"So…" Victor said, glancing toward the metal box. "What on earth did you have delivered under military escort, Dad?"
Drake smirked.
"Something… special. And very rare."
Michael leaned in with shining eyes, Bagon by his side looking equally curious.
Bagon: If it's a jetpack, I call dibs.
Drake placed his palm on the case's scanner.
A small click-hiss echoed as it unlocked.
The packing unfolded like something out of a sci-fi movie—panels shifting and rotating with smooth, mechanical clicks and low hums. As the final segment locked into place with a soft hiss, a compact incubation chamber was revealed, nestled securely in the center. Inside, resting on a cushion of glowing nutrient gel, was a Pokémon Egg.
The egg shimmered with a metallic gray hue, its surface polished like brushed steel. Subtle cobalt-blue accents spiraled across the shell, suggestive of its Dragon lineage. Faint zigzag etchings, almost like ancient circuitry, ran along its curves. The egg glinted under the living room lights, its glossy surface catching reflections like a polished gem.
Micheal blinked in surprise. From the coloring and energy signature, it didn't look like a typical Dragon egg."It looks like… a Steel-type?" he said, eyes wide.
Everyone turned to Drake, curiosity lighting up their faces like a herd of Torchic spotting food.
Drake chuckled at their eager expressions. "Victor, do you remember that newly discovered A-Class Dungeon down south?"
Victor nodded slowly. "Yeah, the one the Association asked me to volunteer for. They said the second raid is scheduled next week."
"I was part of the first team that went in—two Champions led it," Drake said, crossing his arms. "This little one," he gestured to the egg with a fond smile, "was found in the lair of one of the dungeon's local rulers. The egg had just been laid… barely a week old when we recovered it. The lab confirmed it's about ten days old now."
Janice leaned forward, hands clasped. "How many ruling species were in the dungeon?"
"Three major ones," Drake replied, voice lowering slightly as if recounting an old battlefield tale. "A Volcarona line, a Scizor line, and this one… an Archaludon line."
As soon as he said the name, a hush fell over the room. Even the normally hyperactive Micheal was momentarily silent.
"This is the first confirmed sighting of the species in the wild," Drake continued, now fully in storytelling mode. "We've seen their data in old Pokémon index records—likely compiled from one of the Ancient Ruins we've explored—but no one's encountered one until now."
"Wait," Asher blurted, eyes wide. "Are you saying this thing's parent was stronger than your Mega Salamence?"
Drake gave a slow nod, his gaze distant with memory. "Stronger. It took everything my Salamence had in Mega form just to hold it off. That Archaludon was a peak Champion-tier Pokémon. Same with the other two tribe leaders—absolute monsters."
"Damn, Gramps…" Asher leaned back, awestruck. "Then this is a Steel-Dragon Pokémon and a pseudo-legendary, right? Like, we're talking Salamence, Dragonite, and now this one?"
Drake smiled proudly. "Exactly. And this egg here? It's the offspring of the Archaludon leader. If we're lucky, it might even inherit the Totem Trait its mother possessed."
Victor let out a long whistle. "So not just rare, but potentially genetically enhanced with Totem Aura... That's massive."
"We managed to recover ten Pokémon and fifteen eggs from the lair," Drake added. "But they're all first-generation—newly discovered dungeon variants. We're hoping their gene stability improves over the next few generations. Maybe in a decade or so, our family trainers can have even better potential Pokémon."
"Grandpa, how long will it take to hatch?" Micheal asked, practically bouncing in place, excitement spilling from every word. His eyes hadn't left the egg once.
"The eggheads in the lab say about a month," Drake replied. "Best to send it to our breeding facility in the southern reserve. It'll have optimal nutrient infusion and a simulated dungeon environment. That's the best way to compensate for the lack of natural parental energy."
"Got it!" Victor chimed in. "You can visit after school, okay? Your mom will go with you."
Micheal nodded enthusiastically. He understood how critical proper hatching conditions were—especially since eggs taken from their mother lacked the natural aura stimulation they'd normally receive. Improper care could weaken the Pokémon's potential rating or cause its traits to destabilize.
Drake looked around the room once more, face softening. "Alright, time for this old man to get going." He ruffled Micheal's hair before heading out. "Next time, I'll bring your grandma along too."
With a flash of light, Drake's majestic Salamance emerged. The massive Pokémon gave a deep, rumbling roar as it lowered itself for boarding. Drake hopped on with the ease of a seasoned rider. With a powerful beat of its wings, Salamance took off into the sky, the wind whirling leaves across the yard as it vanished into the clouds.
Back inside, the atmosphere instantly shifted from awe back to classic family chaos.
"Hey! I'm picking the channel today!" Asher shouted, diving for the remote.
"No way, you picked yesterday!" Micheal countered, leaping onto the sofa and practically tackling him.
Victor and Janice sighed simultaneously—the synchronized exasperation of experienced parents. Victor turned to Janice as they watched their sons scuffle like energetic Mankey.
"So… about that second raid. It should be safe. Two Champions, high-tier Elites, and tight formations. We've reviewed the layout—no signs of another peak-tier spawn."
Janice's brow furrowed. "You're not exactly known for following formations, Victor. The last time you said it was safe, you got chased out by a dungeon Tyranitar and nearly lost an arm."
Victor coughed. "Hey, in my defense, that Tyranitar had a vendetta. It literally ignored everyone else to come after me!"
Janice raised an eyebrow. "Maybe because you threw a Pokéball at its mate mid-raid?"
"…Details," Victor muttered.
She smirked, then leaned into his shoulder. "Just don't die trying to show off again. Our sons need their father."
Victor nodded quietly, the weight of her words grounding him amid the family's laughter and chaos.
Behind them, the incubation pod softly pulsed, casting a faint blue light over the living room. Micheal pressed his forehead against the pod, whispering to the egg.
"Hey little guy… I don't know how you will be, but I promise I'll be the best partner I can."