Chapter Seventy Four

Switch cowered on the opposite side of the coffee table. Once he'd come to, he'd been a panicked and frantic mess. Backing away from the dewott doctor, freezing up as the otter pokemon ran some brief tests before finally nodding and taking a step back.

Switch was perfectly healthy except for one thing. Some kind of abstract amnesia, the dewott had called it. Then, DL and Macro had been given a scolding. Outside the laboratory, of course, so as not to frighten the human any further. But both Jumper and the doctor couldn't really fault what they'd done. It had been a success. Well... success was a generous way of wording it.

Macro looked up from his occa espresso and rubbed a thumb and claw beneath his tired eyes. Switch didn't look much better than he felt. The human sat trembling, clutching a cocoa in both hands, desperately avoiding any eye contact with the mawile and DL. They'd barely been able to tell him anything. It was all too much. So far, he'd been told that yes, he was indeed a human, and no, he was not mad. His presence in their world was due to an accident. They hadn't even broached his watch, his other form, or any of System's current disasters.

"Is any of it sinking in yet?" Macro asked.

Switch shook his head and his voice wavered as he spoke. "One minute I'm sat having Sunday dinner with my folks, the next..." He waved a hand at the cozy meeting room and trailed off.

Macro clenched his teeth together. Switch didn't even recall the events that had dragged the humans into System in the first place. Had he even relayed the story to Macro? He didn't think so. If Switch even had... Macro hadn't been listening. The mawile sank in his seat and pinched the bridge of his nose. The whole ordeal had made him realise how very little he knew about his friend.

"I still don't understand why I'm here," said Switch. "Why you all talk... my pet growlithe doesn't talk. I always wished she did, but... now it's kinda... creepy."

Creepy...

Macro glanced up from his rapidly cooling espresso. He took that opportunity to quickly down it and cast the tiny cup aside.

"Bit of a harsh word, pal," he said. "One thing that never crossed my mind was that you are creepy. Mainly because you look nothin' like all them depictions in picture books. Now those are creepy."

"I'm sorry," Switch muttered. "I know you're trying to help me."

"Hah. One of my first priorities is to get you back home."

"So I'll see my family again?" Switch looked up at him with those deep, golden eyes.

Macro felt his heart sink like a lead ball. His mouth opened slightly but no words came out. Of course... the 'home' Switch had always referred to... it wasn't sitting around a dinner table with his parents and pet growlithe. How on earth was he going to breach the fact that his 'home' was back in System's distant past? With pokemon friends and Macro's 'great times fifty grandparents'?

DL lowered her own cocoa to the table. "That's... not quite what we meant."

"What do you mean?" Switch panicked.

DL met his eyes, keeping her voice as soft and as calm as she could. "Switch-"

"How many times? That's not my name!"

"It's what we've been calling you for the past few weeks," she explained. "It's how you introduced yourself."

Switch's golden eyes widened with fear. "'Past few weeks'? I've only just got here!"

Macro rose and lifted a paw to calm him, but the human fell from his seat and skittered backwards on his bottom, not taking his eyes off the space pirate.

"What have you done to me?" Switch squeaked.

"We haven't done anything to you," said DL.

"Lies! You're feeding me lies! You've done something to me. Put something in my head..."

Macro sank back into his seat, blinking back tears. "Switch..."

"My name's Johnathan!" Switch roared. "I'm not from your stinking world! I'm from Unova! Now send me home!"

He flailed his arms, striking the leg of his chair. In a flash, his form shrank down and sprawled onto the floor with a soft thud. Macro leapt to his feet and dashed around the coffee table. Switch lay staring at his feathered wing, beak opening and closing as a growing dread lit up behind his eyes. He floundered to his feet, wobbling as he tried to keep his balance.

"You have done something to me," he hissed. "Well... whatever it is, I have a type advantage!"

He opened his beak wide then snapped it shut again, a look of realisation crossing his face. Just like with DL, any memories of how to use his attacks had been taken away.

Macro raised his paws and took a step towards him. "Please, listen to me."

"No! Not until you tell me what you've done to me."

"I haven't done anything to you!" Macro closed his eyes and bit his lip hard. There was really no sense in raising his voice. "Sorry. I just want to help you."

"Then who's done this to me?" asked Switch. "Who put this computer into my head? Who turned me into some dumb bird?!"

He staggered forwards, losing his balance. Wings spread at his side, he landed flat on his chest. He screwed his eyes shut and screeched, flailing his wings in an action reminiscent of a grounded magikarp.

"I don't want to be a bird!" he roared.

Macro grabbed the watch around his leg and pressed the button, returning Switch to his human form. He looked down at himself then at Macro.

"How did you-?"

"The watch." Macro returned to his previous spot and sat down facing him. "It allows you to go back and forth. Your friend made it for you."

Switch narrowed his eyes at the mawile. "What friend?"

Macro shrugged. "A friend back home. I think you called him N00b."

"I don't..." Switch shook his head slowly.

"Well, I can't tell you much about your friends," said Macro. "I never thought to ask much about your past. My job is to send you back there, not get a history lesson or write your biography." He scratched his nose and sighed. "Although it woulda been useful had I known this would happen."

Switch sat back against the wall and folded his hands into his lap, staring down at the mawile. Although all previous hostility had vanished.

"You're not lying... are you?" His voice wavered with uncertainty. "I mean... you haven't a clue what to even tell me."

"I told you I'm not lying," said Macro. "What reason do I have? You're my friend!"

"Yet you don't know anything about me?"

"Give me credit, I've known you about three weeks. And a huge chunk of that you spent here, on this island." Macro pointed a claw at the floor. "You had to. You got seriously hurt defending this place."

Switch's eyes widened again. "What?"

Macro sighed and rubbed his temples. "I should really start at the beginning, shouldn't I?"

Switch nodded stiffly, not taking his eyes off the space pirate.

So Macro hugged his knees into himself, toying with the hem of his scarf, as he relayed everything. Finding DL and discovering Socket's plan; the golden ring gateway that pulled Switch into their world; the war in Cyan City that rendered Switch bedridden; the Ultra Beasts and Wildcard Gamma's visit with Solgaleo; the kartana attack that reunited Wildcard Gamma with Switch; DL's painful memories and Switch's offer to look after her; finally ending with the battle in Socket's mansion.

Switch sat blinking as he processed it all. Everything had been rather nutshelled. Reduced into bite-sized chunks so as not to overwhelm him with information. But it still proved too much. He sank back against the wall and ran a hand down his face.

"There it is," he sighed.

Macro jerked his head up. "There what is?"

"The abstract lie." Switch looked back down at him. "It's in every thriller movie where some character gets amnesia. The bad guy feeds them a lie to win them to their side."

Macro blinked. "Pardon?"

Switch spread his arms. "How do I know you're not the bad guy? This Socket might be the good guy in all this, and you're just a bunch of rebels."

"Sounds awful familiar." Macro inclined his head at Switch and scratched beneath his goggles. "You came up with the same argument shortly after we met. Went off in a tantrum."

"If that's true, then I probably had a point."

DL rummaged beneath the table, drawing their attention.

"What've you got there?" Macro asked.

"Oh, when you were talking with Jumper and the doctor, I went back to my hotel room." She pulled out a plastic bag and reached into it. "I thought this might be helpful, but... I was waiting for the right moment."

Macro found a tattered bundle shoved into his paws. He stared down at it, noting the charred blue and black fabric. He unraveled it, revealing his black scarf with the blue pixelated print. Damaged beyond use. Huge holes had been burnt into it, and the ends were tattered into shreds. But DL's intentions were pretty clear. He looked up at Switch and placed the scarf on the floor between them.

"What's this?" Switch waved a hand at it, his face creasing with confusion.

"You bought it for me," said Macro. "After you'd cooled down, as a peace offering. Said you thought it matched my laser's blue trim."

Switch scanned the mawile's small frame. "What laser?"

Macro shrugged his shoulders. "I don't have one anymore. And the one that did work, well..." He waved his mechanical paw.

"Guns and pokemon don't mix," said Switch. "Although they don't mix with humans either, if I'm honest."

Macro chuckled and smoothed out the tattered scarf. "Well, now I've seen this, things are startin' to come back to me. And you're startin' to sound more like your normal self."

Switch raised an eyebrow, prompting an explanation.

Macro shrugged and cracked a smile. "Not convinced? Well... you've not been happy with this world since you got sucked into it. It's wildly different to your System."

"I'm not from System."

"Your System is the one that gave you that talonflame body. Gave you your friends, like N00b and my ancient relatives." Macro lifted a paw to silence Switch before he could pelt him with questions. "That was about a thousand years ago now. Back then, it weren't as messy as it is now. Pokemon didn't eat each other, there weren't space pirates, no toxic air, and no laser guns. You were most disgusted at pokemon eating the water dwelling types. So much so, you said after I'd send you back, you'd try and change that. Know what I did after you said that to me? I laughed."

Switch's nose crinkled. "Doesn't sound like a very nice response."

"It weren't." Macro smoothed his paw over his scarf. "Thing is... I now think it wouldn't be a bad idea. Not sure if it would work, or how it would affect me. I mean... if you went back and changed the future, would I even be here? What life would I live if I did? How much would change, really?"

DL tensed beside him. Then she reached forward and plucked his paw from the scarf, clutching it tightly in hers.

"Maybe there wouldn't be any Socket," Macro went on, staring down at the blue and black print. "No BackDoor. None of this bad stuff would even have happened."

They sat in silence for a while and Macro let his mind drift to that thought. A peaceful System. His mother might even have survived. Air would be clean everywhere, allowing trees to grow fruit, and no meat for food. The mayor wouldn't have grown desperate, throwing up a divide that separated the water dwellers from the land pokemon. With nothing to rebel against, there likely would have been no space pirates. No floating cities to escape the polluted ground.

He felt DL's paw shift in his, and he stroked a claw over her soft fur. Would they even have met? Without Socket's wretched plan and Macro's reckless curiosity, their paths probably would never have crossed. And with no floating cities, there'd be no Botnet. He slipped his paw from hers and pulled her into him, nuzzling between her ears as his eyes fixed on a filing cabinet at the far end of the room.

Changes would bring their good and their bad. It would be inevitable.

Switch shifted against the wall, his clothes rustling and drawing Macro out of his deep thoughts.

"Well, you've given me a lot to think about," said Switch. "Although I am wondering about this other System you told me about. The one I'm apparently from."

Macro fixed one eye on him. "So you believe me?"

"I'm not sure what to believe," said Switch. "But I want to know more about what happened to turn me into a talonflame."

"Even I don't know that." Macro released DL and sat back on his paws. "I could hand you a history book, but I'm led to believe they ain't accurate."

"How aren't they accurate?" Switch scoffed.

"They got the picture of a human wrong, for one thing," said Macro. "And the drifting continents you are adamant were real, well... they've been demoted to 'myth' status in this day and age. Although that might be changed now, given Socket's used one of their salvaged engines to get her mansion flyin'."

Switch blinked a few times then pinched his nose. "This is all too much to take in..."

"I can believe it." Macro pushed himself to his feet. "If you need a break, I'll go call the doctor and see if your room is ready."

Switch kept his head down as he waved him away.

Macro gave him one last glance as he let DL out of the door, the tattered scarf bundled in her arms. Then the space pirate closed the door behind him. At least they'd got through to Switch. Now they just had to hope he'd take it all in, not just for his sake, but for System's too.

...

It was a long way to Spool City. Matrix estimated another two hours at least. Anchor sat back in his seat, watching the world below. The antennae were still blinking, but the one for Meta City was long since dead. All communications to the capital had been cut off, and from what Anchor had read, the xurkitree were making their way across the outskirts. Hardly a bad thing. They'd swoop in and grab both them and the kartana, provided they listened.

The granbull kicked himself from the dashboard and moved towards the kitchen, catching a glance from Matrix. He nodded at the ribombee then gestured to the window.

"I'm gonna grab some supper, I'm starved," he said. "Let me know if anythin' weird happens."

"Define 'weird'," said Matrix. "Because I'm not gonna lie... it's sort of losing its meaning."

"I dunno..." Anchor rubbed his muzzle. "Flying Ultra Beasts. Portholes. Ships. Whatever seems threatening or out of the norm. Or both."

Matrix nodded and swiveled his chair back to the navigation deck. "Alright. Grab me a donut, would you?"

Anchor waved him off and marched into the kitchen. Sure enough, a plate of donuts sat on the table. He grabbed one just as Rave delivered a plate of pancakes to an excited Annie. The human practically danced in her seat with her knife and fork clutched in each hand.

"You joining us?" Rave asked. "This truly is top nosh."

Anchor wanted to say he had no idea what nosh was, but instead he nodded back to the cockpit. "Gonna give this to Matrix. I'll be back in a sec."

He returned to the navigator who grabbed the donut gratefully. Before he could bite into it, Anchor wagged a claw at him.

"Don't tell Macro I allowed you to have a jam donut in here," he said.

"Noted." Matrix bit into his donut, letting jam fall down his scarf and onto his lap. He frowned at it, scooped it in one paw and licked. "I think I'm spending too long with him anyway. I'm picking up his bad habits."

Anchor rolled his eyes and marched back into the kitchen, where he pulled up a seat opposite Annie. She attacked Cookie's pancakes with all the vigor of a half-starved tyranitar. He reached across the table to grab the plate of pancakes and nomel sauce.

"You're acting like you've never had pancakes before in your life," he said.

"I haven't!" Annie said around her mouthful. "Not before I came on your ship. This is amazing!"

The slurpuff chef waddled over with yet more sauce, followed by Rave and a tray of waffles.

Annie's eyes lit up with delight. "You're spoilin' me!"

"Enjoy yourself," Cookie chirruped. "I made plenty."

Web frowned at the slurpuff. "You're a bad influence." She turned back to Annie who payed her no heed. "You should slow down. You'll give yourself tummy ache."

"I'll stop when I'm full," said Annie between bites.

The kitchen slowly began to calm down as the rag-tag group enjoyed their supper. As Web rose to help Cookie and Rave clear the dishes away, Matrix buzzed into the kitchen.

"Decided to join us?" Anchor asked.

Matrix shook his head and wound his antenna thoughtfully. "Remember when you said to alert you if something weird happens?"

Anchor lowered his fork to his plate. "Yes?"

"Well, something weird's happening."

Anchor rose to his feet and followed Matrix back into the cockpit. The granbull's first thought was the navigation deck, but Matrix pointed a claw towards the windscreen. Anchor narrowed his eyes at the gold speck moving towards them, and he placed his paws on the dashboard, leaning forward for a closer look. Rave joined his side, ducking slightly to avoid hitting his head on the window frame.

"What is that?" the blacephalon asked.

Anchor glanced up at the Ultra Beast. "I've no idea. But if I were to hazard a guess, that's one of Socket's ships."

"But Socket's gone," said Matrix. "Who are they working for now? Distortion?"

"I dunno... but I'm wary of it. I say we steer well clear of it."

"But they could be in danger," said Rave. "We can't just run away."

"Our tall, enigmatic friend is right!"

Annie's voice almost made Anchor jump out of his skin. His head struck the low ceiling and he spun to face her, rubbing at his mohawk. The human beamed at him from ear to ear.

"We can't leave a 'mon down," she said. "Perchance that golden speck needs our help, I say we check on 'em!"

"But it's a government ship!" Anchor growled. "It might fire on us."

"I highly doubt it," said Matrix.

Anchor turned to the ribombee, who returned his look with a cocked eyebrow.

"How can you tell when it's so far away?" Anchor asked.

"Easy." Matrix tapped the navigation deck. A red light flickered in the top right corner where the speck showed on the navigation screen. "They sent us a distress signal."

Anchor's jaw dropped. "A what now?"

"Yeah, confused me too." Matrix wound his antenna as he watched the flashing light. "I've never seen it before. Strange phenomenon."

"All right." Anchor sighed and returned to his seat. "Get us closer, let's see what they want."

"You're not worried it's a trap?" Matrix asked.

"It might be, but we're armed to the gills."

"Hmm, fitting," said Annie. "Because we're in a giant fish."

Anchor fired her a sideways glare.

"Oh come on!" Annie threw her arms in the air. "That was fantastic!"

Rave chuckled, his lights flickering with a jubilant pink. He smacked the human on the back, hard enough to make her stumble into the dash. "That was a cracking good joke. Well done."

Anchor rubbed his brow and groaned under his breath. "And System's relyin' on 'mon like us?"

As Wildcard Gamma drew closer to the golden speck, the cockpit slowly filled with the rest of their team. With no one small enough to fit in the captain's seat, Annie and her friends gathered around it, holding on perchance things should turn awry.

Trojan frowned out at the government ship, wiping his paws on his wet scales. But the scrafty said nothing. None of them said anything. The ship didn't appear to be hostile. Instead drawing towards them at a steady pace.

Anchor leant forward in his seat, narrowing his eyes at it. Well, there was definitely a reason it wasn't being hostile. The golden hull was dented, even cracked. One of the pointed wings bent upwards at an alarming angle. It was little wonder it could fly straight. The windscreen was shattered, the jagged edges peppered with frost. What remained of its laser cannon was nothing more than a ragged lump, the main body of which one could guess lay miles below. Possibly in the ocean.

"I'm gonna grab her." Anchor jabbed the controls, causing the wishiwashi's jaws to slowly open. "I'll meet what's left of that ship's crew in the cargo bay, but I ain't goin' alone. Who's with me?"

"I'll go," said Trojan. "They retaliate, I'll jackin' nut 'em."

"Not one for trustin' others, eh?" Anchor asked.

Trojan scowled up at him. "This comin' from a space pirate?"

"I'll go too." Waveform pushed himself back from Macro's seat. "You'll need someone to keep Trojan in check."

"I can check myself," Trojan spat.

"Hey!" Annie pouted. "What about me?"

"You stay here with Web," said Anchor. "You too, Rave. I don't want to terrify whoever's down there."

Rave gasped, his lights paling, and turned his faceless head between the cockpit's occupants. "I'm terrifying?"

Matrix turned in his seat to watch Anchor lead the group from the cockpit. Then he turned back to Rave, idly winding his antenna.

The ribombee shrugged at the Ultra Beast, who was somehow managing to look a little wounded. "I'm saying nothing."

Anchor went down into the cargo bay first, with Trojan sandwiched between himself and Waveform. It was oddly silent. Anchor couldn't help but wonder how long the distress signal had been going off. Maybe it wasn't even intended for Wildcard Gamma? What if the occupant had actually died and the ship was idly flying through System Sky until it finally ran out of fuel? He shoved that thought aside, but still mentally prepared himself for a possible grisly find.

The golden ship lay ruined in the cargo bay. It had barely made it inside. Wildcard Gamma's jaws were closed tight around the tail end of the ship, tearing away what was left of the rudder. The ship didn't entirely fit inside the bay. The tips of the wings were missing, also removed by Wildcard Gamma's jaws. It was only slightly bigger than Surge's ship, and Anchor was greatly relieved they'd already disposed of that a week prior, otherwise it would never have fit.

Trojan beat his paws together and sidled past the granbull. "Let's get this thing open then, eh? See who's inside."

Anchor joined him, glancing up at the cracked window. He couldn't see a passenger. Had they already abandoned ship? No, it made no sense. It was still flying... unless... no, he wasn't going to speculate the worse. He joined Trojan around the side, leaving Waveform with his arrow notched and ready to fire.

Before the pair reached the door, a loud bang came from behind it. Then another. Anchor clenched his paws together, bracing himself as whatever was behind it crashed against the door again. Then it flew open, swinging on its hinges. An emolga clutched the door frame, gasping for breath. His entire body trembled from nose to tail, the remains of frost melting from his fur. Then he slumped forwards, toppling from the steps. Anchor leapt towards him, catching his small body before it hit the ground.

"Good grief, what happened to you?" Anchor asked.

The emolga cracked one eye open. "The kracken... they..."

Then it closed again as the small electric type dropped unconscious.

"Huh." Anchor looked up at his two companions, then rose to his feet, cradling the emolga. "Somethin' makes me think we're gonna have a hard time roundin' up them nihilego."

...

Annie blinked down at the sleeping electric type. "So we got a pet?"

Web shoved her from the side. "He's not a pet."

The human watched as the skuntank aided Cookie in tending to their unconscious guest.

"So what's wrong with him?" Anchor asked. "Is he poisoned? Wounded?"

"Half frozen and exhausted," said Cookie. "That's it. Makes me wonder if he's been around the Dead Glacier."

"Why would anyone go there?" Waveform asked. "You'd freeze to death."

"He said he'd had a run in with the kraken," said Anchor. "That's the nickname the space pirates coined for the nihilego. My guess is it's spread, and he was fightin' them off. If they don't like the cold, he might have used the Dead Glacier to get rid of them."

"Seems convoluted and risky," said Waveform. "I doubt it."

The granbull shrugged his shoulders and returned to observing Web and Cookie. The slurpuff took a step back, wiping his paws on a towel.

"How's he lookin'?" Anchor asked.

"He's fine." Cookie poked his tongue out and smiled. "A hot cocoa and he'll be good as new!"

Web sighed and shook her head. "It's always sweets with you, isn't it?"

Cookie's smile vanished and he huffed, sticking out his bottom lip. "Don't knock it if it works!" Then he waddled from the room.

"I'd say what he needs is some berries!" Web called after him. "Aspear berries!"

"I think we should let him get some rest," said Waveform. "In peace."

"I dunno." Anchor scratched his nose. "This is a wild turn of events. I mean... a government 'mon on a space pirate ship?"

"Hey, he needed rescuing," said Annie. "And we just happened to be there."

"Annie's right," said Web. "In times like these, we need to work together. Maybe he sees that."

"Not to mention, no Socket means no bounty," said Waveform. "So he's not getting anything out of this."

"Well I can't just leave him here," said Anchor. "Who knows what he's gonna do?"

"I wasn't suggesting that." Waveform drew one of his silver arrows. "I'll keep watch on the door, while you go and forget about it for a while. Have a nap, or a snack. Whatever it is you do to unwind."

"I'm afraid there's no time for that," said Web.

Everyone followed her gaze. The emolga stirred, rubbing a paw over his eyes. His mouth turned into a frown and he let out a whimper. Sparks flew from his cheeks and he sat bolt upright with a scream. Electricity flew across the room, and Anchor ducked, feeling the heat as it skimmed his mohawk. A yelp came from his right and he turned to find Annie stunned on the floor, electricity dancing across her limbs.

Waveform dropped his arrow and leapt to her side. He sat her up against his open wing and turned his eyes onto the emolga. The small pokemon sat, panting, his wide eyes fixed on the wall. He glanced to his side and tensed, clasping his paws into fists.

Anchor lifted his paws and slowly rose to his feet. "Calm down. We rescued you."

"Where is it?" the emolga gasped.

"Where's what?"

"The kraken?"

"We didn't see one," Anchor explained. "Your ship was alone."

"Alone?" The emolga ran his paws down his face, then slumped forward on his knees. "I'm the only one?"

The small group exchanged glances, then Anchor and Web drew closer to the bed. Anchor ventured to place his paw on the emolga's back. He didn't so much as flinch.

"Okay, let's start from the top," said Anchor. "What's your name?"

"Axle," the emolga muttered.

"Okay, Axle. Welcome aboard Wildcard Gamma."

Axle's ears twitched at that.

"My name's Anchor," Anchor went on. "And your ship is tucked away in our cargo bay. We're here to get those things you're calling kraken back to their world. Why don't you tell us what happened?"

"Back to their world?" Axle removed his paws to glare at the granbull. "Are you insane?! An entire fleet of Socket's ships couldn't stop those things!"

"No offense," said Annie, "but your ships are pretty dang tiny."

"Compared to Wildcard Gamma, sure!" Axle spat. "But a fleet of them? They're quick. Agile. One cannon shot is equivalent to... I dunno... several of your bomb things!"

"You're wrong there," Anchor muttered.

"Sorry," Axle growled. "Have you got a case of 'my ship is better than your ship' syndrome?"

"No, I just modeled it to be stronger than a government ship," said Anchor. "It's called 'survival'."

Axle snorted and leant on his knees, fixing his eyes on the door. "Well... I doubt your ship will stand a chance against those monsters."

"You have a point," said Anchor. "We struggled against just one, and there were four ships fightin' that thing."

The door slid open and Cookie waddled in, clutching a steaming mug of cocoa. A look of delighted surprise crossed his face, and he poked out his tongue in a smile.

"You're awake!" He shuffled over to Axle and held out the mug. "I made you cocoa. With aspear sprinkles."

Web slapped a paw to her face then sighed. "Well, at least you listened..."

Axle took it hesitantly then looked down at Cookie. "Why are you all doing this?"

"Because..." Cookie stuttered slightly and shuffled his paws. "Because... you were frozen and... well... cocoa!"

"You needed help," said Anchor. "And we can't afford to discriminate in times like these."

Axle sighed and stared into his cocoa. "I suppose you're right." He paused and tucked his knees closer to his chest. "There were fifty of us. We were on our way back to Socket's mansion after scouring for a Zero Day model. Yobi had requested one, and it took us ages to track one down. But when we returned to Meta City, Socket had already taken off and her mansion... it was all eerie, I don't know what had happened to it, but we decided to stay away. Go somewhere else and call Yobi. I assumed an Ultra Beast had taken over it."

"You're kinda right," said Annie.

Axle fired her a glare then returned to his cocoa-gazing. "Whatever it was, it gave me the creeps. To make matters worse, Yobi wasn't answering our calls. Then one day, we couldn't get through at all. None of us knew what to do, so we decided to find him ourselves. Go back to Meta City and ask around. Of course, that was a risk. It's crawling with those electrical beasts. But before we even reached it, we were mobbed by those kraken. They took over our ships, made us fire at each other, twisted the lasers free and broke off wings. One by one, ships dropped into the ocean or slammed down into cities. We couldn't get away. Wherever we went, they chased! They more than halved our numbers! One of my friends decided we should go higher in the sky. It's colder up there, maybe it would freeze them off. But the thing is, no ship has ever gone higher than System Sky! The only ships that have flown higher are space pirate ships, and believe it or not, we are not space pirate ships! We're just a government fleet, designed to fly no higher than System Sky. But the higher we went, the beasts weakened. They let go and tumbled back to the ground. Some dragged ships with them as their tentacles refused to let go. We fired at one and it shattered. Somehow, they'd frozen solid. But so had our ships. Ice coated my wind screen. It began to crack. So I returned to the ground as fast as I could. Freezing my tail off. I could feel torpor setting in, but I had to fight off sleep. But I don't think I managed it. The last thing I remember seeing was those creatures regrouping. I picked up speed and fled, but... I think I must have fallen into torpor. Somehow... I got away."

The room fell silent as the pokemon and Annie took it all in. Cookie shuffled his feet in the silence and looked back up at Axle, still staring into his cocoa.

"You definitely did fall into torpor," said the slurpuff. "You should drink that."

Axle eyed the slurpuff, all aggression leaving his dark eyes. Then he took a sip of his drink. It appeared to visibly relax him, and he let his legs spread out across the bed.

"I recommend a warm shower, too," said Cookie.

Axle frowned. "Noted."

"I don't really know what to say about your story, Axle," said Anchor. "But it must have been terrifying."

"That's the understatement of the century."

"Nevertheless, you're safe now-"

Axle snorted and fixed him in a glare. "For how long? They're all over System! It's only a matter of time until-"

Anchor raised a paw and barked to silence him. The small emolga cowered slightly, but returned his glare with venom.

"I believe we can get out of this alive," said Anchor. "We're workin' together and if you wanna help us, be my guest. The more the merrier. Now... you said somethin' about a Zero Day model?"

"I did." Axle sipped his cocoa, keeping his eyes on Anchor's.

"Did it go down with the other ships?" Anchor asked. "If so, we might be able to retrieve it."

"Now why would you wanna do that?"

"Simple, really. They can open gateways." Anchor paused as Axle's expression twisted with confusion. "If we can send those creatures back where they came from, there ain't no need to fight them. They'll go back home, happy. Right now, they're not happy. Not all of them anyway."

Web clasped her tail to her back as Poipole fought for freedom. His voice still rang out loud and clear, however.

"No, we're not happy."

Axle jolted and looked around at the room.

Web's expression softened and she shook her head slowly. "They're not evil. They're scared."

The emolga didn't look convinced. He flashed a canine and lowered his mug to his lap.

"Is there somethin' on this ship?" he spat.

Anchor sighed and rubbed his muzzle. "We'll talk about that lat-"

"Is there somethin' on this ship?!"

"Yes!" Anchor barked. "We've got two Ultra Beasts, and they can speak. They're friendly. We've also got one tailin' us, but you clearly didn't see that when you called for help. Or you didn't care, one or the other."

"You're carrying monsters?" Axle gasped. "You're workin' with them, aren't you?"

"We're tryin' to get them home and stop the monster that's taken over Socket's mansion and killed her!" Anchor roared.

Axle's entire body stiffened. He stared back at Anchor, stunned.

"She's dead?" he asked quietly.

"It's all over the news," said Web. "I thought everyone knew, but I guess I was wrong."

Axle clutched his cocoa in both paws and looked away. "I... I've been out of touch the last couple of weeks. Drifting along, trying to survive... my computer... it's dead." He sighed and lifted a paw to rub his ears. "I thought her mansion looked creepy. I had no idea that it..."

"Well we're going to stop it," said Anchor. "You with us or are we lettin' you off at the next safe city?"

The emolga sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I'll help."

"All right. Now... where can we find that Zero Day?"

"Right here," said Axle. "It's on my ship."

Anchor's jaw almost hit the floor. "You still have it?"

"Yes. You think I'd let it go after all the trouble we went through to find one?" Axle let out a dry chuckle. "I dunno what use it is to you, though. It's completely wrecked."

"We'll give it a go. I'm pretty good at fixin' things." Anchor pushed himself to his feet. "You get some rest. Then you can meet the rest of our little team."

The group rose to their feet and followed Anchor from the room, but Waveform kept one eye on the emolga.

"I'll be on the door," he said. "So if you need anything-"

"I need a guard?" Axle spat. "I just said I'll help you."

Anchor looked back at the decidueye. "It's okay. Leave him be."

Waveform hesitated a moment, then slinked down the corridor after Anchor.

As Web stood up to follow after Annie, Poipole drifted from her tail and looked down at the emolga. Axle squeaked and sloshed cocoa onto the duvet, but Poipole didn't react. He floated there, staring at him until the emolga trembled from ear to tail.

"Poipole!" Web called from the door. "Come on, leave him alone."

Poipole drifted backwards towards the door. "I'm not evil."

"Of course you're not, Sticky," said Annie. "You're adorable. Now let's leave Mister Squirrel alone, eh?"

Poipole looked back at Annie, waiting until she'd vanished from sight, then he turned back to Axle.

"My name is Poipole," he said. "Only Annie can call me Sticky."

He ducked from the room, leaving the trembling emolga to a somewhat fitful nap.