After the boardroom meeting, Eldric dismissed the members with his signature calm. He moved with purpose, offering a firm handshake or kind word to each departing Ranger. Marshal felt the weight of his praise as she pocketed her returned RangerGear, her head held a little higher. Kaiy lingered at her side, still replaying the presentation in his head.

  Eldric approached them, his Solrock hovering just above like a silent sentinel. “You both did well,” Eldric said, his tone steady and warm. Solrock descended from the ceiling, its lower appendage gently tapping Eldric’s head.

  “You did well, Solrock,” Eldric said, raising a hand for their unique high-five. Solrock spun around its axis, gleaming with joy as they shared the moment.

  Suddenly, Eldric’s demeanor shifted, his smile giving way to a more serious expression. He placed a reassuring hand on Kaiy’s shoulder, then turned to Marshal. “This was your first official address as a Commander, and you stumbled at the start. Next time, you’ll command the room. Remember, we offer training for all aspects of your role.”

  Marshal straightened, nodding firmly. “Yes, Sir.”

  “Kaiy,” Eldric continued, his voice now directed but kind. “Your uniform. Always wear it. It’s not about appearance—it’s about presence. A Ranger should always be recognized.”

  Kaiy shifted uncomfortably, nodding. “Understood, Chairholder. I’ll change immediately.”

  “And let the medics check your injuries,” Eldric added, his tone softening. “We can’t have you out there at half strength. Now, about the mission. Commander, take your Top-Ranger to the Mechanic. I want the technical department fully involved. If you need equipment, ask them for it. Afterward, head to communications and have them check every camera angle in this building. We need to see if there’s any sign of that hooded figure who delivered the tracker. Lastly, visit Goldenrod City Radio Tower. Obtain the footage from that interview at Dark Cave. Maybe we can see the license plate of that white van, it might be pivotal to this investigation.”

  “Yes, Sir!” they replied in unison.

  The elevator hummed as it descended to the basement, Kaiy leaning against the mirrored wall. Marshal broke the silence with a long exhale, her posture relaxing for the first time all morning.

  “That wasn’t so bad,” she said, glancing at him with a small smile. “Eldric is tough, but fair.”

  Kaiy nodded. “I appreciated how he defended me. And… he’s right. No more ‘Trainer disguises’.”

  “I didn’t even know you decided to dress up,” Marshal said with a gentle sneer, touching his shoulder. “Wear our colors with pride, Kaiy.”

  The elevator doors slid open to a wave of sound and movement. Sparks flew as welding torches roared to life, and the hum of machinery filled the air. Rotoms darted between workstations, weaving through an obstacle course of wires and tools. Mechanics barked commands over the noise, their hands busy calibrating gadgets and repairing equipment.

  “Ah, the chaos,” Marshal said fondly.

  “It never changes,” a voice cut through the din.

  Cobalt emerged from the heart of the workshop, his cobalt-colored hair neatly styled and his spotless red overalls standing out against the grease-streaked chaos. He moved with an air of calm authority, the noise around him fading as if he carried his own bubble of order.

  “Ranger six-o-four,” Cobalt said flatly, his goggles reflecting in the harsh workshop light. “Out of uniform today?” his tone wasn’t accusing—just observant.

  Kaiy fumbled for a response, but Marshal spoke first. “He’s here for work, not fashion commentary.”

  Cobalt tilted his head slightly, unimpressed but not argumentative. “What do you need?”

  Kaiy handed him the Poké Ball containing Graveler. “This Pokémon... something’s wrong with it. It exploded in Dark Cave and—”

  “Save the exposition,” Cobalt interrupted, inspecting the Poké Ball with meticulous precision. “Homemade design,” he muttered, his fingers brushing over the slightly uneven trim. “Primitive.”

  The Golett at his side stepped forward, cradling the Poké Ball with surprising delicacy. “To the containment cell,” Cobalt ordered. Golett moved without hesitation, and Kaiy followed, fascinated by the blend of machinery and Pokémon working in harmony. Silence seemed to trail him, the room calming in his wake as if his mere presence demanded order. Cobalt was smaller than most. Though young, he carried the heavy responsibility of leading the Mechanics department like a second skin. He didn’t have friends, only machines. The workers respected him, but there was always the weight of his constant judgment in the air. The containment cell was a stark, sterile chamber, its walls glowing faintly with energy, similar to the Ranger Shields. A massive power conveyor hummed, filling the air with the scent of scorched metal and rubber. The setup was as precise as Cobalt himself, and it occupied a space as large as the elevator they had just exited. Nearby, a computer terminal controlled the entire apparatus.

  Cobalt approached the terminal with an air of familiarity, his fingers moving swiftly over the keyboard. The machine rumbled to life, its walls shifting to accommodate the incoming Graveler. Kaiy, caught up in examining the complex machinery, had to step back quickly as a panel extended toward him.

  “Careful now,” Cobalt remarked, his voice calm but detached. He extended a hand, and Golett, with measured precision, handed over the Poké Ball. As the Graveler was released inside, its eerie, glowing eyes scanned the room. It looked weak but began to grow agitated as the machinery around it hummed to life. Cobalt’s sharp eyes darted between his terminal and the Graveler. “Interesting,” he murmured, pacing around the cell. “Commander,” he said without looking up, “permission to keep this specimen for study?”

  Marshal nodded. “It’s yours. Just give us updates.”

  He returned to the terminal and resumed typing. Above the cell, a robotic arm whirred to life, scanning the Graveler with methodical efficiency.

  “What edition RangerGear do you wield, six-O-four?” Cobalt asked, as if on autopilot. With a mechanical response, Kaiy handed over his dead RangerGear.

  “Mmh, no wonder the line broke,” Cobalt murmured, more to himself than to anyone else.

  “Wait, I didn’t tell you about—”

  “No need. My machine did.”

  Without another word, Cobalt turned back to his work, lost in his own world. Golett stood by his side, equally focused, though with a nervous energy that contrasted with the Mechanic’s calm. “Come back in three hours,” Cobalt said. “Standard RangerGear is by the door.”

  The Communications Department hummed with life beneath its glass-paneled dome. Operators moved like clockwork, guiding missions through glowing holographic displays. Pokémon worked seamlessly alongside them—Heliolisks sparked at terminals to boost signals, Pidgey fluttered near open windows with message capsules, and a towering Noivern stood sentinel, ears twitching to catch the faintest echoes in the air. Kaiy’s eyes widened as he took it all in—organized chaos, alive with purpose.

  “Impressive, isn’t it?” Marshal said, nudging him with a grin.

  Kaiy nodded slowly. “How do they keep track of anything in this whirlwind?”

  An Operator waved from the far end of the dome, signaling them over. Marshal led Kaiy through the maze of desks, passing glowing monitors and bustling workstations. Kaiy caught glimpses of ongoing missions—one team debating how to rescue trapped Lairon, another coordinating with a distant RangerHQ, likely Hoenn, judging by the archipelago on the hologram.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Suddenly, several Operators rose from their desks and converged on the central platform. The hub lit up as Solrock glided in from an open window, taking its place above the core interface. Kaiy paused, transfixed, as the scene unfolded like choreography.

  Kaiy was still watching the Operators fall into rhythm—humans and Pokémon functioning as one—when a cheerful voice called out.

  “Marshal!” Gira greeted, throwing her arms wide. “Where have you been? I've missed you!”

  Marshal laughed, embracing her friend. “Busy saving the world, you know how it is. Gira, meet Kaiy.”

  “Ah, the famous six-o-four!” Gira exclaimed with exaggerated flair, her hands flying as she spoke. “I’ve heard stories. All good, I promise.” Kaiy smiled politely, but was caught up in the action.

  The central hub pulsed with light, transforming into a holographic projection of the northern region. Solrock hovered above, casting its glow across the display as Operators moved into position. One took the lead with a modified RangerGear, while others coordinated with RotomTablets. Noivern swooped overhead, fine-tuning signal clarity.

  The scene shifted—a frozen mountainside, crumbling beneath a fresh snowdrift. Trainers and Pokémon were caught in the collapse. Kaiy leaned in, his jaw tightening as the scale of the disaster became clear. Avaledges groaned in the simulation, habitats were buried, and wild Pokémon scattered in panic. He didn’t notice Marshal tapping his shoulder until she did it again.

  “Back to business, Kaiy,” Marshal said, nudging Gira, who was already spinning toward her terminal.

  “Eldric already updated me. You're looking for intel on that hooded figure from a few days ago.”

  Now Kaiy truly focused—a new lead!

  Gira pulled up the footage, fingers flying across the interface. The video showed a cloaked figure slipping a tracker into the mailbox.

  “The hood’s custom-made,” she explained, zooming in. “Golden emblems, metal accents—definitely not off-the-shelf.” She tapped again, highlighting a faint silhouette beside the figure.

  Kaiy squinted. “That’s... impossible.”

  “Recognize it?” Marshal’s voice dropped low.

  Kaiy nodded slowly, heart pounding. He would know that Pokémon anywhere, in any of its forms.

  “Ruins of Alph,” he murmured. “That’s where we’ll find our answers.”

  Marshal exchanged a glance with Gira, her expression tight. “Then we know where to start. But first—you're still bleeding, Top Ranger.”

  Kaiy looked down, startled to see the dried trail of blood on his forearm. In the chaos, he’d barely noticed the scrape. The adrenaline was fading now, leaving a dull ache in its place.

  “Med bay’s down the hall,” Gira said, already tapping a command into her terminal. “Audino will patch you up in no time.”

  The steady chanting of the healing machine filled the med bay as Audino tended to Kaiy, her ear-feelers brushing against him with gentle precision. The pink Pokémon chirped softly, applying an antiseptic cream to his scraped arm before handing him a cup of bitter medicine. Marshal leaned against the doorframe, a faint smirk on her face. “The Audino’s got a good feel for it, huh?” she teased.

  “Funny,” Kaiy replied, wincing as the cream stung. “At least she’s gentle.” He felt oddly vulnerable sitting there shirtless with his Commander there, even if she only saw his back. Audino beamed at the exchange and handed Kaiy a lollipop before waddling off. Marshal stepped forward, balancing a tray with two steaming bowls of stew. “Figured you might need this,” she said, placing one on the table beside him. “We didn’t eat during the meeting, and I’m starving.”

  Kaiy glanced at her, then at the stew. “You brought two bowls?”

  “Don’t make it weird,” she shot back with a grin. “We need to talk about strategy.”

  They sat at a small table in the corner of the med bay. Marshal dug in immediately, but Kaiy slipped on his Ranger shirt first before finally savoring the warmth of the meal, pocketing the lollipop.

  “Cobalt’s... intense,” Kaiy said after a few bites.

  Marshal snorted. “That’s one way to put it. He’s brilliant, though. If anyone can figure out what’s wrong with that Graveler, it’s him.”

  “Yeah, but he doesn’t seem to like people much.”

  Marshal chuckled. “Machines don’t argue with him. People do.”

  “And Gira,” Kaiy added. “She’s... interesting. She’s different from the others in Communications.”

  “Gira’s a force of nature,” Marshal said fondly. “But she’s sharp. She could spot a needle in a haystack.” Kaiy nodded, his thoughts already drifting to the Radio Tower.

  “So, what’s our approach for tomorrow?” Kaiy asked, stirring his stew thoughtfully. “Walk in, flash our badges, and hope they cooperate?”

  Marshal leaned back, swirling her spoon in the broth. “More or less. Eldric’s name carries weight, but don’t expect an easy ride. Reporters don’t like sharing their leads unless there’s profit or fame in it for them.”

  Kaiy tapped the table, his brow furrowed. “We need to be ready for that kind of pushback. If they’re reluctant to share footage, maybe we could use a distraction. One of us could talk to their lead while the other checks the archives.”

  Marshal shook her head with a small smile. “Nice try, but everything’s password-protected these days. And hacking into a media company’s files? Not exactly good for our reputation.”

  Kaiy sighed, leaning back in his chair. “So, we’re stuck with the polite approach.”

  “Exactly,” Marshal said. “For the record, our reputation is one of our strongest tools. People trust us—let’s not ruin that.”

  Kaiy smirked, the corners of his mouth twitching with mischief. “Oh, like you kept our reputation intact in Alola?”

  Marshal froze mid-sip, narrowing her eyes. “Hey, that wasn’t my fault!”

  Kaiy raised an eyebrow. “Wishiwashi Water Walk?”

  At that, Marshal burst into laughter, nearly choking on her stew. Kaiy joined in, their laughter echoing across the med bay. A few patients turned to look at them, curious about the commotion.

  Marshal wiped a tear from her eye, grinning. “You were the one who started that whole mess!”

  “Me?” Kaiy exclaimed, still laughing. “You were the one trying to walk on Wishiwashi!”

  They both dissolved into hysterics, the tension of the day melting away in the shared memory. For a moment, the seriousness of their mission was forgotten, replaced by the warmth of camaraderie.

  Kaiy finally collapsed onto the bunk in his quarters. The dim light from the overhead lamp bathed the small room in a warm glow, casting soft shadows over the photos tacked to the wall. Faces of family and friends smiled back at him, stirring a bittersweet mix of comfort and longing. His gaze lingered on the Top-Ranger plaque on his bedside table, its polished surface reflecting his own weary expression.

  His eyelids grew heavy, the exhaustion of the day finally settling in. But just as sleep began to pull him under, a deafening siren ripped through the air. Kaiy bolted upright, adrenaline flooding his veins. Red emergency lights flared to life, painting the walls in ominous, pulsing streaks. Heart pounding, he stumbled to his feet, barely grabbing his jacket as he flung open the door. The hallway was chaos. Rangers dashed past, fully geared and ready, their footsteps pounding like a drumbeat against the cold floor.

  “What’s going on?” Kaiy shouted, his voice barely cutting through the wail of the alarm.

  Pomona, the Ranger from the next quarters over, hurried by, slipping on her boots mid-stride. Her face was tense, her words clipped. “Fire! At the Radio Tower!”