Early the next morning, a heavy mist clung to the ground outside the cordon of the Luminous Gateway. Two elite Special Operations Teams, fully geared and led by Captain Cai, were conducting their final equipment checks. The click of magazines and the rustle of tactical nylon cut through the silence.
Before they departed, Adrian Yates pulled Captain Cai aside for one last briefing.
"Remember, Captain," Adrian emphasized, his face serious. "Your primary objectives are specific: secure any intact Poké Balls or blueprints for their manufacture, collect samples of Berries, and—if the situation permits—try to get a Pokémon to voluntarily follow you out. Do not force an engagement."
Captain Cai nodded, saluted, and led his team into the swirling vortex of light.
With the expedition underway, Adrian didn't idle. He checked his watch and hurried to the National Television Station.
Despite Adrian's massive success in building the Pokémon franchise, time had been his enemy. While it was one of the world's largest intellectual properties, the demographic was skewed. To the vast majority of adults, politicians, and the elderly, Pokémon was just "that cartoon for kids." They knew nothing of the creatures' ecology, danger, or intelligence.
To bridge this gap, the government had fast-tracked a dedicated educational program: "Pokémon Science & Discovery."
The goal was simple: rapid mass education. They needed to teach the populace about ecology, habits, and how to survive in a world suddenly shared with monsters.
Inside the studio, the "On Air" light flickered to red. Adrian stood before a green screen, composing himself into the role of a calm, authoritative expert.
"Hello everyone, and welcome to Pokémon Science & Discovery," Adrian said, his voice smooth and engaging. "I am your host, Adrian Yates. Today, we will start with the basics. Pokémon are not just animals; they are biological entities possessing elemental abilities. They are diverse in species and form. Some dwell in the deep forests, some roam the vast oceans, and others rule the sky..."
While Adrian was broadcasting to millions, Captain Cai's team was stepping into a new world.
The sensation of passing through the Luminous Gateway was disorienting, but Cai shook it off instantly. He signaled for a defensive perimeter.
"Status report," Cai whispered.
"Clear," came the reply.
Cai confirmed that there were no immediate high-level threats in the vicinity. The air was fresher here, richer in oxygen, but filled with the chirping of insects that sounded wrong to human ears.
"Split into squads of three," Cai ordered. "Begin reconnaissance. Keep visual contact. If you see something, do not engage. Radio it in."
The teams fanned out, moving silently through the underbrush.
Good news arrived quickly.
A scout from the forest team jogged back, breathless but excited. "Captain! We found a structure. A small wooden cabin by the lake, ten clicks north."
"Good work. Lead the way," Cai commanded.
Ten minutes later, they secured the lakeside cabin. It was rustic, weathered by time. Inside, two team members had already cataloged the salvageable items on a dusty wooden table.
The haul was significant: a sealed bag of Pokémon Food, two bottles of purple spray (identified by label as Potions), two high-quality fishing rods, a folded map, a pack of bait, and—most importantly—two red-and-white metal spheres.
"Captain," a team member reported, "based on the gear, the owner of this cabin was likely a Fisherman. The dust patterns suggest no human has been here for at least three years. However, there are recent tracks... small ones. Pokémon have been scavenging here."
Captain Cai approached the table. His eyes locked onto the spheres.
Poké Balls.
He picked one up, weighing it in his hand. It was lighter than it looked, the surface smooth and cool like polished jade. There was no seam, no rust. It felt like a piece of high technology lost in the wild.
He pressed the central button. The ball expanded slightly with a mechanical click, shrinking back down when pressed again.
"Functionality appears nominal," Cai nodded in satisfaction.
He then turned to the bag of food. Breaking the seal, he took a sniff. It had a unique, sweet aroma—a blend of fruits and herbs. Despite the years, there was no scent of rot or fermentation.
"Preserve this food and the bait. Seal it for transport to the Research Department," Cai instructed. "We need to reverse-engineer the chemical composition."
"Yes, Sir!" The soldiers carefully packed the items into their tactical rucksacks.
Cai turned his attention to the map. It was hand-drawn but detailed, marking the topography of the surrounding lakes, forests, and mountain ridges.
What caught his eye were the handwritten annotations. They were categorized. One set of symbols marked the locations of Berry Trees; another set marked the territories of wild Pokémon.
"Rally the squad," Cai ordered, his voice tight with focus. "This map is the most valuable intel we have. We need to verify these markers immediately. If this data is accurate, our mission efficiency just doubled."
Minutes later, the full team was assembled. Cai pinned the map to the cabin wall.
"Look here. These notes are likely from the cabin owner. We're going to verify them one by one. But first..." Cai pointed to a specific mark, encircled in red ink, located only a few kilometers from their current position. "This point stands out. It's a basin. We check this first."
"Captain," a soldier asked, "should we expect hostiles?"
"Expect everything," Cai replied. "Move out."
The team moved through the dense forest with practiced stealth. The ground was thick with fallen leaves that crunched softly under their boots. Occasionally, they spotted a Caterpie crawling on a branch or heard the distant, piercing cry of a bird Pokémon, but they pressed on.
After thirty minutes of trekking, the trees broke.
They stood on a ridge overlooking a natural basin surrounded by jagged rock formations. In the center lay a crystal-clear lake, shimmering under the alien sunlight.
It was a paradise. On the grassy banks, several small Pokémon were frolicking. But commanding the center of the clearing, near a fruit-bearing tree, was a massive creature.
It was a mountain of dark blue and cream fur, with a large, round belly. It lay on its back, lazily munching on an apple, looking like the king of the valley.
"Captain..." a soldier whispered, his eyes wide. "That Pokémon... that's a Snorlax."
Thanks to Adrian's briefing materials, most of the soldiers recognized the heavy-hitter.
Cai nodded, signaling for absolute silence. "Hold fire. Snorlax is classified as docile unless provoked or interrupted while eating. We do not disturb it."
The team slowly filtered into the periphery of the basin. They found bushes laden with colorful fruits—Berries. Some were blue and spherical (Oran), others pink and pear-shaped (Pecha).
"Collect samples," Cai signaled with hand gestures. "Quietly."
As the soldiers began harvesting the berries, a twig snapped. The sound echoed in the quiet basin.
In the center of the clearing, the Snorlax stopped chewing.
It sat up—a movement that caused the ground to tremble slightly. Its slit-like eyes opened just a fraction, scanning the area. It locked onto Cai's team.
Cai's hand drifted to his sidearm, his heart rate spiking. He signaled: Freeze.
The Snorlax stared at them for a long, tense moment. It didn't roar. It didn't charge.
Instead, the massive creature pushed itself onto its feet and began to slowly, deliberately walk toward them.