Poké to Go

Prologue:

There is a season of apples and pumpkins, of ghosts and dark things, of dragons and fairies floating on porches and store fronts. Costumes and decorations are but a brief depiction of the true state of things. But my eyes are open; we live in a perpetual Halloween.

Poké to go:

The world is full of monsters, and catching them is my real test. Thankfully, I am not alone. Walking along side my partner, Agent Jah, I gruff “Welcome to the Alola region”. After a few moments of silence, and a couple deep breathes of fresh air, I muse that it’s good to finally have boots on the ground. Looking up from my device, I notice Jah has removed his “boots” and is walking this deteriorating pavement, leading towards the ocean, bare foot. “Chicken” he pitches with pointed finger. My eyes follow down a dirt road with tropical foliage and a rinky-dink chain barricade. A sun faded “private property, NO trespassing” sign is nailed to the post. I raise my handheld and peer through the display of the agencies software, revealing more than the fowls Jah has pointed out.  Native monsters appear on the screen. They are clean of the shadow taint though. I lower the instrument and fall back in line. We are running low on storage for these specimens, and besides, we must keep moving on if we have any hope of finding the professor, who’s last transmission was from nearby coordinates. The slight humidity bothers neither of us, nor, and more importantly, our critical tech. My handheld scans the surroundings; the 360 view shows a beautiful rugged horizon. The display shows a light rain, though it has yet to materialize in actuality. “I’m activating the route” I inform Jah with a few swipes and taps of the screen. We rely on the display to reveal what is naked to the eye.

The route is pretty much a straight shot to the pier and is lightly populated on this stretch.  The fellow humans that pass us by are quite involved with their own preoccupations and conversations.  Most wear a smile and it’s not uncommon to get flashed the “hang loose” gesture when passing by.  It’s a fun sign language to be part of, though I wonder how chill these folks would remain if they caught a glimpse of what I can see on my “phone” as I am reminded that the vast majority of the public remain completely oblivious of this reality.  Ignorance is bliss with surf board under arm, walking side by side the creatures we have devoted ourselves to catch and train.  Some we have to save, some we have to fight.  It’s hard to tell the difference actually as the lines of this work blend.  But our intel is good.  Behind the shops and store fronts of this Hawaiian destination are secret gyms and power spots, where trainers like us can access.  I’ve joined the professor remotely here.  He’s always in the company of another friend, Dennyumpkins, I’ve noticed.  They must be partners like Jah and I, completing field research and subduing the shadow tainted monsters.  One thing is clear.  We’re gonna need their support.

Jah is a master at blending in, as if what you can see is what you get.  He runs almost carefree as we arrive on the beach of Hanalei Bay, just like the uninitiated might.  Perhaps he is brave, or perhaps he trusts I have his back, which I always have.  Even upon activation, I punched in my referral code for him.  “3RP3QTD4C” I had recited aloud, and he parroted back PP….PP4C, as if that is what I was typing, lol.  He’s always had a super effective way of making language funny.  We’ve been teammates ever since he arrived at the agency.  And frankly, I lucked out; Jah’s a prodigy.  He’s the natural front man fully present in the moment, like a dog with a dinner pan.  I work the tech, though with more time, he promises to exceed even my skillset there.  As monsters spawn around his route, I am there, spinning the cutting edge, vacuum catch balls, neutralizing and sucking them into a pocket sized captives.  Jah forever believes we can befriend them, he talks in oohs and ahs, gently rubbing their bellies and feeding them berries when we dare bring one out to accompany us.  Come to think of it, he’s got a lot in common with these little monsters and their love of fruit and running around.  I guess you spend enough time with something, it changes you.

The waves are beautiful in this mountainous cove.  The paw prints from happy dogs in the sand are amazing, quite the opposite affect as the sight of tire tracks.  While Agent Jah is fraternizing with some locals by the seashore, I’ve got some work to do. My Dex is full of silhouettes I am eager to fill in.  Analyzing the stops on the map, I am sending the data to my colleagues.   I snicker to myself picturing the newer cadets rushing to open the exotic Ocean region souvenir they may have never seen before.  I’ve barely begun my essential correspondence when our first troubling alarm goes off.  Back in town a Raid is in progress, a gym has been taken over!  The gym glows red, previously occupied by our rival agency, team Valor, and now a powerful, legendary monster has roosted like a dragon in his mountain lair.  The timing couldn’t be worse.  Jah has made it evident that it is time for his morning constitutional, and I am left in the lurch.  We don’t have the numbers.  But what if the professor shows up?  With his help, and Dennyumpkins, we may have a chance.  But first things first, we have to get back into range.  

It’s gonna be a stakeout, that’s the best way to give the professor time to appear.  We agree upon setting up at an opposing establishment to monitor the situation with the aid of food, drink, and porcelain.  The Terrace Hanalei is elevated on a second story with massive open windows overlooking the Kuhio main street, perfect!  It is a superior surveillance experience than roasting in some beat up Crown Vic parked at street level like in the old movies.  Jah is utilizing his personal “vroom carriage” as he calls it, expertly pushing the button to call the 2 stop elevator.  The old hydro groans awake to lift us up to the bar, metal grinds as it enters leveling speed at the terminal landing, the pump screaming for more oil.  The hostess greets us with an Aloha that betrays a boredom symptomatic of the ignorant.  She is sure to be unplugged. One glance into my AR display would shake her alive, though it just may be too much for this lass to take.  She may actually scream at the toothy BRUXISH hovering just beside her.  Agent Jah must be thinking the same thing as he lets out a feigned scream followed by an easy giggle as he motors off towards our table.  Ive got to roll my eyes as predictably, the hostess falls for his charm, completely misreading his source of mirth as she turns her smile from him to me.  I play along of course.  I’ve learned long ago that agency business is a waste of breath with non trainers.  She gestures and says ”enjoy the view”  referring to the cloud tipped mountains and jungle like foliage through the fold away panoramic windows.  Looking up from the happy hour list I answer for us. “Mahalo.  And can we get a bikini blonde and some calamari”  “Mahal” Jah parrots, dispensing with the final O sound.  After she is gone I raise my tech to reveal the alternate beauty of an Aurora sky over sunset mountains.  I pity her lack of sight.  

While scanning the restaurant and shopping center of this area, we receive our new field research.   There is a supply depot hidden within a mural that we are to locate and upload a scan of.  Perhaps this is a counterfeit supply stop that we must expose for the integrity of our agency. There could even be a medal in it for us if we prove our worth, is the unspoken understanding as we professionally dig into the details. The description gives us an area of destination.  Surely it is painted on the side of one of these buildings, somewhere public, somewhere accessible.  This is part of the criteria per the code book.  Looking over at my partner I snatch a green Crayola out of his mouth.  Jah has taken to biting crayons, a weird quirk that is unsettling, and which I have decided to break him of, with or without his consent.  The sensation of crumbling crayon between the teeth must have some pleasure in it.  I debate trying it myself when I notice he is nibbling on a brown one.  Where was the rascal hiding that?  I go back to the plan of a wax free diet as I wrestle it away from his ninja like reflexes.  “I’ve graded that an elite raid boss over there.  Nothing we can do about it for now” I say with firm resignation before taking a swig of beer.  The professor remains offline.  “In light of this new development, we’re switching gears. I’m booking us a house close by where we can investigate the legitimacy of this point of interest.”

“NO”  is the fervent response

“Uh, no what? We can’t take on that monster, and I’ve already booked the house, no refunds”

“No” he restates

“That’s right, no refunds, so lets finish up here and get back to work.”

After our server settles us up, agent Jah, always the polite one, waves bye like we are all dear friends, and successfully penetrates the impersonal server façade of these blind locals, who smile and wave a “Mahal” back to him.  Jah, once again, has transformed zombie workers who are just going through the motions of their shift back into humans.

“Dude, I can’t take you anywhere without you being the center of attention” I playfully rib him as the elevator doors rattle close and we descend to the Ching Young Village shopping center plaza.

Jah’s quirks do not end with his peculiar diet. He also sports diapers in place of traditional underwear.  In some scenarios I can see the efficiency of it, but I am looking for a way to inform him that it affects his natural gait when loaded.  A newborn colt walk isn’t exactly the picture of professionalism we’re going for.  But the handbook is silent on the matter of staggering, both by way of the drink or of diaper wearing, so for now it is to each his own.  

 I suspect we’ve arrived to the GPS coordinates as I survey the painted wall of  this restaurant.  “Referring to the community handbook is the best way to determine if this supply depot is code compliant.”  In front of us, a bright cherry red Chevy Impala is depicted, complete with surfboard in the back seat.  Looks ok so far.  The device allows me to access the visuals from the database.  Tapping on the blue spinner reveals something similar, though quite different.  In the place of the impala is what can only be described as a rusted out hooptie, complete with replacement door and no visual of passengers within due to the thick clouds of smoke billowing out.  The accompanying moniker reads “Hot Boxing Low Rider.”  Jackpot! I hurriedly show Jah my discovery. 

 “Now this is a clear violation of the waystop agreement to be reported.  We’ve found the infraction and are sure to be rewarded!”  

It is clear that an act of vandalism has happened here over this point of interest.  It is offensive that someone would alter such a digital record into some modern bastardization such as we are witnessing here.  It is going to be case closed as I begin to type up the violation.  I wonder what sort of bounty will be offered for the vandal who dared alter this precious artifact.  Jah’s giggle startles me back to the present in time to flash a half hearted hang loose sign to a couple of passersby’s.  My eyes narrow after them, as if I could detect remnants of spray paint from a job obviously done long ago.  “Everyone is suspect” I mutter to Jah.  “And if it was a team, we gotta catch them all.” 

Epilogue:

“It’s tough to know,” I was explaining to Jah over a delicious bite of poke, “who is helping us with this raid.  Look around, and most people are glued to their phones, so it could be anybody.  You know they have to be within a certain perimeter, unless of course they are joining remotely..Wait! That outfit, see that hat!  Professor!” I call out in vain from inside to a passerby who is walking quickly, head bowed, with a phone in each hand.  I scramble back to my device to confirm the green online beacon is lit.  “Just as I suspected!”  I quickly scroll down to Denny when it hits me like a ton of bricks.  They’re in the same hat.  They are wearing the same hat and they are both always online together.  Shaking Jahs shoulders while he provides the sound effects, “Don’t you see Jah?! The professor is Denny, Dennyumpkins is the professor!  They are dual accounts! But one person” 

“MAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLDAAAAAAAAADAAAAAAAAAAA” was his only response.