided Jasper's and Berry's addresses, as they were Bun's best bets.

He decided to first meet with the Meowth. Jasper lived in Jack's old apartment. It was small, but it was decorated expensively. Souvenirs from different regions decorated the marble mantelpiece. The fireplace contained a heater that could be adjusted to create the optimum temperature. Every piece of furniture or decoration had its purpose and it all came together to make the small living space as grand as possible. Jasper greeted B.T warmly as he had been informed prior by a Spook Trooper. Bun provided the entire story and Jasper listened intently while sipping on a glass of berry juice. B.T could swear that the suave Meowth's eyes moistened when he started talking about Jack. Jasper, knowing that Bun could possibly be the spirit of Jack, escorted him to Jack's former bedroom. It was now a shrine of sorts, filled with pictures of the deceased Pikachu. It appeared that people who knew him had placed letters along with tokens of their affection. These pictures provided a sensory overload for B.T, which prompted him to pass out. It was not exactly unconsciousness, he was merely 'locked out' of his body. Visions of his death clouded his mind, The tear-soaked faces of the Flaaffy and Pachirisu were prominent. He was not able to move, he was not able to feel a single thing. Suddenly, there was a flash of light followed by maniacal laughter before everything turned dark. B.T woke up next to a power socket. He felt the flow of electricity through his body, which was further evidenced by the bright blue glow on the white walls. Jasper stood above him, looking relieved. The grey-furred Pokemon informed the Rotom that he had not been out for too long. Jasper continued on to tell him that even if he wasn't Jack, he obviously had some connection to him before, so he would be glad to help Bun if he ever needed it. After B.T had fully charged up, Jasper bade him farewell and told him that if the Rotom ever needed him, he just had to come back to the apartment. Deciding to call it a day, B.T returned to the PRG Building. He wanted to share his flashback with Mal, but she was out on the field.

He visited Bertha the following day. He found her at the general goods store and requested a few minutes of her time. She too had been visited by a PRG office the previous day, so after requesting a co-worker to fill in for her she took Bun to the back of the store. He explained himself to her just as he had done to Jasper, but she took it harder than him. She did not want to believe that somebody she spent so much time grieving over had returned in a form so unfamiliar to her. She still had a glimmer of hope inside her, so she entertained Bun. He wished to visit the old shop as he hoped more memories would resurface. She was initially reluctant to, but her curiosity overcame her grief. She re-entered the store, explained the situation to the kindly old Hoppip who had taken over for her and escorted the anxious Rotom to the boarded up store. The sign which once was in vibrant shades of red and yellow now lay drab and dusty. Berry unlocked the door and entered it before promptly leaving it again. She was obviously holding back tears, so Bun entered it alone. Although the place was not maintained in over 2 years, it was obvious that it was once a very active store. The floor was littered with old parts and the backroom was a host to a large number of machines. A large number of personal devices were on display with price tags and brand names. The same overwhelming feeling of recollection from his time with Jasper came about. The last thing he saw was Bertha wiping her eyes and entering the store before passing out and hitting the ground. He saw the same scene as before, except more clear. This time however, he saw only a Blitzle and Luxray. Something he noticed was that they were tied up with thick ropes. He was even able to feel the ropes digging into his flesh. Once again, there was a bright light followed by laughter and darkness. He awoke feeling much more weaker than the last time. A large red finger was inquisitively poking at his now, shattered body. He left it, and told the confused Magmar about his flashback. She believed his story now and was determined to help, as a way of giving respect to her deceased husband. Seeing the dilapidated state of the store, B.T got an idea. He told Berry that he was going to receive his work license soon and that he wished to work at this store. As she had no spare money, she could not hire any other electric-types and the Rotom felt that remaining in this store would allow him to recall his past. She was initially bashful but eventually accepted. After the fiasco that was his interview, Bun informed Mal about his decision and began assisting Berry with her store.

After a year, Cadd-Berry Maintenance was bustling once again. Bun lived in Berry's apartment and kept a close friendship with Jasper. He stopped caring too much about his memories as well, his life as a Rotom was going smoothly and he enjoyed it. However, he felt that he was not needed in the store anymore. With Jasper's help he had found an enthusiastic Heliolisk who Berry now had the means to pay. So, in a bid for independence he decided to find work somewhere else. His grey-furred compatriot informed him that a restaurant called 'Finer Things' was currently hiring, so he decided to try there. Due to the facts that his light bulb body (a new one was custom made by Berry) allowed him to modify the lighting of any room efficiently and that he could manage any machinery in the store better than anyone he was already a really strong choice by the management. His extreme neutrality and lack of negative emotions really sold it to them and he was hired to join the wait staff.

"Make yourself comfortable, ahem, Mr. Bun T was it?"

The derelict Whismur's extravagant mustache twitched as he regarded Bun through his window-pane spectacles. His species is already cursed with the bane of ugly 'eye holes', seeing them through glass thicker than a Tsareena don't do them any favors. Furthermore, a Whismur's voice compounded with the croak of an old voice would have deafened B.T if he possessed ears. B.T's mind was sparking as much as his body did.

SO THE QUACK IS A WHISMUR. I ASSUMED THAT A PSYCHIC TYPE WOULD BE IN-CHARGE OF PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION, HOPEFULLY THIS KATZ CHARACTER PROVES TO BE WORTHY. I AM ALSO CONFUSED ABOUT HIS GLASSES. HE DOES NOT POSSESS A NOSE. HIS TABLE SEEMS TO BE CLEAN ENOUGH. NOT TOO MANY BOOKS. PERHAPS HE KEEPS THEM IN THE CUPBOARD. HIS WINDOWS NEED CLEANING. OH HE'S ASKING ME A QUESTION-

"Yes, that is correct. I would, however, prefer it if you referred to me as B.T. Also, I would like to enquire about your glass-"

"Please, please, make yourself comfortable, don't be shy," the Whismur continued, blissfully soundproof to the Rotom's comments.

His filament flared to life, casting a bright blue over the shabby looking therapist's office. The humming noise that emerged from him increased in pitch.

"I do not appreciate being interrupted, especially by a-"

"My, oh, my, it has gotten a tad bright, hasn't it? My, oh my, it must be one of those new-fangled inventions! Ah, I remember the days without these dastardly devices. Why it feels like just yesterday I set my trusty Illumise, Lisa, free," he went on, with tears in his eyes.

"You have just confessed that you enslaved-"

"Sorry for making you listen to an old man's fanciful whimsies, my dear Bun!"

Katz's minuscule eyes seemed to sparkle through his spectacles as he let out a squeaky guffaw. The lightbulb only seemed to glow brighter and hum louder.

IT APPEARS THAT I HAD DRASTICALLY OVERESTIMATED HIS ABILITIES. I WONDER HOW MANY VOLTS IT WOULD TAKE TO CURE HIS SENILITY. OH NO. ARCEUS HELP ME HE'S STARTED YAPPING AGAIN-

"So now, let's get to the reason for your visit. You wish to earn your work license, correct?"

His gaze almost turned steely as he pushed his glasses further into his face, displacing several folds of fat. Bun was not fazed.

"What other reason would there be for my visit? I do not imagine many people would choose to come here out of free will,"

PERHAPS NOW HE WILL UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S AN ABSOLUTELY MIND-SHATTERINGLY ANNOYING ORGANIC FAT USELESS UGLY OLD FU-

"As I expected! Now, fill in this form and I will be ready to begin your rigorous psychiatric evaluation,"

AM I DOOMED TO THIS NIGHTMARE AS PUNISHMENT FOR MY LAST LIFE? WHY IS HE SO DAFT. WHY. WHY. WHY-

He twirled his mustache triumphantly as he slid a piece of grubby paper across the gleaming ebony desk, along with a red, metallic fountain pen emblazoned with dragons. The pen was of an older make, and it appeared to be human-made.

"Shouldn't this information have already been provided to you by the establishment? I was instructed to fill a similar form prior to this visit,"

B.T levitated the paper off of the table and scanned its contents. He floated the pen as well but chose to wait for an answer before writing. His blank eyes stared as threateningly as it could, at the purple lump's 'face'.

PERHAPS KATZ WAS MERELY PROVIDING AN IDIOTIC FACADE. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WAY TO INDUCE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. YES THAT IS WHAT IT IS. HE IS EMPLOYING ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES THAT I AM UNAWARE OF. PERHAPS-

"Just fill in the form, my dear Rotom. The lights have gone awfully bright, haven't they? Anyways, go on then, the test awaits!"

ODD THAT THE GOOD DOCTOR IS STILL CONTINUING HIS ACT.

"Right away."

Sparks bounced off of the pen as B.T's volatile tendrils touched it. He began writing in a neat, efficient script. It would've looked typewritten had it not been for the cheap ink. It was a regular form, almost identical to the one that the PRG provided him, except it also included a 'time and date of visit'. Bun slid the paper across the table. The spots where his 'arms' grabbed onto it were slightly seared.

"Thank you, my dear boy. Now, for the test,"

PLEASE LET IT ALL BE AN ACT.

He gave a little chuckle and switched a 'recorder' on. It was a dusty old machine that appeared to have been made of cherry wood. It had a large rusted spout that seemed to be for capturing sound. B.T was not entirely sure on its functioning, except that the sound was captured on a magnetic film. His presence would interfere with the process.

"Doctor, if I may interject. My electrical discharges may interfere with the recording of this session, so if I may suggest, I could enter the device and speak directly through it? This would allow for a much clearer recording,"

"Discharge-what now?"

The good doctor apparently had decided to take a 5-second nap through the rotom's explanation. Infuriated, B.T decided to possess the recorder nonetheless. Katz let out a small shriek of surprise, but he surprisingly understood and have an approving nod.

SEEMS THAT THE FOOL HAS MET OTHER ROTOM. HE MAY BE INCOMPETENT BUT HE IS OLD. THE MACHINE. YES. I CAN FEEL ITS NUANCES, ITS COMPONENTS. DIFFERENT. YES. VERY DIFFERENT. THE TECHNOLOGY IS OLD BUT COMPLEX.

His original body descended gently and set itself on the doctor's clean table. Katz picked it up, and placed it safely in a pencil holder. B.T noticed the gesture and his anger faded just a little. As Bun's mind became accustomed to the workings of the machine, he gained the ability to project his voice through the recorder.

"I will be ready when you are, Doctor,"

His voice had a grainy undertone to it, almost as though it was pre-recorded. He was also noticeably louder, even uproarious.

"Good initiative, old chap! I would have appreciated some warning, however, you gave me a dreadful fright!"

VERY AMUSING. IF YOU WEREN'T IMMUNE TO SOUND I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU PERMANENT HEARING LOSS,

The old Whismur chuckled kindheartedly as he pulled out the list of questions. His voice immediately lost any trace of joviality and became as hard and monotonous as Bun's own voice.

HAS THE ACT FINALLY ENDED. AM I DREAMING. I CAN'T DREAM. HOW SILLY OF ME. THAT PAPER SEEMS-

"The time is 5 hours past sunrise. Good Morning, Mr. Bun T. My name is Dr. Katz von Purr. Today, I will be performing a psychological evaluation on you to see if you are fit tFiner Things-Berry Maintenance'. I would like to confirm some background information. You are a Rotom who had awakened in the B.Tech power plant of this city, correct?"

"Yes."

"Good. First question: What is your age?"

"I was born a month ago. I had already written it down howev-"

"Second question: What is your gender?"

"I'm genderless. As I had already said in the form I identify myself as-"

"That option is not accepted. I will ask again. What is your gender?"

"I identify as male. Would asking you to completely listen to-"

"Male it is. Third question: Which word best describes you? Kind, Carefree, Flighty or Mean-spirited?"

"I hope you are not attempting to waste my time. I was under the impression this test was of a serious nature. I will-"

"Oh, you're definitely Mean-spirited. Fourth question: What is your favorite color?"

"I do not possess a favorite color. I do not comprehend why this question is in any way relevant-"

"Hmm, Red it is. Last question: Which symbol best represents you? Heart, Sword, Arrow or Kitty Paw?"

"I am unaware on the definition of a kitty. As you are going to answer for me anyways, I refuse to communicate anything more."

"Kitty Paw it is! Great, the test is over. Thanks for complying, Mr. Bun, I will have your results in a second. You may exit the device."


FINALLY. IT IS OVER. I JUST HOPE HE PROVIDES ME WITH A LICENSE AFTER THAT MONSTROSITY OF A TEST. CHANGING BODIES IS ALWAYS SO STRANGE. FOR A SPLIT SECOND YOU ARE CONNECTED TO NOTHING. JUST ANOTHER WANDERING SOUL.

A crackling noise was emanated as B.T switched back to his light bulb body, and a faint blue light was cast upon the room once more. The only other sound was the rapid scratching of Katz's fountain pen. Bun was in a terrible mood, he knew the evaluation meant nothing but he did not say anything out of concern for his job security. Hence all he could do was wait. The silence was broken by the shrill voice of the aged quack.

"You are PIKACHU! You are round, short and stocky; but you are very cute and adorable. People like you a lot. You're more interested in mind games. That means you're all set for a job. Congratulations, my dear boy! Give my regards to the staff,"

WHAT. WHAT. WHAT. WHAT-

"I am at the highest state of confusion I have ever attained during my existence. I would like to ask you a question if you do not mind?"

"Absolutely my dear boy, I'm all yours!"

"Thank you. Are you a certified psychologist? If so, what second-rate university did you attend?"

The doctor's eyes widened as far as a Whismur's eyes could. He took his glasses off and set them on his table. He then began laughing uncontrollably. His mustache quivered uncontrollably with every guffaw. Tears began streaming down his eyes and he brought his chubby arms up to wipe his face. He brought out a bottle of darkly colored liquid and a seedy looking glass. He poured himself a drink and chugged it down. The 'doctor' then picked his glasses up and pressed it against his mauve face.

IS THIS WHAT FEAR IS. IT IS STRANGE FEELING BOTH RAGE AND SOMETHING SO CONTRARY TO IT. WHAT IS HE DRINKING. PLEASE TELL ME IT ISN'T-

"If you are not going to take me seriously, I would appreciate it if you awarded me the license and let me-"

"I apologize, my boy. I shall answer your question if you still haven't pieced it together yet. No, I am not a certified psychologist. Even if there was a university that taught that in this region, it definitely is not anywhere nearby. The 'Dr.' next to my name is completely honorary, the only degree I have is of Management. However, I do appreciate you giving this old man a laugh, my dear boy, though it was at your expense. I have your license right here, it was prepared the day after you applied. This entire 'psychological evaluation' is nothing more than a formality, old boy. The only way you wouldn't receive your license is if, for instance, you were a convicted felon. But, as you were only 'born' a month ago, there's no issue. If that's the only question you have, you may leave. I would offer you a drink, old boy, but as you're aware,"

He gestured at Bun's body, winked and handed the laminated card over to the now extremely bright Rotom. B.T accepted the card, nodded and left the office.

IT WAS AN ACT AFTER ALL. BUT IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY THAT I ANTICIPATED. IF I COULD LAUGH I WOULD. IF I PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATE THE FOOL WILL THEY REVOKE MY LICENSE. THEY PROBABLY WILL WON'T THEY. CURSES.

In a completely dazed state he muttered to himself.

"I must return to my residence,"

He shut the tall wooden door, making sure to leave a burn on it. He turned and started towards the exit of the grungy government building and took note of at least 20 other Pokemon waiting to receive the same 'evaluation'.

THOSE POOR SOULS.

Taking one last look at the glimmering gold plaque on Katz's door, Bun sighed internally and left towards his abode.