The road stretched long and quiet as Tyler's truck rolled steadily through the outskirts of Legion City, the skyline slowly shrinking in the rearview mirror. The hum of the engine blended with the low music playing through the speakers, something calm, something familiar. The kind of sound that didn't demand attention, just filled the space.

Tyler leaned back slightly in his seat, one hand on the wheel, the other resting near the center console. Lucario sat upright in the passenger seat, arms crossed like always, gaze forward but clearly aware of everything around him. Arcanine lay sprawled across the back seats, taking up far more room than he should, tail flicking lazily every now and then.

"You always sit like that, or are you trying to look cool," Tyler asked, a little smirk in his voice

Lucario gave a small hum, not even turning his head to him. Tyler smirked faintly and looked back at the road.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Tyler said

In the back, Arcanine let out a low huff, shifting slightly before resting his head against the window. The glass fogged faintly from his breath as the scenery passed by. Tyler reached over and tapped the dashboard lightly, checking inside to see his extra pistol there. He hummed as he leaned back, humming a bit before talking again.

"You two did good back there," Tyler said,"all of you did."

Lucario's ear twitched slightly, trying to not smile at the compliment. Arcanine thumped his tail once against the seat, barking a little to acknowledge him. He adjusted his grip on the wheel, eyes narrowing just slightly as he focused on the road ahead. The tension from earlier had settled, replaced by something quieter. Something steady.

"Still though, a Guzzlord," Tyler asked,"haven't seen one of those in years."

Lucario finally turned his head slightly, giving a short nod. As Arcanine gave another bark, making Tyler let out a low whistle to that.

"Yeah, figures you guys wouldn't pick an easy fight," Tyler said,"I swear you guys are stubborn 80% of the time."

Arcanine barked once, almost proudly at that fact .Tyler chuckled under his breath, use to his Pokémon's antics.

"Yeah, yeah," Tyler said,"you're a bunch of overachievers."

The truck rolled past a sign marking the edge of Havenbrook's territory. The land opened up more, trees lining the roads, the air looking cleaner somehow. Less noise from the city and less annoyances. Tyler's shoulders relaxed just a little, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"We're home," he whispered

Arcanine lifted his head immediately, ears perked at the words. Lucario straightened slightly, posture shifting just enough to show recognition they were back home in Havenbrook. Tyler slowed the truck as familiar roads came into view, passing by houses, small shops, and the quiet rhythm of the town settling into the afternoon.

People moved along sidewalks, some glancing at the truck, some recognizing it as Tylers truck. Tyler turned onto his street, the house coming into view as they drew closer. He pulled into the driveway, the engine idling for a moment before he shut it off. The silence that followed wasn't empty, it was calm, making him smile more.

"Alright, let's get you guys out of those things," Tyler

He stepped out of the truck, stretching his arms briefly before walking around to the back. He opened the rear door and grabbed the Pokéballs from his bag.

"Alright, come on out everyone," Tyler said

He pressed the release, and soon one by one they materialized back into the world. Blastoise emerged first, landing solidly on the ground with a heavy thud with his steps. Metagross followed, its metallic limbs adjusting as it stabilized itself so it doesn't fall over. Inteleon stepped out more gracefully, scanning the area with a sharp gaze.

Corviknight burst out last, wings spreading wide before settling onto the roof of the truck with a metallic clang. Arcanine hopped out from the backseat, stretching fully now, while Lucario stepped out from the passenger side, calm as ever. Tyler looked at them all, hands on his hips with a bigger smile.

"Try not to destroy anything, alright," Tyler said

Arcanine barked with his tail wagging wildly, as Blastoise gave a short grunt in response. Inteleon just blinked, but shrugged and walked off to the back with the others. Lucario was in the back, but he stopped and nodded once at Tyler.

"I'm trusting you on that," Tyler said

He turned and walked toward the house, Max already barking excitedly at the door. The moment Tyler stepped onto the porch, the door swung open and Max rushed out, circling around the group of Pokémon like he was trying to greet everyone at once. Tyler chuckled as he stepped inside the house.

"Mon, dad, I'm back," he said

He didn't see them but he can see the house was busy with something. Boxes were stacked near the entrance, a couple coolers sat open on the floor and bags filled with food were spread across the kitchen counters. Heather moved quickly between rooms, carrying items back and forth, while Justin hauled a large cooler past Tyler like it weighed nothing.

"What's going on," Tyler asked

Justin stopped mid-step, looking over at him with a grin.

"Perfect timing kid," Justin said, making Tyler look around again.

"Dad, why does it look like you're moving the entire kitchen," Tyler asked

Heather walked past them carrying a stack of plates, pausing just long enough to kiss Tyler on the cheek.

"Because we kinda are, sweety," Heather said

"For what," Tyler asked, frowning slightly

Justin set the cooler down with a solid thud, wiping his hands on a rag before looking at him.

"Cookout at the center of town," Justin said

Okay, but what's the occasion," Tyler asked,"cause normally that happens on holidays or whatever the highschool wins something."

Heather and Justin exchanged a quick look. Then both looked back at him, with Heather smiling like an angel and Justin smirked.

"You," Justin said, making Tyler blink.

"...Huh," Tyler asked

Heather stepped forward, smiling softly as she adjusted his collar slightly.

"You came home, Tyler," Heather said,"word got around pretty fast. People wanted to see you, welcome you back and make sure you're alright."

Tyler stood there for a second, processing that after so long. Justin crossed his arms, leaning against the counter as he looked to his kid.

"Figured we'd just make it official," Justin said

Tyler let out a quiet breath, glancing toward the door, where he could hear his Pokémon outside moving around the yard.

"You didn't have to do all that, ya know," Tyler said, as Heather shook her head immediately.

"Yes we did," Heather said as she placed her hand on his cheek,"anything for my baby."

"This town remembers you, kid," Justin said,"they remember everything you did growing up, helped around the town and everything else. They care for you like family."

Tyler looked down for a moment, then back up and exhaled a bit. He knew there was gonna be a cookout, but he imagined a simple BBQ in the backyard, a few friends and simple food. Now the whole town will be there, he wasn't shy or anything...he just...well he wasn't good in massive crowds. But he knew the people there, so he didn't mind

"Is the whole town gonna be there," he asked, masking Justin smirk again.

"Everyone," he said

Tyler sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Great...no pressure or anything at all," Tyler said with a hint of sarcasm

Heather laughed softly, patting his cheek with her hand.

"Relax Tyler," she said,"it's just food, people, and a lot of good cooking."

"Yep, and show my legendary cooking," Justin said

"Yeah, legendary cooking that made people stay on the toilet," Tyler said

"Careful, I can still ground you," Justin said as he pointed at him.

"I'm nineteen," Tyler deadpanned

"Don't care."

Heather rolled her eyes as she moved past them.

"Both of you, grab those boxes and get moving," Heather said,"we've got a town to feed."

Tyler glanced at his dad, who shrugged at his son.

"You heard your mother," he said

Tyler shook his head, but there was a faint smile there as he loved this. He grabbed one of the boxes and lifted it easily, following Justin toward the door. As he stepped outside again, his Pokémon immediately gathered near him, watching and waiting for direction. Tyler looked at them, then back toward the town in the distance.

"Guess we're not easing into this, huh," Tyler mumbled

Lucario gave a quiet hum., Arcanine wagged his tail and Corviknight let out a low caw from above. While the others just gave grunts and such, Tyler chuckled as adjusted his grip on the box and started walking.

"Alright, let's go see everyone," he said

The house stayed busy for a while after Tyler stepped back inside, the steady rhythm of preparation filling every corner. Boxes moved, coolers snapped shut, and the low hum of conversation between Justin and Heather carried through the rooms. Tyler set the box he was carrying down near the door and paused for a second, glancing toward the stairs.

Then at his clothes, seeing a few tears, dirt and even small patches of gunpowder on his clothes. He grunted as he knew he shouldn't show up in this, so he decided to head upstairs and go change into something more presentable.

"I'm gonna go change real quick," Tyler said

Heather looked over from the kitchen, arms full of utensils.

"Good idea, baby," Heather said,"don't show up smelling like gun oil."

Justin chuckled from the doorway.

"Speak for yourself, that's a good smell," Justin said,"how do you think you feel in love with me~?"

"Touché," Heather said and peeked Justin on the cheek

Tyler shook his head slightly and headed upstairs, Max following close behind like usual. His room still felt the same as it had the night before, warm, inviting and calm. He stepped over to his dresser and pulled it open, scanning through his clothes before grabbing something simple clean, comfortable and something that didn't stand out.

Soon he found a dark red shirt, a light black overshirt, and his usual pants. He changed quickly, tossing his old clothes into a hamper before grabbing his hat. sunglasses and slipping them onto his head. He paused for a second, catching his reflection in the mirror.

He didn't look like the same guy who left Union, not completely, but he didn't look broken either. He took a breath and exhaled lightly, as he looked again and he just saw a kid moving on.

"Good enough," Tyler said with a a smile

Max barked once, like he agreed to that statement. Tyler smirked faintly and headed back downstairs. By the time he got back, Justin was already hauling another cooler toward the truck, while Heather was stacking trays into a large crate near the door.

Tyler walked over and grabbed one without being told.

"Where's this going," he asked

Justin jerked his head toward the driveway.

"Truck, everything's going in," Justin said

Tyler nodded and carried it out, setting it in the back with the rest of the supplies. The bed of the truck was already filling up coolers, folding tables and bags of charcoal, trays wrapped in foil, and enough food to feed half the town. Arcanine trotted nearby, sniffing at one of the bags before Tyler gave him a look.

"Don't even think about it," he said

Arcanine huffed and backed off, being a sassy diva. Lucario stood near the edge of the driveway, watching the road calmly, while Corviknight perched on the roof of the house, wings tucked in as it observed everything below. Metagross stayed closer to the garage, still and steady, while Blastoise sat near the fence, keeping an eye on the area like a guard.

Inteleon leaned casually against the truck for a moment before stepping aside as Tyler loaded another crate. Tyler glanced at them all briefly, chuckling as they saw them gather.

"You guys coming too," he asked

Arcanine perked up immediately, with Lucario gave a small nod and the others just made a bunch of noises to agree.

"Okay then, just behave," Tyler said

A few more minutes passed as they finished loading everything up, Justin slammed the tailgate shut and wiped his hands. Heather had just come out with her purse and bags, one was filled with plastic utensils and plates.

"That should do it," Justin said

"I locked everything and grabbed the last bags," Heather said,

Heather stepped out with one last bag, handing it to Tyler. Tyler took it and placed it securely in the back, making sure nothing will squash it.

"What is it," Tyler asked

"Dessert," Heather said with a smile

"You made too much again, didn't you," Justin groaned out, making Heather shoot him a look.

"There's no such thing as too much dessert," Heather said

Tyler chuckled under his breath and climbed into the passenger seat while Justin took the driver's side. Heather got in the back after making sure everything was secure. The engine turned over, and the truck rolled out of the driveway and soon they were driving through Havenbrook, seeing the town closing and lights going off.;

People were already heading in the same direction—cars pulling out of driveways, families walking down sidewalks, kids running ahead while parents tried to keep up. A couple of trucks passed by, loaded up just like theirs, horns honking as they recognized Justin's vehicle. Justin raised a hand in response, as Heather waved outside the windows.

"Told you everyone would be there," Justin said

Tyler looked out the window, watching it all to his shock.

"Yeah, I can see that," Tyler said

Arcanine stuck his head slightly out the back window, tongue out, while Lucario sat upright in the bed, steady despite the movement. Corviknight flew overhead, keeping pace with the truck.

As they approached the center of town, he heard laughter, a bunch of voices and a lot of music, Then came the smell, smoke from grills, meat cooking, charcoal burning, something sweet in the air from baked goods. Justin pulled into a spot near the edge of the square and cut the engine, then got out and started grabbing stuff.

Tyler stepped out and paused, looking out at the town square to see it was already in full swing. Grills lined one side, smoke rising into the air as men stood around them, flipping burgers, checking ribs, adjusting heat with the kind of focus that only came from experience. A few smokers sat further back, lids closed, slow-cooking whatever had been put inside hours ago.

Nearby, a group of older men sat around folding tables, drinks in hand, talking loudly over each other. Most of them wore old military caps, jackets, or shirts that showed where they'd been and what they'd done.

"There he is," a veteran yelled out

"Skelton," another yelled holding up a cup of beer

"You old bastards started without me," Justin asked

"You were late," the veteran said

"I had work you dicks!"

"Excuses excuses!"

They all laughed as Justin headed over, immediately pulled into their circle like he'd never left. On the other side of the square, women stood around long tables covered in food. Dishes were laid out, drinks being poured, conversations flowing easily as they talked and laughed. Some glanced over when Tyler stepped out of the truck, recognition hitting quickly.

Heather walked over to them, greeted instantly by hugs and voices overlapping.

"Heather!"

"You made it!"

"Where is he—?"

Heather turned slightly and pointed at Tyler, who stood there, hands in his pockets, taking it all in. The women walked up and hugged him, saying they were happy to see him again and they were there to help him in anyway possible. Tyler blushed slightly from the attention, but was thankful to their kindness

He saw kids ran through the open spaces, laughing and yelling as they chased each other around. Some had Pokémon with them, smaller ones mostly, playing along, darting between them or bouncing around happily. And as they passed Tyler, a small group of kids spotted Arcanine.

"WHOA!"

"Is that yours!?"

Arcanine looked at Tyler, which Tyler sighed lightly but smiled.

"Go ahead," Tyler said

Arcanine immediately trotted over, tail wagging as the kids surrounded him, laughing and petting his fur. Blastoise moved closer too, slower, but gentle as a couple of kids approached cautiously before relaxing when he didn't react aggressively. Corviknight landed on a nearby post, watching from above, while Inteleon kept to the side, observing quietly.

Lucario stayed near Tyler, as he didn't feel like entertaining kids at the time. Tyler then moved forward, moving around the area as people started noticing him more clearly now.

"Well I'll be damned, look who finally decided to show his face," Jim said

Tyler turned to see the retired sheriff walking toward him, smiling wide. Which made Tyler smiled at the old man, happy to see a familiar face.

"Good to see you Jim," Tyler said

Jim stepped closer and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.

"Heard you're busy in Legion City," Jim said

"Eh, something like that," Tyler said

Back near the grills, Justin called out to his son.

"Tyler," he yelled out

Tyler looked over, seeing Justin waving him over with a grin. Tyler say bye to Him, then walked toward him, Lucario following just behind. The group of veterans looked him over as he approached, one of them nodded at Tyler.

"So this is the kid, huh," the veteran asked,"cause I don't recognize this young man anywhere!"

"This is him," Justin said, clapping Tyler on the back,"Tyler, you remember everyone."

"Hey guys," Tyler said as he nodded

One of the men raised his drink slightly to Tyler.

"Welcome back home," the man

"Thanks," Tyler said as he nodded.

Tyler walked off into the center of downtown, while the smoke, the noise, the laughter and the movement all blended together into something steady. This was something real, surrounded by people who knew him, people who didn't care about: power, status or reputation

Just regular people, people who cared for others they knew for so long. He stopped walking, taking in a breath, which made Lucario glance up at him. Tyler looked down slightly, at his shoes and then back out at the crowd.

"...Yeah," he said,"this'll do. Come on, let's go find something to eat."

Tyler moved through the town square at an easy pace, hands relaxed at his sides, Lucario walking just slightly behind him like a quiet shadow. The noise of the cookout filled the air with laughter, music and the constant crackle of grills working overtime. He saw the kids playing with his Pokémon and others just having fun with each other

People greeted him as he passed, some with handshakes, others with simple nods or smiles. Nobody made it awkward or pushed too hard on Tyler about Union or whatever else happened. They just acknowledged him, like he had never really left 2 years ago.

A woman from the market waved him over briefly, handing him a cold drink before sending him on his way. A couple of older men near the benches asked about his parents, giving him a few firm pats on the shoulder before going back to their conversation. Kids ran past him again, laughing as Arcanine trotted behind them like he had known them his whole life.

Tyler stopped near one of the long tables for a moment, taking a sip from the drink before setting it down. His eyes moved across the square, taking everything in when he heard a sharp crack echoed from the far side of the field.

Then it was followed up another crack, then another and the sound of something breaking. Tyler's head turned slightly, eyes narrowing just enough to focus on where the noise was. It was coming from the far side of the center, where a more clear patch of the town was and a few people where standing with guns and machines,

Lucario glanced in the same direction, all while Tyler tilted his head. Then he recognized the machines and what they were doing.

"Skeet shooting," he said,"man haven't done that in years."

Lucario gave a small hum, wondering if Tyler wanted to go over there. He got the answer when Tyler set his drink down and started walking over there.

"Let's go check that out," Tyler said,"maybe Coach Delaney is there."

The skeet range was set up just beyond the main square, off near a wide open patch of land where the town sometimes held events. A portable launcher had been set up, with a few crates of clay targets stacked nearby. Shotgun shells were scattered across a folding table, along with a couple of well-used firearms laid out neatly.

A group of men stood around the setup, laughing and taking turns. Most of them were older, but not slow like you would see. The way they handled themselves, their posture, stance and awareness shows it was obvious they had experience.

Tyler recognized a few of them immediately as he got closer. First was Coach Frank Delaney, he was in his mid-50s, a former soldier in the Drakconia Armed Forces, he had copper brown hair, green eyes and broad shoulders. Tyler knew Frank since high school, he was his trap coach and was also the schools history teacher

With him was Raymond "Ray" Carter, he was around in his nearly 60s, DAF veteran, and was the towns resident cook at the local diner. Sofia Ortega, a woman in her late 40s, former pilot, quick reflexes and had a relaxed attitude. And lastly Dale Mercer, early 50s, Drakconia Air Force, he was more technical and precise than the others.

Frank was mid-shot when Tyler approached, shotgun already raised as the launcher fired. A clay disc shot into the air, spinning fast across the sky, it arched a bit and slowly fell to the earth. Frank tracked it smoothly, adjusting the gun slightly to aim ahead of the target. Once he got there, pulled the tigger.

!BOOM!

The clay shattered instantly, with pieces falling wide around the ground. Frank lowered the shotgun with a satisfied nod as snapped the gun opened and ejected the spent shell.

"Still got it," Frank said

"Took you long enough," Sofia said with a laugh

"You hesitated," Ray said, shaking his head.

"I didn't hesitate," Frank said,

Dale chuckled quietly, arms crossed over her burly chest.

"Yes you did old man," Dale said

Tyler stepped closer, hands in his pockets, watching the setup as the operators loaded more clay targets into the launcher. Sofia noticed him first, making the rest look to see Tyler approaching them.

"Well look who decided to show up," Sofia said

"Justin's little brat," Dale said with a chuckle

"Nice to see you too Mister Mercer," Tyler said to them man,"Coach Delaney, good to see you again."

"Tyler, damn good to see you again boy," Frank said as the two shook hands,"so finally come back from that fancy Hero school?"

"Yeah, wasn't my vibe," Tyler said with a smirk

"Heard you've been busy," Ray said

"Something like that," Tyler said, shrugging it off.

The 4 chuckled as they sat down at the nearby table, with Frank giving Tyler some updates on the town. Nothing much to brag about, but the town did update the school due to it being very old and needed some work on its foundations. Plus that there'll be a new base near the town, so it might mean work for them and probably increase the town's economy

As they talked, the operators said the launcher was now loaded and ready for use. As the veterans got up, Frank looked to Tyler and offered up his shotgun.

"Want to join in," Frank asked,"knock off some rust on your trap shooting?"

"Yeah sounds fun," Tyler said

"Here, you can borrow mine for a round," Sofia said

Sofia reached down and picked up one of the shotguns, checking it briefly before handing it to Tyler. It was an 20 gauge A400 Xcel Sporting model, the barrel was an Optima Bore HP and the stock was extra patted. Tyler took it, feeling the weight settle into his hands naturally, a little heavy but still felt good to hold.

He checked the chamber, adjusted his grip slightly, and stepped into position without needing to be told. Tyler rolled his shoulders once, loosening up so he isn't stiffed and not let the recoil affect him. He adjusted his footing, left foot forward, right foot back slightly. The shotgun came up smoothly, resting firmly against his shoulder.

His grip was steady, but not tight where he couldn't move the gun. Tyler glanced toward the launcher operator.

"Pull," he said

The machine fired the clay out fast, angling upward and to the right of his position. Tyler's eyes tracked it instantly, moving the top of his body above the waist and kept his feet planted. He moved barrel slowly, not jerking or rushing, just following the target in a smooth arc. He led it slightly and adjusted to put the bead on the barrel slightly ahead of the clay and—

!BOOM!

The clay shattered cleanly in mid-air, tiny pieces of clay falling to the ground. Sofia let out a low whistle as the others nodded and raised a drink to him, while Frank nodded with a smile

"Nice shit," Sofia said

"Still got it kid," Frank said

Tyler didn't react much, he ejected the shell and loaded in another, then began resetting his stance.

"Pull," he said

Another clay launched, this one faster and lower then the first one. Tyler adjusted immediately, pivoting at the waist instead of overcorrecting with his arms. The barrel tracked the target smoothly as it dipped.

!BOOM!

"Nice, most miss those kind of shots," Frank said

Tyler shifted his footing slightly, puts in another shell and adjusts for the next shot.

"Pull," he said

Two clays launched this time, splitting in opposite directions. Tyler didn't rush, he saw them split to the sides so he had to pick one and move to other. His eyes picked on the one on the left first.

!BOOM!

The first shattered, but he didn't watch the pieces fall onto the ground. He shifted immediately rotated his body to the right and pulled the trigger.

!BOOM!

The second clay broke apart just before it dropped too low..

"Still got it," Frank said with a clap

"Nice shooting," Dale said as he sipped his soda

"Thanks," Tyler said

He walked back to the tables and  handed Sofa back the gun. The others grabbed their own and loaded, talking random shit to one another. Tyler was about to walk off when Frank walked by him

"Anytime you want to shoot, you come find us," Frank said

"Yeah, we could use someone to humble Frank here," Sofia said, making Frank scoff.

"Watch it."

Tyler stepped back slightly, glancing toward the town square where the cookout was still going strong. Smoke still rose into the air, laughter still carried across the field, and his Pokémon were still scattered around with Arcanine playing with kids, Corviknight watching from above, Blastoise standing like a calm guardian near the tables.

"Not a bad day huh," Tyler asked

Lucario gave a small nod to that statement, enjoying the day as well.

Tyler moved back into the flow of the cookout, the sound of laughter and conversation filling the air again as if he had never stepped away. The smell of grilled meat mixed with charcoal smoke drifted through the square, settling into everything. It clung to clothes, hair, and the moment itself, something familiar that didn't need to be questioned.

He passed by a group of kids tossing a ball back and forth, Arcanine weaving between them carefully, making sure not to knock anyone over despite his size. Blastoise stood nearby like a silent guard, occasionally letting one of the younger kids climb onto his shell. Corviknight remained perched above, watching everything with steady attention, while Inteleon leaned against a nearby post, arms crossed, observing with quiet focus.

Tyler kept walking, nodding to a few more familiar faces as he moved deeper into the square. The energy here was different from anything at Union. There was no pressure behind it, no expectation. Just people living their lives, enjoying the moment, sharing space.

That's when he heard his dad's voice again, but this sounded more serious.

Tyler slowed slightly, turning his head toward a cluster of men standing near one of the larger grills off to the side. The tone of their conversation stood out, not loud, not heated, but focused like professionals. He recognized them immediately, they were old buddies of Justins, former DAF soldiers when dad was in service.

Marcus Hale, he was a former DAF Captain, he was a calm and authoritative guy, use to be Justins former CO. Derrick Boone was an infantry soldier, blunt and practical, didn't sugarcoat anything. Elizabeth Ward was a recon specialist, quiet and analytical than the others. And lastly Trevor Kane, he was logistics and support, sharp-minded and quiet most time

Justin stood with them, drink in hand, posture relaxed but engaged. This wasn't casual talk he was use to, this was something else entirely. Tyler didn't want to interrupt then, so he  just moved a little closer, staying off to the side, listening in on the conversation they were having.

"I'm telling you," Marcus said,"the way things are going, it's only a matter of time before contracts start outweighing official deployments."

Derrick shook his head, taking a drink from his beer.

"They already do," Derrick said,"half the work being done right now isn't even under DAF orders. It's outsourced to corporations wanting to get more politicians in their pockets."

Trevor leaned against the table, arms crossed.

"Private sector's growing fast," Trevor said,"too fast, if you ask me."

Elizabeth finally spoke, quieter than the others.

"It's not just growth, it's also control," Elizabeth said,"whoever runs those contracts, controls the outcome and gains the reward."

Justin exhaled slowly, glancing between them.

"So what are you all thinking," Justin asked

"Going private ourselves," Marcus said

"We've got the experience and contacts," Derrick said,"we know how things work better than half the people giving the orders."

Trevor added on, his voice more measured of the situation .

"And we don't have to deal with the politics that come with official command," Trevor said

"Less restriction, more freedom in execution," Elizabeth said

Justin looked down at his drink for a second, then back up at the group.

"Yeah but that freedom comes with a price," Justin said

"Yeah, means more responsibility and accountability,"Marcus said,"no one to fall back on if things go sideways."

"We've been handling that for years anyway," Derrick said as he smirked slightly.

Tyler leaned against a nearby post, arms crossed now, listening more closely as his mind raced through the thoughts. PMCs, he'd heard the term before. Seen it mentioned in books, reports, even in passing conversations back at Union, but this was different.

Many at Union thought PMCs were corrupt organizations that killed simply for money and power. A few even accused of PMCs of killing more innocent civilians then villains or natural disasters

Tyler had headaches for weeks cause a few berated him for following PMC news and such. One was a certain blue hair Sonic ripoff.

'Say you think about putting a bullet in one of the most notorious villains in the world and suddenly your treated like a terrorists,' Tyler thought

Before Tyler could keep thinking on that, Trevor continued the conversation.

"Drakconia's shifting, giving out more contracts to independent PMCs," Derrick said,"the government's starting to rely on outside units for things they don't want tied back to them."

Justin nodded slightly, as he knew that first hand given his time with the DAF.

"Yeah I've seen that before," Justin said

"Especially with Avalion testing us near the border," Elizabeth said,"so called 'joint peace operations', more like getting in our business."

That changed the tone just slightly. They knew Avalions military was not as on par with the DAF or the other branches of the Drakconia military. Focusing more on Heros to do the work and project power to other nations. Many knew Avalion had naive mindset due to war and battle, that killing was immoral and that it should be stopped with no bloodshed

But that was all Heros who never saw real war, real combat were taking a life meant either living to see the next day or dying without acting.

"Avalion's still running on their hero system," Avalion said,"it's all public image, rankings, all that."

"Plus that killing is seen as an unforgivable crime," Elizabeth said, making Derrick scoff

"Yeah, and look where that gets them," Derrick said

Trevor shook his head.

"Different system, different ideals," Trevor said

Elizabeth looked off toward the edge of town, sipping her beer as she was in deep thought.

"Yeah, but it's unstable cause villains are let out and do the same shit over and over again," Elizabeth said

"Plus too much reliance on single individuals," Justin said,"too much focus on power. If something disrupts that, the whole structure shakes and fall to the ground."

Marcus nodded in agreement.

"Drakconia doesn't work like that," Marecus said,"never has."

"Yeah cause we do what's necessary to stop villains and protect people," Derrick said

Tyler's eyes shifted slightly at that, he didn't say anything but agreed with that statement. He's heard some people at Union City agree that some Villains needed to be put down cause of the chaos they cause. But some call them criminals for just saying that, and automatically the city was against them. He groaned at that as Trevor continued

"That's why private companies are growing here," Trevor said,"they're more controlled, efficient and adaptable. No spotlight or politics, just doing."

Justin let out a quiet breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"And you're thinking of starting one," Justin asked, which Marcus nodded to.

"Keep it small and tight," Marcus said,"filled with the people we trust."

"No dead weight and no bureaucracy," Elizabeth said, then glanced at Justin,"you'd fit right in."

Justin chuckled under his breath.

"I've got a business already with my family," Justin said,"we do alright with what we got."

"Yeah, but you miss it, don't you," Derrick asked

Justin didn't answer right away, the silence said enough. Tyler shifted his weight slightly, still leaning against the post, but his attention had sharpened.

PMCs were good independent work, no system or suited bureaucrats telling you where to go. No one deciding your value based on something you couldn't control or don't have. He knew many HPSC sent Heros with more flashier Powers then the right ones just to push an agenda.

"It's not about leaving the DAF behind," Marcus said,"it's about adapting in the current situation we're in."

"The world's changing, and fast," Trevor said

"And the people who don't adapt get left behind," Elizabeth said

Tyler's gaze drifted slightly toward the center of the square again, watching people move, talk and laugh with no care in the world. A normal and peaceful life, for now.

But he knew better, there was always something under the surface waiting to jump out.

"Besides, better to choose your fights than be assigned them," Derrick said as he continued to drink

That line stuck to Tyler, choose your fights instead of being told which one to fight. His eyes dropped slightly, unfocused for just a moment as he thought.

He already had skills, training thanks to his family and friends and already equipment thanks to the gun store and connections. It would be more difficult with getting the necessary information, but it would make him more official and would be a good opportunity for him.

Tyler straightened slightly, pushing off the post as Lucario glanced up at him. Tyler looked down briefly at his Pokémon, then back at the group. Hearing his dad talk again to the group

"You'd need the right people," he said, which made Marcus nod.

"We've got them," Marcus said,"and we know where to find more."

Tyler hummed as he thought about it, it was work that mattered, that paid and that kept him moving. No classrooms, systems judging him and no one telling him what he was worth.

"...Might not be a bad idea," he mumbled

Lucario tilted his head slightly as Tyler glanced at him.

"Just thinking out loud," he said

He looked back toward the town square, where Arcanine was still playing with the kids, where people were still laughing, where his parents were still part of something real.

"Keeps me busy and pays the bills," Tyler said,"and I don't have people telling me that I can't do it cause I don't have a Quirk."

Lucario gave a quiet hum, nodding to what Tyler was saying. Tyler nodded, but he hasn't decided yet, so he won't commit until he has thought it through. But the idea was there now and he had time to think on it.