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I knew when I walked into the room that I was going to encounter the leader of this resistance band; that whomever was pulling the strings behind the scenes of this small "League" of Pokemon and humans alike, they were about to meet me face to face.
I did not know, though, that the so-called Champion of the League was also a Pokemon--let alone that they could TALK.
"Interesting," the old, looming Metagross hummed in a strange mechanical voice over the table spread out before them, each pin in the wood tied to a stratagem or document that laid out the League's plan to restore the balance between humans and Pokemon, as it had once been 100 years prior. "It has been a while since we have been surprised by something unexpected."
"I'm sorry," I said, shrugging as I knew my answer was unhelpful. "Your uh... Elite? Elite Ilse, she told me that I uh... broke the prediction models or something."
The Metagross did not nod, but I could feel its luminous red eyes boring through my skull, looking through and into me with an intensity born of paranoia. "We are already beginning to run new models," it said. One metal pincer reached out to shift one of the pins across the table, stabbing it into another document. "This will take time."
"Yeah, time," I could not help but mutter, thinking of the warm bed I had been whisked out of by a Legendary into this apocalyptic world of the future where trainers were no more and Pokemon were mere tools.
The Metagross regarded me again, and clearly moved itself to speak once more, but it was cut off by the door being thrust open with enough force to bounce it off the wall next to it.
I jumped a mile out of my skin, but the Champion did not seem fussed by the Bronzong that barreled into the room with a shaking Porygon2 upon its crown.
"ANNOUNCEMENT: MY DEAREST HUBCAP," the Bronzong positively boomed, and I resisted the urge to cover my ears in reflex. "I HAVE ARRIVED." Its wide 'arms' gestured toward the Porygon. "CONCERN: CHILD REFUSES COMFORT. ASSESSMENT: ANXIETY."
The Metagross turned away from me towards the other two Pokemon, the table forgotten as its focus was stolen. "Anxiety. Accessing database." There was a brief pause. "Yes. A common ailment for Porygon."
"APOLOGY: I AM SORRY, HUBCAP. STATEMENT: I AM AWARE THIS IS THE FOURTH INCIDENT THIS WEEK," the Bronzong said. "RECOMMENDATION: YOU TAKE THE BABY."
"We have reached a decision. We will take the baby," Metagross repeated firmly, and outstretched two of its four arms.
The shivering Porygon2 practically darted off the Bronzong's head into the crook of Metagross's front left 'arm', and Metagross folded it against its carapace with ease and familiarity that could only come from the experience of parenthood.
"We apologize," the Metagross said to me without looking my way. "Porygon2 is prone to instability. We do not permit this to go unchecked."
The Bronzong finally seemed to notice me, and it practically jerked back in surprise. "SURPRISE: I DID NOT KNOW OUR GUEST HAD ARRIVED. EMBARRASSMENT: I SHOULD HAVE KNOCKED."
"Yes," Metagross agreed, cupping its 'hand' around Porygon2 to cradle the small Pokemon affectionately. "We agree with this statement."
"PLEA: FORGIVE ME." Bronzong turned and smacked the equivalent of its forehead into Metagross's. "STATEMENT: I WILL RETURN TO MY DUTIES."
"We forgive you," Metagross said, and though its voice's inflection remained computer-like and monotonous, I could swear I heard the warmth behind it. "We will retire soon. Porygon will stay with us until then."
"AGREEMENT." Bronzong backed off. "REASSURANCE: PORYGON, PARENTAL UNITS WILL COME TO BED SOON."
The Porygon2 made a series of clicking, whirring and sparking noises that I could only surmise was a reply, and Bronzong nodded its body in satisfaction before leaving, the door slamming behind it through a telekinetic movement with enough force to shake dust from the rafters.
"Apologies," Metagross said, turning back to the table.
Despite all the grimness around me right now, I could not help the smile that came to my face as I regained my bearings after the interruption. "It's okay," I said. "Family first."
The Metagross made a sound that almost reminded me of a content hum. "Family first. We will ponder this concept at a later time. Now, Faller."
It shifted the Porygon2 in its arm, and pointed another 'hand' at a map on the table, in a pin that was stuck on the street where I had woken in this new world. "Tell us everything."