Beyond the Adventure - A Pokémon Story

Chapter 15: Reach Up to the Universe pt1

                I extend my hand and take Steven’s for a handshake.  “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” I say.  “My name is Crono, and this is Jaws.  The two embarrassments behind me are Darius and Jess.”

                I glance back at my friends.  Darius and Jess continue dusting their clothes off, looking like giddy schoolchildren.  Steven smiles and Jess giggles in a manner that is totally unlike her.  I groan.

                “You keep yourself in good company,” Steven says.  “So what brings you to the Space Center?”

                “Well, actually,” I begin, “Jaws came through the GTS by mistake.  I’m trying to help him find his way home.”

                Steven puts his hands in his pockets and looks at Jaws.  He seems to take great interest in him, checking him out intently.  Jaws looks at him back, not taking his eyes off him.  Steven smiles and nods.  “I fancy myself an expert in Steel types,” Steven says.  “If I’m not mistaken, I would say your Mawile is already home.”

                “You know, you’re not the first person to tell me that,” I say.

                Steven kneels down and pats Jaws on the head.  “He seems quite happy right where he is,” he says.  “What would you do should you find his original trainer and they want him back?”

                I look at the ground.  “It should be his choice where he wants to go,” I say.  “If he wants to go back to his original trainer, I won’t stop him.”

                Steven stands back up.  “That’s mighty noble of you,” he says, “but it is also important to recognize the desires of your Pokémon early on.  Presenting him with such a choice might not only make his life more difficult, but may also cause his trust in you to waiver.  It is quite clear to me you two share a deep bond.  You say he came from the Global Trade System.  Did it occur to you that if he was there, his original trainer didn’t want him?”

                I nod.  “It did…”

                “Then why do you continue this journey?” Steven asks.

                I do not answer, for deep down, I no longer know.  At first, it felt like the right thing to do.  In the process, I sought answers to Father’s past and why he died in the war.  After that, I just kept going.  Has this journey really been about me?  Am I being selfish by continuing this adventure?

                Steven laughs.  “Do not fret!” he says.  “I was merely curious.  It is a noble effort, and I hope you find what you are looking for.”  He glances at the Pokégear on his wrist.  “It is almost time.  Why don’t you all come with me?  I’ll show you something spectacular.”

                I look back at my friends, who both nod eagerly.  I look back at Steven and nod.  “Sure, thank you,” I say.

                Steven leads us through the Space Center.  He gestures to various displays around the building.  “For years, the scientists here at the Space Center have worked tirelessly to perfect space travel.  There have been many failures, as there are in anything anyone has ever worked on, but eventually, a working rocket was built.  The first object in space was a probe called Surskit, named so because it looked kind of like the Pokémon; a ball with four long antennae.  It did nothing more than beep, but it successfully orbited the planet!  It was phenomenal and a huge step forward to space exploration!”

                Steven gestures to a large display.  It was the Surskit probe, along with a picture of a blue Pokémon with a round head and four legs protruding from the bottom of its head.  I have to admit, they really do look similar.  Darius looks at the Pokémon in the picture.  “It’s kind of cute,” he says.