A loud sigh escaped from my lips. I don't know how my desktop always ends like this. There was a mess of folders filled with reports, maps from Indigo and a cold coffee. My hands wrapped around the map of the border. There was a red circles around "New bark town." and some minor villages in route 28. The reports can't lie, but the people. The attacks from wild Pokemon have been increasing with each passing week. In Kanto there have been incidents further north in route 25 and even Viridian city. But Johto... I read again the information and dates on the paper. Apparently, its really lucky. That's what they say at least. How much are they going to keep playing politics?

  I sipped from the now iced-coffee. Insipid. Yet I need to keep my eyes open, it's barely afternoon. The faint light from the lamp on my desk illuminated the contents from the new report in my hands. My fingers clenched slightly as my forehead creased once again. How much evidence do people need? How much longer will they keep pretending nothing is happening? Kanto publicly have been working together with their rangers, relocating them in key positions to answer any eventuality after the attacks. But Johto... Johto remains a mystery. Dad used to say when something remains a mystery for too long it stops being an oversight. It becomes deliberate.

  The fax machine beeped again, accompanied by the ever tic-tac from the clock on the wall. I exhaled, rubbing my temples. My eyes flickered toward the corner of my desk. A small little frame, Loren and Aris standing besides Arcanine the golden fur glowing under the sun. For a moment, the weight on my shoulders lightened. Right. Almost Aris second birthday. Maybe a plushie will do the trick this time.

  Monica's heels striked against the floor. Her slender frame was standing before my desk. She cleared her throat to grab my attention, I obliged.

  "Your presence is required in the meeting room above." She said flatly. What's up with that tone? Why is she talking like that so suddenly?

  "Everything good, Monica?" I accentuated her name in the last part. Normally we would small talk and chit-chat for a little bit, her face would be adorned by a smile, we would laugh and grab some instant coffee before getting to work again.

  She nodded, without intention to add anymore. I dropped the papers on my hands and got up. "See you later," I said before walking in the staircase direction. Something big is happening. Every step closer to the meeting room made me slightly more anxious. Just one way to know what's happening.

  I knocked in two times. "Come in," I heard the voice from inside and opened the door.

  I almost tripped with the corner of the big rectangle-shaped table. I greeted everyone with a silent nod, Paul and Caroline nodded back with a smile. Some of the others just looked me and the rest just weren't interested in me enough. Lastly, my boss. He probably had one of his Pokemon under the table or something, because his gaze didn't rise upon me even once while I was walking towards the empty chair.

  The cushioned seat squeaked when my weight fell on it. Maps from our region and the distant Indigo were spread on the table, next to a few of the same reports that my desk were filled with. On the far wall a board with different schemes and the name of Henry on top of it all. Henry?

  "We have been waiting for you," my boss said. I shifted uncomfortably on my chair.

  "I got here as quickly as I was informed." I answered

  He cleared his throat, "I will cut through the chase, Claude." He pointed with his thumb towards a burly looking man, his legs were resting on the table. His shoes almost shined, made of materials you could only find on the most exclusive stores. "This is Henry Flannery. You probably know him from the Elite 4." The gray suit that hided his giant frame moved while his crimson tie swung. He straightened on the chair and said "Good to meet you." with a big pearly smile that strained when I locked onto his eyes.

  Huh, so that's why he looked familiar. Henry laid back on the chair once again. Boss exhaled air from his lips, "You are going to be on a mission under him in Kanto."

  The words settled in my head like a stone thrown into deep water. Kanto? For a second, my grip on the table tightened. My job had taken me to rough places before, but Kanto

  He continued, "Representatives from both regions have communicated with us, they want to negotiate." The thumping in my chest quickened. Why me? As if reading my mind my boss said, "We need someone, with your background as a ranger. We have seen the intelligence you have been gathering and we are surprised. Part of your mission is investigate the recent attacks from wild Pokemon on both regions. Both representatives made clear that if the other part used the wild life around Mt Silver, this would escalate. This is where we came. A neutral third party, and you..." My head went blank for a few seconds. It was a direct order, and it was literally my job when I signed up on this department.

  "The chances of something happening to any of you being under him," he raised his chin in Henry's direction. "Its near to 0. More so, some of the newly established S.S members are going with you." I have heard about the new department. Basically it worked like an intelligence department. Some of the most promising trainers from last years that were competing in the circuit didn't want to participate in this one. Now I know where they went, good for them.

  "There have not been recent incidents or skirmishes, they are waiting for us to mediate." He said.

  I exhaled through my nose, fingers tapping lightly against my arm. A mission to help stop the war. Negotiations. Diplomacy. It all sounded good on paper. Then why did it feel wrong?

  Stolen novel; please report.

  I crossed my arms, "That's what they say, but how do you explain the Viridian and route 25 ones?" I paused looking to everyone eyes "Why Johto seems to have a lower ratio of attacks with more cities closer to Mt Silver?" We could step inside of a war zone, my gaze lingered in Henry's figure. His head was resting on the back of the chair. I think he would be my only assurance that something like that wont happen.

  The rest of the people interchanged glances. Someone, one of the ones I have never seen before said "We are investigating. For now, the mission is not politics. Its a field one. Ready your team."

  I looked toward my boss, he just nodded in the direction of the newcomer. After a few seconds of silence he added "Listen Claude, this is our chance to end this. Johto's league with Fabio at its top is a little bit more self-absorbed, he just don't like to lose." The rest of the meeting was about how my role would change after the negotiation advances with Henry keeping order. After a few wees we would be locked in place waiting for the conflict to end, participating on meetings while deescalating things to the best of our capabilities.

  Eventually the meeting ended and everybody was getting up and leaving the room. Henry and my boss looked at each other muttering something. Henry called me out to stay with a signal from his hand.

  After a while waiting for everybody to leave, the meeting room was nearly empty now. The quiet hum of the fluorescent lights filled the space, mixing with the faint scent of paper and stale coffee. Most of the higher-ups had already left, leaving behind scattered documents and a few abandoned cups. Only Henry and I remained.

  I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, fingers tapping against my bicep. Henry, on the other hand, looked completely at ease, lounging in his seat like we had just discussed weekend plans instead of a peacekeeping mission in the middle of a war zone.

  For a while, neither of us spoke.

  Then, Henry let out a long exhale and ran a hand through his hair. "You don’t look too happy about this," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

  I didn’t answer right away, just tapped a knuckle against the table. "You’re asking me to go into a war zone to play peacekeeper. I think I’m allowed to have reservations."

  Henry chuckled. "Fair enough. I’d be worried if you weren’t skeptical."

  He stretched his arms behind his head, rolling his shoulders. Then, after a beat, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

  "Listen… I gotta ask you something."

  Something in his voice made me straighten.

  "Go ahead."

  He hesitated. Just for a second. His fingers drummed against the armrest, then he rubbed the back of his neck. "Look, I don’t like doing this, especially not the first time we properly talk, but..." He exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head slightly before locking eyes with me.

  "We need Loren."

  My chest tightened, a cold knot forming in my stomach. Loren. I could already see her face, determined and fearless, ready to throw herself into danger without a second thought. My jaw clenched as I fought back the surge of protectiveness that threatened to overwhelm me. She wasn’t just a skilled trainer, she was my partner, the mother of my child. And Henry was asking me to risk her.

  "You need Loren?" I managed to spit out.

  Henry nodded, looking uncomfortable for the first time since I met him. "Yeah. And I know how that sounds."

  Silence.

  I crossed my arms, weighing my words before I spoke. My jaw tightened, but my voice stayed controlled. "I have a family, Henry."

  "I know."

  I exhaled through my nose, rubbing a hand down my face.

  Of course he knew.

  I already knew what he was going to say next. That was the problem.

  Henry leaned forward. "Look, I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t think she was the best option. It’s a low-risk mission, but if things go south, I need people I can trust. People who won’t cut and run, people who won’t freeze." He paused for a second. "Loren is one of those people."

  I didn’t say anything.

  Henry continued, his tone firm but not forceful. "There aren’t many trainers with her kind of skillset. Blaziken’s mobility, Froslass scouting abilities-it’s a rare combination. If the wild Pokémon situation escalates, we’ll need every advantage we can get."

  I let out a slow breath. "That’s not the real reason, is it?"

  Henry exhaled, a short, humorless chuckle leaving his lips. He shook his head. "No. It’s not." He tapped a finger against the table before meeting my gaze again. "She saved my sister, Claude. That day in Mauville, during the fires. She stayed when others ran. That’s the kind of person I want on my team."

  My jaw clenched.

  "She almost died for it," I muttered.

  Henry nodded. "Yeah. I know."

  Silence stretched between us again.

  "If there’s anyone I trust to bring people back in one piece, it’s her."

  I looked down at the papers in front of me. I wasn’t reading them anymore. My fingers traced the edges of the pages absentmindedly.

  I could say no.

  I could refuse outright.

  But what then?

  Someone else would ask Loren.

  And I knew her. She would say yes.

  Henry must’ve seen the hesitation in my eyes because his voice softened. "I get it, Claude. I do. You don’t have to answer now. Just talk to her."

  I exhaled, rubbing my temple.

  Henry stood up, adjusting his tie slightly. The laid-back, joking demeanor from earlier was gone. For the first time, he looked every bit the Elite Four member he was.

  I pushed myself up as well, rolling my shoulders.

  Henry gave me a nod, then, with a small smirk, added, "If it helps, you can tell her I begged."

  I scoffed, shaking my head. "I’ll talk to her."

  Henry clapped a hand on my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze before turning toward the door. "Appreciate it. You are free to go, Ranger."

  I watched him walk out, then let out a long breath.

  While walking outside the building my mind kept returning to the same place. What if something happens? Should I lie to her? Who would take care of Aris? I know damn well who would, my father. But that didn't make this any easier. I could say her to stay. Lie a little bit, just enough that it wouldn't make sense to her to go with me. But what if she saw through? What if someone told her? My chest clenched thinking about what would happen, what she would think about me. I know well what she would do in my position. She would do the same thing every time if that means making the world a better place for our son.

  My short trip ended.

  I stood in front of the building, the cool breeze brushing against my face. From my pocket, I grabbed a ball. With a flick of my wrist, it expanded, and in a flash of light, Staraptor emerged, her majestic wings stretching out as she let out a proud cry. I stepped closer, my hand gently gliding over her glossy feathers, feeling their smooth texture beneath my fingers. Her feathers were warm, radiating a sense of calm and strength. I took a moment to appreciate the bond we shared, my fingers tracing the subtle patterns along her neck. Then, with care, I lifted the saddle and placed it securely on her back, adjusting the straps to ensure her comfort. Staraptor let out a soft coo, as if acknowledging my efforts. With everything ready, I took a deep breath, feeling the anticipation of the ride home.

  This was going to be a long night.