Chapter Seventy Six

Macro leant against a metal storage crate beside DL, arms crossed as he watched Wildcard Gamma pull back into Cyan City's docks. Beyond the ship drifted two huge Ultra Beasts, one of which sent chills down his spine. The odd bamboo creature didn't look anywhere near as threatening, instead focusing all her attention on the hulking monstrosity beside her. There seemed to be some sort of conversation going on, resulting in the occasional disappointed growl from the huge mouth in the big beast's gut.

The ship's hatch whirred open, followed by Anchor dropping onto the docks. He was swiftly followed by three kartana, the sight of which made Macro's blood turn to ice. The rest of his crew followed close behind, trailed by Poipole and a jaunty looking creature Macro assumed was one of the new Ultra Beasts. It let out a telepathic whistle.

"Jolly nice city, this one, eh?" The creature elbowed Anchor in the hip.

"Aye." Anchor waved towards the mawile. "Right this way."

The crew made their way towards Macro, sans Annie. The human girl stood with her arms crossed, looking up at the two larger Ultra Beasts drifting outside the docks. Mainly at the black, draconic creature.

"Oi, Annie!" Anchor barked. "You joinin' us?"

"No, I'm watchin' this guy," Annie called back over her shoulder. "Make sure he don't go and eat the entire city, an' all that jazz."

"Celesteela's got that job, dear," said Web softly.

Celesteela gave a soft yet somewhat disgruntled scream. Annie nodded and waved at the bamboo creature.

"All right, you're bigger'n me anyway." Annie turned to her crewmates. "But you know where I am if he gets outta hand, right?"

Celesteela visibly sighed.

The jaunty looking Ultra Beast paused before Macro and waved an arm in an elegant bow. "You must be Macro! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Rave, a blacephalon from a little island called Sparkle Grove."

"Erm..." Macro stuttered a little and stretched out a paw. "Pleased to meet you?"

Rave didn't appear concerned by the space pirate's nervousness. Instead, he took his paw and gave it a hearty shake.

Macro released the blacephalon and his eyes went to the kartana.

One of them drifted towards him, causing Macro to take a step back. But it didn't advance any further. Instead, it rubbed its blades together, creating a soft grating sound.

Rave let out a thoughtful noise. "Allow me to translate. It says it's sorry." He paused as the kartana continued its grating and clanging. "And it believes it speaks for its allies when it says it is truly glad to see you are okay."

Another one of the kartana began clattering its blades.

"Your world hasn't been making things easy for the kartana," Rave went on. "They thought you were there to hurt them, so they defended themselves. They are sorry for all misunderstanding and hope you can work together to rid your world of the evil that has consumed it."

Macro absently pawed at his ribs. "Well... I'm no stranger to misunderstandings." He smiled. "If they can set it aside, then so can I."

The lead kartana dragged one arm over the other, creating a swooshing noise that sounded a lot like a sigh of relief.

Macro cocked an eyebrow at Anchor. "So these are all the beasts you recruited?"

"Not at all," said Anchor. "We found a whole host of Ultra Beasts. They're off finding the stragglers, and will meet us just outside Seed City tomorrow evenin'."

"Really?" Macro's eyes widened and he let his arms hang at his sides.

"Aye." Anchor grinned. "There's a couple of newbies still on board, actually. We found one of Socket's soldiers driftin' about System Sky."

Macro's jaw dropped at that, but before he could retort, Anchor lifted a paw and continued.

"He had one of those Zero Day units. Turns out it can open up gateways, so we're gonna use it. He's gettin' help from a xurkitree he's nicknamed Sparky."

"I still think it's cliche," said Annie.

Anchor ignored her. "So how are things holdin' up here?"

Macro ran his mechanical paw down his face. "Hang on. I'm still trying to process all that."

DL placed a paw on his shoulder. "What's worrying you? I doubt the xurkitree is just going to damage your ship."

"Not gonna lie, the thought crossed my mind." Macro pressed his paw over his mouth and stared past Anchor at the giant wishiwashi. "And one of Socket's soldiers? Well..." He sighed and dropped his paw. "I guess he ain't exactly workin' for her anymore."

Web narrowed her eyes at the mawile. "We can't exactly discriminate, can we? We're all in the same boat."

"Ship," said Annie. "It's a ship."

The skuntank shook her head and moved away. "I'll go and find Zip. He'll want to be included."

"About that." Macro's words froze her in her tracks and all eyes went to the mawile. He sighed. "You'll want to see for yourselves."

He led them back to the hospital in silence. He couldn't find any words, and didn't want to get them any more worried than they already were. They had two Z-Crystal users, Zip and Switch, and both of them weren't in any state to use them.

When they reached the hospital, Defrag was exiting it. Macro wasn't surprised. It had been her turn to try and help Switch recover his memories and re-learn 'brave bird'.

"Any joy?" Macro asked as he caught her eye.

She shook her head and slipped past him, turning her attention to her computer.

The group finally came to a stop outside a private room. Macro spotted an azumarill nurse doubled over Zip's water bowl. It had been removed from his mechanical legs. When Macro opened the door, the goldeen's face lit up in a beaming smile.

"You're all back!" he cheered.

"Of course we are, little fish!" Annie rushed to his bowl and crouched beside it. "And we've got a whole army to help us fight off Distortion."

Zip sank to the bottom of his bowl, pouting out his bottom lip. "That nasty dragon really threw a spanner in the works, huh?"

"I'll say!" said Rave. "A right party pooper, that one."

The goldeen spotted the Ultra Beast and a stream of bubbles left his gaping mouth in a gasp.

"That is so cool!" he wagged his tail, pushing himself up against the glass. "You look amazing! What can you do?"

"Well, I can make explosions." Rave rubbed the back of his sparkly head. "But I've been told not to do that indoors."

"And rightly so," said Anchor. He turned back to Zip. "So... what's the situation here then?"

Macro waved a paw and slumped on the edge of the bed, prompting the nurse to explain. She'd been too distracted by the blacephalon and had dropped her Clipboard. She retrieved it and scanned over it, keeping a cautious eye on Rave.

"I know you had this goldeen's best interests at heart," she said, pausing to look at Annie and Web. "But those wounds he received at the fishery... they never healed properly. He ideally needed to be in clean river water."

"But it's fine!" said Zip. "I'll get better, and I can help you!"

"You'll be doing no such thing, young 'mon," said the azumarill. "You need a month's worth of antibiotics and a lot of rest, or..." She paused and shook her head, nodding towards the door.

The group followed her into the hallway, leaving Zip protesting in his bowl. After the door had closed, the nurse leant against the wall and looked at each of them in turn.

"If that goldeen doesn't get the rest he needs," she said, "he's going to die."

Web gasped and clasped a paw over her mouth. Annie's eyes went back to the door, her expression unreadable. Waveform placed a paw on her shoulder, but she didn't appear to notice.

"Well that's not exactly good news, is it?" said Rave, lights turning a subdued blue.

"No, it's not," said the azumarill. "Like I said, you had his best interests. If you'd released him back into the river, he'd have been caught again in no time. With those wounds, he wouldn't have been able to swim efficiently. And from what he told me, he also had no family to go back to. So... either way, it wouldn't have gone in his favour. If I were in your situation, I'd have done exactly the same thing."

Waveform sighed and rubbed his head feathers. "I should have flown further out for cleaner water."

"It wouldn't have made much difference," said the nurse. "The air in Spool City would have poisoned the water in a matter of hours. The issue isn't just the toxins, however. His wounds have become very infected. He needs regular antibiotics and a lot of rest. His water has to be changed daily. You can't do that on the battlefield. And I will be honest with you, there's a fifty/fifty chance he'll even see out the full course of medicine."

"What does that mean?" asked Annie.

Web rose onto her hind legs and pulled Annie aside by her shoulder. A whispered conversation passed between them, and Macro felt his stomach tie in knots.

DL looked up at him and placed a paw on his arm. Anchor caught his eye and the mawile shrugged.

"He's just a kid," said Macro. "He doesn't deserve this."

Anchor nodded sadly. "He's also got a lot of fight in him." He paused and smirked at Macro. "Kinda reminds me of you."

Macro swallowed audibly and hugged his paws over his torso. He thought he saw the Fairium-Z sparkle in the corner of his eye.

"Let me back in." Annie pulled herself away from Web and marched back to the door. "I need to talk to him."

Web grimaced. "Annie, I'm not sure-"

"He'll listen to me," said Annie. "He's always listened to me."

"And what are you going to tell him?" Waveform looked down at her, his wings crossed. He slipped between her and the door, but she batted him away.

"I'm gonna tell him exactly what he needs to hear," she said. "That he needs to rest and get better. We've got his back in this rebellion. He doesn't have to fight it any more!"

"No."

Zip's voice was muffled by the door, but everyone looked back at it. Annie twisted the handle and pushed it open, narrowly missing Zip's bowl. The goldeen looked up at them, panting from the exertion of nudging his bowl across the floor.

Web slumped her shoulders and shook her head. "Oh, Zip... You've been told to rest!"

"I'm not resting!" he shouted. "I'm done resting. I want to help! You said I could help, that we'd change System! We'll I want to help make a difference!"

Annie crouched down beside him, peering into his bowl. "You have made a difference. That rebellion wouldn't have been started without you. You also helped me find friends!"

"But the rebellion has to stop," said Zip. "Because of Distortion. I want to help you beat it so the water dwellers' fight can continue."

"You're not doing anything of the sort!" said the nurse.

A rapid water gun narrowly missed the azumarill's ear. She lifted a paw and squeaked with surprise. Zip poked his head out of the bowl, scowling at her.

"See? I can fight!" he said. "I'm tired of you telling me to rest when I've got a war to fight! My war isn't in this bowl. I don't care if I'm wounded, or sick! I want to help my friends to beat Distortion! I even have my own Z-Crystal, and I want to use it!"

Macro looked down at his own Z-Crystal. It was still sparkling. He thought he could see Solgaleo's eyes looking back at him. Nodding.

Macro lowered his arm and looked up at the nurse. "Let him fight."

"What?" The nurse, Web and Waveform all looked at him, stunned.

"We need him," said Macro. "And let's face it. What statement would it make if a water dweller helped defeat Distortion and save System?" He grinned down at the goldeen. "Not exactly useless, eh?"

Zip beamed and fluttered his tail fins. "You really want me to help?"

"I demand it!" said Macro. "You're part of our crew, right? But!" He lifted a claw. "Until we leave, you take your medicine. And we'll bring enough with us. Can't have you falling before we reach the battlefield."

Zip grinned widely and splashed with glee. "You've got it, Captain! I'll be of great help, you'll see!"

The azumarill blanched and fixed Macro in a glare. "I have you know you're stepping on toes. I can't allow this! And I'm sure Jumper will have something to say about this, too!"

"Oh, that he will."

Macro's spine tingled and he looked back at the frogadier. Jumper leant against the wall and smiled down at Zip.

"As you can see, Governor." The nurse waved her paw towards the goldeen. "He's in no fit state to fight."

"No, I'm with Macro on this one." Jumper's words made the nurse squeal with surprise.

"But..." she stuttered. "Governor, please...!"

"It would definitely make a statement," said Jumper. "And if he can splash in his bowl, I think he's got enough energy to fight. Provided he's on the sidelines." The frogadier's eyes went to Zip and Time Archeops.

"Sidelines?" Zip whined. "I want to help!"

"And you can." Jumper crouched before his bowl. "But you're a fish out of your natural environment. Sure, that water bowl allows you to do more on land than any other water dweller, but you can't get away quickly in it. And if it were to be damaged, you'd be stranded without water. That could be disastrous in your condition."

Zip's lips turned into a frown and he diverted his eyes.

"Don't worry about him." Annie placed a hand on Zip's bowl, beaming at the frogadier. "I've got him covered, he won't get hurt under my watch! Besides, he can cover my back. Right, little fish?"

Zip gave her a weak smile. "You've got it. No one's gonna get past me. Right?"

Annie nodded, causing Zip to beam once more.

"Very well." Jumper stood up and crossed his arms. "But you come straight back here, and like Macro said, you take your medicine."

Zip saluted with a fin.

Jumper nodded and turned back to the nurse. The azumarill threw her arms in the air, almost tossing her Clipboard free across the room.

"Oh, dash it all!" she said. "You come in here and overrule my-"

Jumper put a finger to her lips to silence her. "Let him have this one, ma'am. He'll be right back here before you know it."

The nurse looked between the space pirates and Jumper, then shook her head and sighed. "Fine! Two days. You have two days!"

She marched from the room, shoving past Macro as she muttered to herself. He watched her leave, then turned back to Annie and her crew.

"We need to be on my ship in three hours," he said. "Then we'll head to our meeting place with the Ultra Beasts. Anchor?"

The granbull turned to look at him and cocked an eyebrow.

"You stay with these guys and find Tracer and his two friends," said Macro. "I'm gonna visit Switch and see how he's gettin' on."

Anchor tapped him on the back and turned to talk to Zip. Macro tugged his scarf about himself and left the room with DL at his side. A small little note played from her belt pouch and she pulled out a small pocket computer. He raised an eyebrow at it, wondering if she'd picked it up during the aftermath of their run-in with Distortion.

"I'll have to meet you in there," she said, popping it back into her pocket. "I need to run and get something."

He nodded, curiosity gnawing at him. She trotted away towards the reception, leaving him beside the elevator.

It didn't take him long to get to Switch's private room. The human lay sprawled on his bed with his back against the wall, fidgeting with his transformer watch. He looked up when Macro entered, but there was no smile on his face.

"How are you doin'?" Macro asked.

Switch snorted and looked away from him. "Still dealing with not being fifteen anymore. The doctors here don't even know how old I am. Pretty obvious humans don't exist here, isn't it? Every time I look in the mirror, I just think 'Wow, I look like my dad.' I've even got the odd grey hair."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," said Macro.

Switch threw his arms in the air in exasperation. "I've lost about half of my life! What happened to the other fifteen years?"

"You spent them in System," said Macro. "We're tryin' to help you remember it all, okay? But I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to you, or who your friends are. All I know is you're some goofy guy who's everybody's friend. Even mine, and boy I don't deserve it."

Switch snorted and looked back down at his watch. "You make it sound like you're some kind of scum."

Those words stabbed like a dagger.

Macro hugged himself and leant back against the wall. "Well, I'm tryin' to change."

"So I was right then?"

Macro looked up at him, meeting one of his golden eyes. "Weren't a very nice kid, were ya, pal?"

Switch waved a hand and sighed. "Sorry. I guess not. In my mind, I had a row with my parents yesterday. Something about 'not pulling my weight' and 'talking back'."

"Teenage stress. I've been there." Macro kicked himself back from the wall and strutted over to Switch's bed. "It's not okay, mind you."

He tried to scramble onto the bed to no avail. Switch leant over and grabbed him by the scruff, yanking him onto the mattress. Macro shook out his fur and straightened his scarf. Then he leant back against the wall and tucked his paws behind his head.

"I know it's not okay," said Switch. "I just said things out of anger. Like then. I know you're not scum."

"Yeah, well. Take it from someone who knows from experience," said Macro. "I spent my irritable teenage years flyin' a pirate ship and shootin' laser pistols."

"Did it help?"

Macro waved his mechanical paw at himself. "Almost died more times than I can count. So I'd say 'no'."

Switch snorted. "You ever hurt anyone?"

Macro grimaced and toyed with the hem of his scarf. "Too many times. Kind of an eye opener."

"Well, I did, too. Said things I didn't mean." Switch sighed and shook his head. "I vividly remember my mother crying as my dad sent me to my room."

"Then what did you do?" Macro asked.

Switch shrugged. "I was planning to run away. I'd started writing a letter. After that, I don't remember. It's all blank."

Macro stared up at him, but the human didn't meet his eyes. "Well, if Socket removed all your memories about System, I'd say... you probably ended up here after that."

"What, so I did run away?" Switch snapped. "Ended up here with talking pokemon and locked in a ward like some kinda freak-show?!"

"You're not a freak-show!" Macro growled. "You're one of the nicest 'mon I ever met, and that's rich, 'cos you're not one!"

Switch groaned and let his head fall back against the wall. "I just wanna go home. I want to apologise!"

Macro balled his paws into fists and looked away. "Then you've left me with a difficult choice, 'cos I don't know which home to send you to anymore."

The door cracked open, drawing their eyes. DL peered back at them, smiling softly.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

Macro shrugged. "Sure."

She slipped through the door, clutching a fabric bag in one paw. Macro frowned at it.

"What's in the bag? It looks fancy," he asked.

"Oh, I erm..." She reached inside and pulled out a fabric bundle. "I wanted to replace your damaged scarf, but... I know you liked the old one, so..."

Macro hopped from the bed, landing in a crouch. He took the scarf from her and unwound it. Black glossy fabric with a blue pattern. But at either end, the old scarf Switch had brought him had been neatly sewn. The blue pattern complimented the blue pixel print perfectly, and it had been cut in a way that none of the damaged burnt bits remained.

"Do you like it?" DL asked.

"You kiddin' me?" he said. "I love it."

DL clapped her paws and beamed. "Try it on!"

Macro chuckled and placed the scarf back in her paws. Then he removed his old, black one. Compared to the new scarf, it looked old and faded. As he exchanged it for DL's gift, Switch let out a little gasp.

Macro craned his head around to see Switch with a hand clasped in his hair. His mouth hung open as he stared at the mawile, eyes trailing down his back.

"What's wrong?" Macro welled with concern and turned fully to face him.

"Those markings..." Switch's face rapidly dampened with sweat. "I think I've seen them somewhere..."

DL grabbed Macro by the arm and turned him so Switch could see them, tugging his heavy horn aside to reveal them more. Those two, brown stripes that had always reminded Macro of a pikachu.

Switch let his arm drop to his side and slowly slipped from the bed. "Yes. Yes, I have. I've seen them."

Macro frowned at him over his shoulder. "Not on a pikachu, though, right?"

"No, that wouldn't be weird at all," Switch scoffed. "No, I... I feel like they were somewhere strange. Black and white. No... blue. All three!"

He tugged at his hair as he strained to remember. Macro turned back to him, his muzzle creasing with worry.

"Easy there," he said. "You'll end up tuggin' it all out at this rate."

"Just let me think!" Switch snapped. "Sorry... Sorry, I don't mean to... Argh, where have I seen them before?"

Macro knew exactly where. Switch had already told him, weeks ago.

"A meowstic?" Macro offered.

Switch fixed his golden eyes on him, releasing his hair. "A meowstic..."

"Ringin' any bells?" Macro asked.

Switch shushed him, eyes drifting to the wall. "Yes... yes, I think... I faintly remember."

DL tapped Macro on his shoulder, drawing his attention. She stared transfixed at Switch, her chocolate eyes sparkling.

"I think it's working," she whispered. "I don't understand how."

Switch slumped to his bottom and trailed his hands down to his mouth. He looked at the two pokemon in turn.

"I remember him," he said. "And a mawile. But... I don't remember anything about them. Just... that they're friends of mine."

Macro's mouth curled into a smile, then he grinned as he punched himself in the chest. "They're also my ancestors."

"You've told me this," said Switch. "But I couldn't picture them as clearly as I am doing now. It's like... some kind of distant memory, or dream. Just like the memory of me writing that letter. I can see it, but I can't remember what it says."

"That's because Socket's removed them," said DL. "But I guess it was a rushed job if you're recalling things."

Switch stared at them for a moment, then let his hands fall into his lap. "Do you think I'll get these memories back?"

"If we can find them, yes," said Macro.

He grabbed the new scarf and tossed it over his shoulders. It wasn't much longer than the one Switch had given to him. He smoothed it out and beamed up at the human.

"Anythin' else come back to you there?" he asked.

Switch toyed with his watch and cleared his throat. "I'm suddenly not so scared of that talonflame form."

"Well that's good," said Macro. "'Cos we kinda need you."

"To fight?"

Macro met Switch's eye. The human grinned and rose to his feet, then he winked down at the mawile. Macro's jaw went slack, and he returned Switch's grin with one of his own.

"I think 'brave bird' is coming back to me," said Switch, "so I'm ready to try and master that Z-Move." He moved towards the door. "If it'll get me back home, I'll do it."

"Question!" Macro stopped Switch with a pointed claw. "Which home?"

Switch tugged the door open and shrugged. "I guess we'll find out if these memories keep coming back to me, won't we?"

...

Wildcard Gamma's cockpit was soon rammed to the gills as Annie lead her troop on board. Anchor closed up the rear and shooed the girl from his seat, much to her protests. He cast an eye over towards Switch, huddled in the corner in his talonflame form. Axle and his xurkitree friend worked silently beside him on the porygon-z. Its eyes periodically lit up, but other than that it didn't seem active.

"Nice to see you back aboard." The granbull grinned at Switch.

"Yeah, well..." Switch grimaced and ruffled his feathers. "I'm not sure how much use I'm going to be. I can't even get brave bird right, let alone use this Z-Crystal."

He flashed the Flyinium-Z around his left ankle.

Anchor exchanged a worried glance with Macro, which the mawile shrugged off with a wave.

"Priorities," said Macro. "We can't hold things up any longer. We need to get a wiggle on. I seriously doubt Distortion is gonna wait until we master things before twisting System into an unrecognisable..." He flicked a paw as he tried to find the right words.

"Coil?" Annie suggested.

Macro nodded and kicked his feet up on the dash. "I'll take it."

Annie grinned and nudged Waveform in the ribs. The decidueye let out a disgruntled hoot and smoothed out his feathers.

"So are we all aboard?" Anchor asked. "Because we ain't comin' back for no stragglers."

The cockpit shook as Trojan leapt aboard. He shuffled into the cockpit, tugging up his baggy fur to avoid tripping over it.

"We are now," said Web. "Where have you been?"

Trojan said nothing, dropping down beside Zip's bowl to work at his frame. He began fastening the Z-Crystal band into place around his front leg with a hexnut.

"That answers that question," said Web. "I think we're good to go."

"What about Mister Fox and the pussycat?" Annie asked.

"Eh?" Anchor cocked an eyebrow.

"She means Tracer and N0ize." Macro shuffled down in his seat and yawned. "They're holed up in two of the rooms - Switch's and my own. Apparently N0ize snores like a grumpig with allergies. They'll join us when we get there, let's go."

Wildcard Gamma shook as Anchor pulled her out of the docks. Macro spotted Celesteela as she backed away to give them space, before falling in step behind them with Omnom. (Annie had insisted on the nickname.)

DL nudged Macro to get his attention. "You gave up you room?"

Macro snorted and closed his eyes. "I didn't have much choice."