Chapter 9: Scouting Continues & Subjugation
** Jake's POV **
When dad got home that night he looked disappointed, I guess they didn't find the nest yet.
"Dad, are you ok?"
"Yes and no Jake. Red, Blue, and I each scouted sixty mile and found no sign of the nest. Which is good in that it's not close to Pallet Town but bad in that we still don't know how far it is from here."
Lowering my voice a bit so mom couldn't hear me I asked.
"What about your System is there anything there that could help?"
Dad didn't lower his voice and told me.
"Your mother knows about my System son. We are from the same family, third cousins to be exact, and were taught a little about it before we had to leave the family."
"You're cousins!? Is that really ok?"
"Why wouldn't it be OK?"
"Sorry it's just that from my memories even third cousins getting together is frowned upon."
"Son, the memories you have are from a different life, a whole different world, you live here. You are my son and I will treat you that way but you need to learn a bit more of the common sense of this world and stop focusing on the past."
"I..I understand dad."
"Sorry I snapped at you, today was stressful but I shouldn't take it out on you." He shook himself a bit and continued. "In this world, as long as you are not siblings or first cousins, dating and even marriage is allowed. The Joy and Jenny families are a great example, they have married internally so much that many of their more recent generations look identical but there are no birth defects whatsoever."
"Thanks for explaining dad, so mom knows about your System. Should I tell her I have one as well?"
"That is completely up to you Jake, but I think you should. The System is a family secret and your mother would be happy to know you have one but, other than her, you should only tell people about it if you trust them completely."
"Ok, so you have a mini-map as well right? How far can you see with it? Mine can only see a quarter mile around me."
"Mine can see about twenty miles around and twenty feet underground."
"So you explored sixty miles plus twenty miles with your map? Did you see anything suspicious?"
"No nothing suspicious, no Ekans or Arboks above or underground."
"Um..dad, isn't that suspicious by itself?"
"What do you mean?"
"Isn't the fact that you didn't see any Ekans or Arboks suspicious? If you did a search like this at any other time wouldn't you normally see at least a few? Did Red or Blue see any?"
"Holy Sh*t. Why didn't I think of that?"
"Surely this nest doesn't cover all the way around Pallet Town if there are either Pokemon in the areas covered by them you can focus your search."
"That's great, this will help narrow the search so much. Totem Pokemon have more intelligence so they would be able to control their nest better."
"Then what about the Arbok that showed up here?"
"Probably a Pokemon that had a stronger will than the others, not as easily controlled and slipped away."
"This is great, I'll talk about it with Red and Blue in the morning. Thanks Jake."
"Of course dad. Sometimes it just takes a different set of eyes to see a problem. I'm glad I could help."
After talking with my dad his mood had improved so much it took me by suprise, and judging by the sounds I heard later that night, it took my mom by suprise as well. ;)
** Green's POV **
The next morning I was in a much better mood, I had a new plan for the search and engaged in some stress relief with my wife, to her great pleasure judging by how much she talked about 'God'. I met up with Red and Blue to ask about their scouting and how many Ekans and Arboks they saw.
They didn't remember exactly how many of each they saw but they both did see some of each. I explained the new plan I thought of after my talk with Jake, it was so obvious I still can't believe that I didn't notice what he saw right away. We were able to narrow our search from a full circle down to a thirty-five degree slice. We each took about twelve degrees and headed straight for the sixty mile mark where I officially left off, I took the middle slice and headed another twenty miles before starting to search in ernest.
Pidgeot and I flew and flew, farther and farther, at this point we had to be at least one hundred and thirty miles out. That's when it happened, I got a hit on my mini-map, right on the edge of my map were three Arbok spaced equally around a large hole. Looking closer at my map the hole was actually a tunnel heading down at a steep angle. This was most likely the nest entrance but I wouldn't head straight for it, it was time to scout around it and ten miles farther before approaching.
After my recon I marked the location in my Pokenav and headed back to the meeting point I had recommended to the others. It was almost noon so I set up a makeshift table and chairs and prepared a simple lunch that was much better than the travel rations we were using during flight. Red and Blue arrived shortly after I finished setting up and were very happy to have a decent meal.
After we ate I asked if they had anything to report. They responded that there were a few Ekans along the outer edge of their search range, only the side farthest from the center though. I told them that that was good because of what I found. Just to be sure the three of us circled the suspected nest entrance going farther and farther out until we were more than ninety percent sure that we had found our target.
We scouted the rest of the day just to be thorough but there was nothing else to see. After we returned for the day I called in to Pokemon Ranger HQ.
"Pokemon Ranger headquarters how can I direct your call?"
"This is Squad Captain Green Grady I have a message for the Commandant, Ranger ID 8675309."
"Of course Captain, I was informed to put you through immediately, please hold a moment."
The line went silent while she informed the Commandant I was on the line.
"Captain Green, you called much sooner than I expected, has something happened?"
"No Commandant Jenny, I am calling to inform you that we have located the nest and are ninety-five percent sure it is the one we are looking for."
I explained about how we searched the first day, my son's observation, and the narrowed search that turned up the nest.
"You did well, and I am now even more impressed with your son. Do you think he would consider joining the Rangers when he is older?"
"That is a question for him sir but I think he would."
"Anyway, you and your team have done well. Scout the other directions for the next three days just in case. If nothing else turns up we will consider the nest you have found as our target."
"Yes sir. Are you coming yourself?"
"Yes, it's been a while since I have been out in the field and I need to keep myself informed of the condition the Rangers are in. That and I would like to meet your son and see your wife again, it has been to long."
"That it has my friend, I look forward to seeing you again."
** Jake's POV **
Dad found the nest. He was so relieved that he was able to find it earlier than anyone expected. From what he told me the nest is one hundred and fifty miles from Pallet Town. It sounded like a lot to me but apparently this world is so much bigger than the Earth that I remember so one hundred and fifty miles is considered as close.
Even though we knew where the nest was dad still had to continue scouting for the next few days. I asked if it was a good opportunity to see if there were any other dangers in the area and he agreed. And after two days of scouting the only thing of note was that the population of most Pokemon Arbok and Ekans eat was up a bit.
It was on the fifth day that the subjugation squad showed up. Five hundred men and women armed to the teeth with pistols, rifles, and shotguns. They were planning to completely wipe out the nest leaving no survivers. They spent the fifth day preparing and my dad gave them a briefing on the location of the nest.
That night my father came home with a guest, it was the same man I saw on the computer screen at the lab. It was my father's boss who, surprisingly, was also a good friend to both my parents.
"George it's so good to see you again." My mom called out while giving the man a light hug.
"It's good to see you again as well Emily. Has this big idiot been treating you right? Just say the word and I'll teach him how to treat a lady right."
"Hahaha he treats me just fine George. Come in and have a seat dinner is almost ready."
Mom showed him into the living room where I was sitting playing a game.
"Hello to you as well Jake."
I stood and gave him a quick salute. "Hello Commandant."
"Hahaha there is no need for such formalities in your own home. I'm here as a friend today, not your father's boss. Besides I have something for you."
From his jacket he pulled out a small box and handed it to me, my mom was a little confused about all that was going on until my dad quickly explained my last conversation with the Commandant.
"Just as we agreed, I am holding up my side of the deal just as you did on your side. The latest edition of the Pokedex with anti-theft safeties built in, once you open it it will ask for a finger print and an eye scan. After you do that it can only be used by you and anyone else you have granted access."
"Thank you sir."
"You're very welcome Jake and please call me Uncle George, your parents are probably the closest friends I have."
Uncle George and my parents talked for a little while before dinner was ready and continued catching up over dinner. From what I put together, my dad met George during the Totem Onix subjugation when he was nineteen. George was a squad captain and my dad was temporarily assigned to his unit and afterwards they kept in touch. George moved up the chain of command while my dad continued on his Pokemon adventures, when my dad applied to the Rangers, George had just become the Vice Commandant and was able to help my dad get assigned to a unit close to home.
After dinner my mother offered George the guest room for the night but he refused, saying he had to get his gear squared away for the next day.
The next morning, before the sun was even up, the entire subjugation squad was on the move with Red, Blue, and my dad leading the way. From what I was told earlier I knew the first day was for travel and camp setup, followed by the actual subjugation, and then cleanup and traveling back. So a minimum of three days, they didn't return for over a week. Turns out the nest was more extensive and the population far larger than anyone was prepared for.
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