[Pokémon] The Setta

[miltankRancher]

Prologue:

"Celebrated Professor Rosewood, after 25 years in service to the Kanto Military Organization, or commonly known as KMO, was found dead in her room yesterday night. Officials refuse to give any additional comments regarding her death, though a rumor was spreading that the Professor was killed because of a certain dangerous object she possessed. The object, which, according to reports, was only as large as a plate, was not found in her room, or in any room in the vicinity. Rosewood, though coincidentally, was the third professor found dead these past two months. The first as you all remember was Professor Elder from Sinnoh Region, and Professor Holly from the Unova Region, both of whom endured rumors about dangerous objects in their possessions. Government and private investigations still continue. Live from Goldenrod TV, this is Randy…"

Yale Masahimoto promptly turned off the TV. He silently slumped in his chair, feeling ten years of labor weighing down on him. Elder, then Holly, and now Rosewood… All dead. He could feel the stress bearing down on him. It felt heavy, like lead on a wooden block. Yale stood up and took a look at him in the mirror. At 52, he takes care of himself well. Muscular in built, with a rough fuzz of beard growing. His deep blue eyes accented his deep brown skin tone. The years had worn him out; the once smooth face was carved by a few scars, though not noticeable. He has a few lines across his forehead, and whenever he frowns, these lines suddenly seemed to jump up to him. I'm old… he suddenly realized. All his colleagues are either dead or far. Among their group, the secret group called The Setta, only he, Rosewood, Elder, and Holly remained. The other members dispersed throughout the Pokemon World, living their life away from the burdens of The Setta. And now, he, Yale is the only one alive.

He took his phone from a coat he had hung in a hanger previously. He looked up his contacts; sure enough, The Setta had known of the death of three of its members, none of three months interval. He scrolled down his contacts until he reach a name he was familiar, but was indifferent to him. He dialed it, and held his phone in his ear. The ringing stopped with the second one.

"Yale," a cold voice sounded. Like a steel knife at one's throat, it made Yale afraid to speak.

"Master."

"I've heard of their deaths. A pitiful one, and such a great loss to The Setta," the cold voice said, almost to himself. Yale found it perfect not to say anything. "Yale, The Setta's work is not yet done. And with the loss of the three, the project cannot continue further." Yale doesn't know what the project is all about; he only knew that it required the intellect of the three professors. "I have heard that the new Professor in Sinnoh, Hawthorn, is adept about Pokemon Legends. Talk to him, though try not to spill so many." Yale found him nodding to the voice.

"Is that all Master?"

"Hawthorn might prove to be difficult for you, since he is really at a young age. 24, I think. If you succeed, report to me, and I will immediately send someone to fetch him. If not, proceed to the Hoenn Region. Professor Cherry is willing to help, I'm sure, given the right circumstances."

"But why not try Cherry first? It might save us time," Yale said respectfully. "Master," he hastily added.

"No. Cherry might help, but she is only of a minimum use to us. Adept at the mechanics of Pokeball, Cherry might prove to be of use to a little extent. Hawthorn is whom we really need. I'll attend to the Johto Professor personally," there was a click on the other side of the phone. Yale sighed. Another work, another work he might never finish.

 

[miltankRancher]

Chapter 1: A Fresh Beginning

The young man was smiling as he held in his hand a Pokeball. He nodded to himself before throwing the ball up in the air. In a flash of light, a Snover appeared. A sudden storm of snow whips up inside the Professor's lab, not too strong to cover the lab, but strong enough to send the chills run from the Professor's back to his brain. He suddenly felt a stinging sensation in his neck. He hated the cold.

Freezing, the boy recalled the Snover back to his ball. The temperature rose swiftly, and soon returned to room temperature. The boy hung Snover's ball in his belt, and held out his hand. Professor Hawthorn smiled as he handed him a Pokedex and five Pokeballs. A man of chosen words, Hawthorn hasn't spoken a single thing the whole time. The man nodded to Hawthorn, then went out the lab.

The youngest professor ever assigned to a whole region, Hawthorn is a rookie by Professorship standards. He only took up the post left by the famous Professor of Pokemon Abilities, Professor Elder, when he died a mysterious death two months ago. However, rookie and young as he is, Hawthorn has had extensive studies about Pokemon myth, and lately was named Professor of Mythology. Every single legend he read, every ruin and relic he visited and discovered. At the tender age of fifteen, Hawthorn found the lost city of Language, hidden deep inside the caverns of Sandgem when he was finding his newly acquired Cobble Badge. Since then, Hawthorn found himself taking up the path of Pokemon Mythology. When Elder died, it's been obvious to the Pokemon League who to replace him with.

"Professor, there is a last name here. It is nearly the closing time today. Shall we wait?" Hawthorn's assistant said. It's nearly five o'clock in the afternoon, Hawthorn discovered as he gazed on his Poketch. He has been up since eight a.m., answering the requests of various ten year olds going on an adventure today.

"Yes, Knoe, we wait," Hawthorn answered. Soon enough, a boy, obviously nervous, entered the lab. He was Dante Delano, according to the list. He is also the youngest among the kids, having turned ten only yesterday. "Why are you late, Dante?"

"I was nervous, Professor. The kids all have their Pokemon already,"

"And you too will be getting one," Hawthorn smiled. Knoe brought the last Pokeball to Dante.

"Only one?" Dante asked. Hawthorn just smiled. Date picked it up, and examined the ball carefully. "It's a bit heavy."

"Try throwing it in the air," Knoe said, with an upward flourish of his hand. Dante heaved, and with much effort, threw the ball in the air. Sickly… Hawthorn thought. In a flash of light, a Buizel appeared in front of them.

"Bui!" Dante looked shocked but amazed at the Buizel. The Pokemon started walking to Dante, and, hesitantly, sniffed the hem of Dante's jeans. Dante laughed, a lively laugh that seem to echo in the lab. Feeling a little confident, he stroked Buizel. Buizel looked at his Trainer with a glittery eye. "Bui!"


"Buizel, we'll be going to be great partners!" Dante said. He took Buizel, and carried it on his shoulder. "We'll be going Professor! Thanks for this!" Dante waved. Hawthorn waved back to Dante's retreating figure, Pokemon on his shoulder.

"That's the last, Professor."

"Yes, Knoe. We have finished."

"Can I go now, Sir?"

"Yes, and be quick for night's closing in," Hawthorn said. Knoe got his coat, then bowed to Hawthorn. He closed the lab door. Hawthorn sighed, tired of the day's work.

A shrill scream suddenly pierced the air.

 

[miltankRancher]

Chapter 2: Knoe

Hawthron rushed outside when he heard someone scream. However, the scene in front of him was bizarre. Knoe was there, standing with a Pokeball in his hands, glaring angrily to man directly ahead of him. This man had a Scizor hovering rather lazily at his head. The man, whom Hawthorn assumed to be fifty, has a hard look on his face.
Dante was between the two soon-to-be combatants, crying and kneeling to the ground. His Buizel seemed to be unconscious.

"My arrival seemed to be a... fiasco." the man simply said.

"You attacked the kid!" Knoe shouted. Dante sobbed harder.

"He attacked first, thinking he could subdue an old man like me. Well, it was a bogus, of course," the man calmly explained.

"What's going on here?" Hawthorn felt he should intervene. The man and Knoe looked at him.

"Professor," the man started but Knoe cut him off.

"Professor! This... This man attacked Dante!"

"But he attacked first," the stranger insisted.

"Dante, bring your Buizel. Come here," Dante recalled the fainted Pokemon, and ran to Hawthorne, still sobbing. "Come inside." Both Professor and Trainer entered the lab once again. Knoe and the stranger were left alone.

"Knoe," the man said. "You know why I'm here."

Knoe, who seemed undaunted when the man mentioned his name said, "As you did with Elder."

"Yes."

"Hawthorn is a good Professor."

"I know," the man said. "With Elder's death..."

"I cannot let you get Hawthorn. He has a very bright life ahead of him, and I cannot let you steal it away."

"Knoe, you know you can't do that."

"I can."

"Then, we'll have to battle."

"To death as long as you don't get him," Knoe said. A wind rustled up the tress, and turned the sand around them. A small whirlpool of sand suddenly appeared in their midst. However, the man and Knoe did not shield their eyes. After a long silence, the man spoke.

"Why are you being so hard? This is for our benefit."

"Not mine anymore. I quit remember?" Knoe said. "I have accidentally discovered what the high-ups are doing. Wicked. Sick. Terrible. I can't stand it, and I planned to leak it to the whole department, but they threatened me with knives and words. I can't say anymore." Knoe looked down.

"Well then, you have your own decision. I'm following orders so I'll stay here a few days until I have done my mission," the man said as he recalled his Scizor. "But I'll get him, Knoe. I always do. The only question is how fast I get them. And I prefer them tired." The man laughed a mirthless laugh as he walked away slowly. Knoe was rooted to the spot, watching the figure walking away, and disappear in the whirling sands.

"Not now, Father. Not now," he whispered under his breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"What did the man want?" Hawthorn asked Knoe. Dante was happily playing with the Professor's Munchlax in a corner. His fainted Buizel is now revived, and was being entertained by Hawthorn's Alakazam. It was levitating a ball above Buizel, clearly out of reach.

"He didn't say, Professor," Knoe lied. He perfectly knew what his Father wanted here. Living in the Johto region, it seemed unusual that his Father would travel to Sinnoh's Sandgem Town accidentally, and rushed straight to Knoe and Hawthorn. And, for Knoe, where his father is usually means trouble.

"Did he mention who he is,"

"No," Knoe quickly replied. There is no point in bothering the Professor to say that the strange man was his father.

"A pity," Hawthorn said. "Dante was scared. But he confessed the attack, saying he felt confident for the first time in his life. So much that he attacked the man."

Knoe looked at the playing Dante. "Being with Pokemon can make one really confident. I can still remember when I had my first." At 29, he is older than the Professor, though rank-wise, Knoe knew who is more superior.

"Me, too," Hawthorn said. Knoe was secretly glad that the Professor changed topic. Both man fell silent. Dante, who suddenly seemed aware that both man is looking at him, stood up and recalled his Buizel.

"I'm going now, Professor."

"Are you sure? Well then, take care. And don't battle anonymous people!"

"Yes, Professor." Dante walked away. Knoe looked at the retreating child.

"I'll keep watch on him. Take care, Professor." Knoe followed Dante. Hawthorn sighed. The day finally ended.




I would be glad of any feedbacks!

 

[miltankRancher]

Chapter 3: A Fateful Encounter

In a warehouse not far from the laboratory, the man and his Scizor was resting. They had chosen this warehouse since it is quite familiar to them: dark, cold, and musty. Like all hiding places they have used throughout the world. He was stroking the metallic coat of his exhausted Scizor who had just finished clearing the place from the Rattatas and the Raticates.The silver sheen of the Pokemon was lost, replaced by a grubby, dirty black.

"We'll be finishing this mission soon," the man crooned to his Pokemon. "Once that bastard son of mine is out of the way." Scizor was silent. The usual bug buzz from its wings was absent. It seemed like it fell asleep.

"Knoe," the man said, as he closed his eyes.

~~~~

Dante was back in the lab. It was only 8 in the morning, so there was still no one in the lab. The lab was always left unlock since Hawthorn is a very trusting man. Sandgem is also not very populated, so the less reason to leave the door locked. And Knoe always comes in a little after 9, too early for the Professor to rise. He still might be in his room upstairs, still sleeping. Dante muffled a giggle as he imagined Hawthorn in his boxers, mouth hanging open, with a little drool running to his pillow. Dante proceeded to the laboratory table containing two Pokeballs as quietly as he could. He got it, and pushed the buttons. The Professor's Munchlax and Alakazam appeared.

"Hi," Dante said timidly. The Muchlax looked at him quizzically, while the Alakazam smiled. "Can we play again?" Dante, still young at heart, called out his Buizel.

"Munch!"

"Ala!"

"Let's play hide-and-seek then!" Alakazam teleported immediately. Dante closed his eyes, and slowly counted to ten, while Munchlax and Buizel hid.

"Ten! Ready or not, here I come!" Dante nearly laughed in excitement but suddenly remembered the sleeping Professor. He searched the whole lab for the Pokemon. Munchlax, he found hiding underneath a desk, Alakazam behind a cabinet, and Buizel inside it. Dante was laughing with the Pokemon when, suddenly, the door burst open. Dante scampered underneath the desk with his Buizel, while Alakazam hid inside the cabinet. Muchlax was hiding behind a golden Arceus statue. The stranger wasn't Knoe. It was a different person.

He was wearing a black suit, too big for him that it reached its knees. He was moving with perfect authority, like ha had the right to be inside the laboratory at 8:30 in the morning. Dante estimated him to be only a little older than Knoe. He was rummaging the drawers calmly, but deliberately. Suddenly, the Professor came down from upstairs.

"What the...?" he said. The man threw a Pokeball to him. A Machamp appeared and quickly pinned the poor Professor to a wall. Using one of its four arms, it covered the Professor's mouth, and held him with two. The other one was raised as if to punch him.

"Calm down, Professor. I was merely searching for... Ah. Searching for a way to save the world." He laughed and resumed his search. However, Alakazam forcefully opened the cabinet door and started to send out a Shadow Ball. The man didn't flinch at this sudden appearance. In a flash of light, Houndoom blocked the attack. Alakazam mustache bristled. He faced the Machamp, and stated forming the Shadow Ball, but a quick Crunch from Houndoom ended it. Alakazam quickly went down after a Flamethrower.

"Don't resist, Professor. You'll just tire your Pokemon," the man said without taking his eyes of the paper. "Tsk. Not this." Suddenly, the front door opened. The man from yesterday appeared.

"Scizor! Quickly, X-Scissor!" The Scizor rushed towards the Houndoom, and it received the attack. It fell down in a slump. The first man looked up from a paper.

"You!" He glared at the newcomer.

"I heard they will be using a high-ranking official, but to use you? This have gotten to be more important than I thought," the man said. "And to hostage the Professor? Despicable," the man threw a Pokeball and Magmortar appeared. "Fire Punch!" MAgmortar attacked the Machamp who released the Professor at the last moment. The Fire Punch hit dead air. Machamp sent a Cross Chop to Magmortar which barely did damage.

"In then years time, do you think you can already defeat me now?" the man with the Scizor said. "Do you honestly think, that with your newfound experience, and friends, and knowledge, you can actually survive a skirmish with me? Huh?" he mockingly laughed.

"Yes. I certainly can now, Master," he replied. He sent out a Nidoking. A two-on-two battle between Scizor and Magmortar versus a Nidoking and a Machamp.

"You've got yourself pretty Pokemon, but do you think that is enough?"

"Yes. With this! Nidoking, Megahorn! Machamp, Cross Chop!"

"No!" Scizor evaded the Megahorn, while Magmortar took the punch. It bounced off. Scizor's claws glowed white. "Bullet punch and Lava Plume, quickly!" Nidoking went down with both attacks power.

"No! Machamp, Cross Chop Scizor!" But Scizor was ready. It flew off and quickly sent another X-Scissor. Machamp slumped to the ground.

"You still can't defeat me. My son is still better than you!"

"No!" the man recalled his Pokemon, and ran out of the window. It broke to thousand pieces. Dante watched the whole battle with utmost interest. It was like watching a League battle in TV.

Hawthorn was gasping for breath, as the man approached him.

"He'll be back, for sure. I know him. He is that persistent to get what he wants," the man said.

"What did he want? Who is he? Why is he here? Who are you?" Hawthorn breathlessly asked. The man just smiled at him.

"He wanted you knowledge. He was here to know something from you, extract something useful. He is an official of a secret organization," he calmly replied.

"Who are you?" Hawthorn posed the question the man avoided to answer. "You are the man from yesterday. Why did you save me?" he added.

"Glad you remember me," the man said. He held out a hand as if inviting the Professor to shake hands. "Yale Masashimoto, The Setta."