[Officer Jenny POV, Jenny's Office]
"Got it. Is there anything else you need from me?" I ask.
"No, just make sure to keep an eye on him. Serena is investigating something in the area he says he was in, though we can't say for sure they're related. Please let us know if something comes up. We'll keep you informed as well."
"Ok, thank you, Champion Calem," I said, just before he could end the call.
Marco Pérez. His profile data showed he's always been in the database, but the information… That showed he was practically a ghost, recently added to cover up another identity. The amnesia he's dealing with, and Joy's medical examination, scream foul play at several levels. Add to that he's Paldean, a region still closed-off despite its recent joining with the Pokémon League, and I have a case that is way above my paygrade.
Champion Calem, despite how serious and detached he is, has always been one to get things done. This only grew after dealing with Lysandre, an effect that bloomed in all of us. Except, if I went to the Elite 4, they'd only get slowed down by bureaucracy.
Despite their strength and political power, they still worked for the League. Only the Champion, Augustine Sycamore, and unaffiliated Trainers were free to move around and investigate big things like this.
I sat with a sigh, a headache forming. I knew there was more to this than a simple Psychic-type being malicious. But I also knew that there was a lot that the higher-ups refused to let the public know.
Well, if the Champion needed help, the Jenny clan would always be happy to deliver justice.
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[Unknown POV, PokéLeague HQ]
Calem sat in his chair, contemplating the decisions he would soon have to make.
The phone call he received from Officer Jenny made him apprehensive. It wasn't all that long ago that Elio told him about a danger Necrozma warned him about. Now, he had a person of interest with a forged League profile. Except, the Porygon and Rotom used to investigate found that it was all legitimate.
He was glad Serena was near the area already. She informed him about a spike in Infinity Energy, a spike similar to that of the appearance of a high-tier Legendary. When combining the two sets of information, Calem could only guess at what was happening. And that was why he called a meeting among the Champions of other regions and their advisors.
The door to his office opened, the light momentarily blinding Calem as Professor Augustine Sycamore walked in. "Bonjour, Calem. It's good to see you."
"Hello, Professor Sycamore. It's been a while since our last meeting," Calem responded with a small smile.
"What have I told you about being so formal with me, mon ami?" Sycamore lightly chided his, at one point, sponsored Trainer. "You defeated Lysandre and stopped the Ultimate Weapon. If anything, I should be formal with you, monsieur Champion."
The two looked at each other before laughing at their ongoing joke. Sycamore soon stopped, however. Looking at the report Calem had on his desk, Sycamore rolled a chair next to the Kalos Champion and sat down.
"This is a problem," he concluded.
"I know," Calem said. "That's why I called a meeting with the others. I think this is gonna be a major event. One that will affect more than just Kalos or Alola."
Sycamore's face hardened at Calem's revelation. Just before he could respond, several lights flashed throughout the room. Holograms of people, of Champions and their advisors, appeared.
"Alola, how's it going, Calem?" a tanned teen with black layered hair spoke brightly. Next to him stood a tanned man with a goatee and a lab coat, his chest exposed because of the distinct lack of a shirt.
"Oh, nice! It's the Masked Royal, innit," a brown-haired girl with a green cap said, her Galarian accent shining through. Next to her stood a rather tall redhead in a brown trench coat.
"Really? Where?!" exclaimed the tanned man without a shirt, looking around nervously.
"Ha! Got 'em," a tall blue-eyed woman said, her long brown hair tied into two buns with the ends trailing down to her hips. Everyone else just chuckled, amusement twinkling in their eyes. Calem coughed, gaining everyone's attention.
"Thanks for showing, everyone," he said. "I've got a serious update."
"When don't you," a blue-haired woman in a black dress shirt and pink skirt drawled. "Every time we hear from you, it's all 'We've got a serious situation' and not a 'Hey, let's all go grab a pizza and beer.'"
"Oi, some here are minors," the redhead sternly responded, earning a pout from both the blue-haired woman and brown-haired teen.
"Sonia is right, Dawn," a blonde-haired woman chastised the blue-haired woman. "It always ends up being something big, so at least listen before you start complaining."
"Fine," Dawn grumbled. "I wish you were on my side more often, Cynthia."
This caused almost every participant to laugh. Almost. Calem and Augustine stood stone-faced.
"Oh shit," a man with gray eyes and black hair hidden by an iconic black and yellow hat said, his youthful voice echoing out. "If Professor Sycamore isn't laughing, this is serious."
Everyone then finally took notice of the esteemed professor's demeanor. The air filled with anticipation as the group waited for the Kalos Champion and Professor to explain.
"Thank you, Ethan," Calem said. A screen brightened to show several images of Marco and the reports he had in hand. "I hope you all received the reports. We have three things this time."
The screen zoomed into the report written by Serena. Calem continued, "Elio, we took your warning to heart. Serena has noticed some sharp spikes in Infinity Energy in the unexplored areas. Earlier today, there was an increase in Santalune Forest. One that is consistent with that of Legendary activity."
The room's temperature dropped, tension growing in the room.
"That's not all," Calem continued. "Not too long ago, I received a call from the Officer Jenny stationed in Santalune City. She told me about a man who came across some Team Flare agents mauled to death by a Pyroar pride. The man reported the agents to a Ranger, who then investigated and found a group of dead Rangers close to the reported location. The man also reported not being able to remember anything. Nurse Joy's report concluded he did indeed have amnesia, but there was also lingering Psychic-type energy in his brain."
Before the others could say anything, Professor Sycamore took over the meeting. "I've also had several reports of pockets of unstable energy throughout Kalos. They have not been occurring very often, but they've been significant enough to affect some of my researchers' experiments. I've already asked Diancie for information, but I'm still waiting for that. Elio, have you heard anything from Necrozma about Ultra Space?"
"Only that Ultra Space was getting rowdy. Apparently, many have been developing a sense of fear and dread that they can't explain. I think it may be better if we ask Hoopa," the tanned teen responded. This earned some hardened looks from everyone in the room. The Pasio fiasco was still rather fresh in their minds, though it was a battle-hardened man with a legendary red cap that broke the silence.
"I'll talk to Lear," Satoshi said, earning shocked looks from everyone.
"He actually spoke," Ethan whispered out.
While everyone was recovering, Calem turned to Satoshi and said, "Thank you. I know that's a sore spot for many of us.
"As for the rest of us, we'll need to stay vigilant. Cynthia, do you mind getting information from Palkia about those pockets of unstable energy? It may be something affecting our spatial dimensions. I think that's all for now. Although, Professor Oak and Professor Magnolia, do you mind staying for a bit after? I have a question to ask."
With his last statement, everyone said their individual goodbyes before logging off of their holographic projectors. Professors Oak and Magnolia stayed.
"So, my boy, you said you had a question," the legendary Professor Oak asked.
"Yes, thank you for your time. I wanted to know your thoughts about going through this man's memories. I want both of your opinions."
"Mind reading?! Are you sure you want to consider that, mon ami?" Augustine exclaimed. "You know that's not something to suggest lightly."
"Yes," Calem said. "He may have a lot of information on the Team Flare agents and the current happenings with Infinity Energy. In fact, whatever caused his amnesia may have been behind the spikes in Infinity Energy."
"Augustine is right," Professor Magnolia said. "I can understand why, but to suggest it so quickly after these events have transpired… Have you met this person?"
Calem shook his head in response, letting them know he's had no contact whatsoever. "I want to wait and see if he can remember on his own, though I'm afraid something big may happen before that. If he's from Paldea, there may be a Legendary Pokémon that hasn't been discovered behind it. I'd rather have as much information as possible to better prepare"
"I understand your caution and sense of urgency," Professor Oak said, his voice heavy with the wisdom one could only gain from making a lifetime of mistakes. "However, we also don't know if there's something actively preventing him from remembering.
"For all we know, it may be a simple case of Team Flare using a Psychic-type on him without his knowing. Whether there's a Legendary Pokémon we don't know about causing all of this, that's a very extreme case. I'd say, have someone befriend him first. Let him develop trust and a natural inclination to share any information with us. If you decide you must go through the poor boy's head, he must be aware and fully in agreement. Even then, you'll have to use my own Alakazam. It's better to be safe with such matters."
"Understood. Thank you for your input," Calem said, taking a bow before the world's greatest Pokémon Professor in the world. "I won't do anything rash."
With a nod from the two professors, Calem and Augustine were left alone. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Augustine spoke. "Do you truly believe there is an active threat?"
Calem sighed, "That's the thing. I'm not sure, but everything is pointing to it. It's like when I first met Lysandre. Nothing about him was inherently evil or bad, but his demeanor and choice of words put me on edge."
"Yes, well, I'm glad you're being more vigilant about this than I was back then," Augustine said, his tone gaining a more wistful edge.
"Don't continue to beat yourself up, Professor. It's all in the past," Calem told him. "Besides, you helped get me into shape so I could bring him down. So, in a way, you did stop him."
Augustine smiled, walking to a certain section of the wall and sliding it open. A two-tier cabinet, one tier filled with several amber colored drinks and the other with glass cups, opened to the professor. He filled two glasses half-way with ice before pouring in one of the lighter drinks. He walked over and handed one to Calem.
"Paldea's Champions weren't available for this meeting, it seems," he said.
"No, they weren't. They haven't shown up at any meetings since starting their tenure as Champions eight months ago. Is it a sign that something is happening in Paldea?" Calem asked, his eyes on the drink he was swirling around.
"It could be. Or they may have just been busy," Augustine replied.
"Wouldn't it be quite a coincidence if that was related to one Marco Pérez?"
"Quite the coincidence, mon ami."