Chapter Five: Pyromania
It was raining. The worst fires always happen in the rain. The worst fires always happen at night in the rain. This is the way that Kenichi Muragami saw it. He was Fire Chief of the Cerulean Fire Department, as the four six-pointed stars above he right pocket of his uniform attested. He was a veteran, who had served Cerulean city for forty years so far. He planned on dying in service to his city.
The building roared angrily. Fire poured out of every window and doorway, as if it wanted to escape the home that trapped it. The rain was doing nothing to diminish the blaze. The color was all wrong. There was a purple tint to it near the core.
“Arson...” Muragami said with disgust. The presence of an accelerant was obvious, even to someone without his years of experience. The power was out for the whole block. “Errant Discharge” The utilities department had said. Electricity jumped about various places along the house. The power company had shut off the House’s circuit when the fire was reported. Before taking a step inside the fire, or before bothering to try and put it out, Kenici Muragami had made his conclusion. The fire was set deliberately, intentionally, with the intent to harm humans. And it was started by a Pokémon, a Fire-Type Pokémon.
Resting in her custom holster on his back, was Niniane, Kenichi’s primary Pokémon and partner in fire fighting. She was a Starmie. The five purple points of her forearms spun freely in the night air. Her five hindarms were secured to her Partner’s back by her harness. The rain fell on Kenichi’s fireman’s helmet, pooled along the back brim, and poured onto her gem. She loved this. She loved being on his back, out of her Pokéball, where she could see the world. She loved seeing the people, and waving to them. She loved her job at the fire department. She loved her trainer Kenichi. She hated fire…
Detective Izumo Zenko of the Kanto National Police Ageny stepped out of his squad car. His junior, Nagai Ami was close behind him. A pair of badges got them through the police line that was hastily erected around the home. Izumo caught sight of Niniane. The Starmie spun in her holster excitedly. The gem at her center turned from the deep red of seriousness and focus, to a rose pink of familiarity and friendship. Izumo always waved back, and she loved him for it. Niniane’s excitement caught her trainer’s attention. Muragami turned and considered the two detectives approaching him.
“What the hell is NPA doing here?” He asked bitterly. “Every time I see you Zenko, it means nothing but paperwork and headache for me.” Izumo bowed respectfully, as did his partner. “It is a pleasure as always to meet you Chief.” He said. “This home was being rented by a foreign exchange student, and a high profile one at that. I am taking this case over. The Kalosian Ambassador is coming up from Celadon now.
“Damned Politicians...” Kenichi spat. “I am trying to save lives here and all anyone cares about is who to blame--” He stopped as two fire fighters approached. One was carrying a Pokémon. A Charmander. An honest to god Charmander. “This foreign prick of yours rich?” Kenichi asked. He eyed the Charmander with about as much disgust and contempt that he had for the burning home. The lizard was bundled tightly in a fire blanket, and given how he was squirming, biting, and scratching, it was more for the protection of the fireman carrying it than anything else. The Charmander hissed and thrashed each time rain struck his tail.
As Konichi refused to touch the Charmander, Izumo took it from the fireman, blanket and all. Both Izumo and Nagai were wearing ponchos, but Nagai had already fetched an umbrella from the squad car. As soon as the Charmander was out of the rain, it stopped thrashing.
“Izumo...” Said Konichi, suddenly solemn, “You said your man was named Cyprez?”
“Cyprès. Yes. Sèbastion Cyprès.” Izumo replied.
“He’s dead...” Konichi said. The second fireman showed Izumo his phone, which was displaying images from his body cam. Sèbastion Cyprès lay on his chest, skin blacked in places, with what seemed like a metal desk overturned ontop of him. Further images showed the metal bracelet around his wrist, which served as his personal identification as a Kalosian National. A second set of images was brought up. A fox-like pokemon whose species Izumo did not immediately recognize. Parts of her left arm had been burned clean off. Hr right hand clutched something. The object was impossible to identify, as it was now little more than melted plastic.
"Let's get you scanned little guy.", Izumo said soothingly. He gently held out the Charmander's arm, and passed his phone over it. There was a beep, and text appeared on the screen.
Torok Cyprès
Spieces: Charmander
Age: 4 (approx.)
OT: Sèbastian Cyprès - OT-ID: KAL-012-23712
Catch date: 10/11/2001
Catch Location: Mt. Moon - Kanto
Class: B-1 (destructive)
Assignment: Pokémon Research Initiative of Luminose.
One of the fireman pulled out his radio and spoke. "This is Fireman Isikai calling Cerulean Pokemon Center. Requesting emergency pull of Pokéball data for ID Kilo-Alpha-Lima 012 23712. Repeat. ID Kilo-Alpha-Lima-"
“That Charmander did this.” Konichi said with sudden certainty. He took a step towards Izumo, who was still holding the lizard. Nagai stood between them. “We don’t know that for certain” She countered.
“Do you speak Ignis?” Izumo asked. Nagai shook her head. “Alright. We don’t have much of a choice.” Izumo pulled a Pokéball from his belt. “Citrine” He summoned. Light came together and deposited a Hypno next to Izumo. She blinked, shivered a bit in the rain, and took refuge under Nagai’s umbrella. Izumo handed the Charmander to Citrine. The moment their eyes met, the Charmander relaxed in the arms of the Hypno. She cradled him as a mother, and spoke soothingly. Rather than speak to the child, she let her thoughts touch his, gently, as gently as she was caressing him in the physical realm.
“I am Citrine. I am here to help you. What is your name?” She asked. While she was connected to his mind, she was careful to respect his privacy. “Torok...” A single word. A single thought. Citrine smiled, physically and mentally. “Torok… Can you tell me what happened?” She asked. She felt a violent upheaval of pain at this request. “If you can’t tell me… Can you show me?” She thought. No words came from Torok’s mind. Just reluctant acknowledgment. The next thought that Citrine saw, was that of a butterfly.
Citrine opened her eyes. Izumo and Konichi were arguing, but that was to be expected.
“I don’t care about regulations!” Konichi was saying. “That thing murded a human and his Pokémon. We had the Pokémon center do an emergency pull of his Pokéball data. They recovered two Pokémon out of the six he had registered. That monster murdered a human and also killed three of his Pokémon. You are the police officer hear. It is your duty to put that thing down for the good of society!”
“This Pokémon has a name! HE is alive just like you and me. He has rights! I am not going to condemn him just because he was found at the scene of an accident!” Izumo countered.
“LISTEN!” Citrine sent. Both men turned and looked at her. Konichi spoke. “Damn Psychic. Get the hell out of my head...” He glared at Citrine, then at Izumo. The fire chief shook his head and turned back to the home, which was now smoldering defeated. Niniane waves goodbye. Izumo always waved back. Citrine turned to her trainer. “You need to see this...” She thought. Izumo came forward. His family was from Saffron City, and while he was not a particularly talented psychic, he was able, with Citrine’s guidance, to peer into the Charmander… Torok’s mind. “Show us again dear.” Citrine said calmly. “Show us the part with the butterfly...”
Izumo took a step back. His fae was grave, which caused concern in Nagai. “What is it?” She asked. “Shiners.” Was Izumo’s response. “We can’t waste time.”
Izumo got into his squad car, and dialed headquarters. Chief inspector Matsu answered.
“Chief. We got a situation here.” Izumo said hastily.
“What happened. Did you find Cyprès?” Matsu asked.
“He is dead. It’s too early to say for sure, but I am thinking an accident involving a dragon-type Pokémon.”
“Damn it. Forign Affairs is going to crawl right up my ass about this-”
“Sir please. I recovered a Charmander from the scene. He says that his sister was captured by poachers last spring.”
“That can be handled by the Pokémon League-” Matsu began.
“Sir! She is a Kantonian native… And she was caught by the Shiners.”
“Fuck...” Matsu swore, “She is a Shiny Charmander?”
“Charmeleon, Sir. A Kantonian Shiny Charmeleon. NPL and the MAFF will be all over us as soon as they know she exists.” Izumo says, pleading.
“Damn… Damndamn. DAMNIT Zenko… Fine. I will put Tatsuki on the Cyprès case. You and Detective Ami follow up on this Charmeleon.” Chief Inspector Matsu said with a sigh.
“Thank you sir. With your permission, I want to show this Charmander to an informant of mine.” Izumo says. “Who?” Matsu asks. “Madam Kuroi… Sir.” Izumo says reluctantly. The Inspector sputters. “Kuroi… rrr. Fine. Fine, but you and Ami will take full kit. Six combat pokemon and a sidearm. I don’t want either of you alone with that witch.” He says. Izumo salutes, as does Nagai. “Sir!” They say together. The screen goes dark. Izumo starts the engine of his squad car, and pulls out onto the street.
“Where exactly are we going?” Nagai asks. Izumo pauses. “Saffron City.” He says finally.
