Paragon

Origin Child [4]

PARAGON

Origin Child Arc [4]

Chapter 4 : The Paragon Organization

The jet touched down, and Ash squinted out the window as they sped down the runway. He couldn't see much now, just some thin steel fencing that wrapped around the airfield, but several minutes ago, they'd been cruising over the sparkling, bright blue waters of the Sinnoh sea. They were on an island now, that much he could surmise, but beyond that, their proximity to it as they'd started their descent made it difficult to see what else was on it. All he'd seen was an ocean of trees pockmarked by small clearings, and a stout mountain on the island's northern beach.

Soon, the plane taxied to a halt, and after the modest flight crew made their rounds inside and out, they were free to exit. Ash covered his eyes as he stepped out of the plane. Unlike the flight from Galar to Kanto, the flight from Kanto to Sinnoh had been a lot shorter, and they'd slept through most of it, arriving early in the afternoon. The sun was high in the sky, bathing the island in an almost tropical radiance.

Cynthia was waiting for him on the tarmac, and she'd deployed her Lucario.

"Lucario, take Ash's luggage for him, would you please?" he heard her say as he walked over to her.

Lucario nodded and walked past him to the pilot, taking both bags from him and slinging one over each shoulder.

It was a comical sight, to see a pokémon like Lucario acting as a courier, but it hadn't escaped Ash's notice that it was several inches taller than his own, and the spikes on its hands were larger. Ash nodded his thanks to it, and received a humble bow in response, then joined Cynthia.

"Here we are," she said, leading them across the airfield. "This is the headquarters of the Paragon Organization, where all our operatives live and work. Welcome to Paragon Island."

Once they exited the airfield, which didn't take long since it was far smaller than any real airport's, they followed a dirt path through the island. Burly pine trees surrounded them, and they were packed together tightly.

"I'm sure you're getting tired of hearing me say this, but the Paragon Organization is technically a secret organization," Cynthia said as they walked. "The world at large does not know we exist. No one in the League is aware of us, and even most of the International Police have no idea either. Our communications with them are limited to the top brass, and even then, they're on a strict need-to-know basis."

Ash nodded in understanding. "Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, running Paragon and doing your duties as Champion at the same time," Ash replied. "Especially while keeping them separate."

"It can be exhausting," she admitted. "But luckily for me, my Elite Four is strong enough to repel most potential challengers, so I don't have much to attend to on that front. It's mostly just boring meetings several times a year over at the League HQ at Indigo Plateau." She smiled back at him. "Also, you forget I also have my own interests to pursue outside of work."

Cynthia was an archeologist. That, Ash knew. Thinking about it, it made sense then why she'd become a Champion in the first place. Although the regions were ruled by their own independent governments, they largely deferred to the League when it came to matters of pokémon and trainer safety. There were a number of restricted zones, off limits areas, and uncharted lands that the League deemed too dangerous for the average trainer, or just too historically important to allow mass access. However, as Champion, nothing was off limits, and she was free to explore any corner of the globe she pleased.