[attr="class","samjermain"]This region’s reliance on civilians to further its cause made Lydia uncomfortable. At home, the military were a separate entity. A machine—oiled and greased—to toil in the world’s most impossible situations. It was their duty to keep pirates and other undesirables at bay. Sea skirmishes were common. But the Pokemon world as a whole was relatively peaceful—before Kanto.

When a ffriend told her of these training camps, Lydia debated on signing up as a reruit. Allowing herself to experience the rebirth that came from a forged from sweat, tears, and ‘i can’ts.’ But the official mentioned that a trainer had gone missing. They’d been swallowed up into one of the many twisted dimensions now bordering this one. Knowing the dangers these people faced, the blonde quickly volunteered for the role. The pay—though not quite what it’d been when she was an officer—was more than adequate.

Clad in desert fatigues, the blonde watched her line of recruits. Many of them were not the peple she’d have chosen to stem off Team Rocket—the human embodiments of Giratina’s anarchist tendencies. One man’s file stated he was a baker. His hands and body resembling the dough he kneaded. Another worked as a cashier at a grocery store. Her hair was pristine and her make-up the product of hours. Then, of course, there were two bright-eyed college kids. Twins, it appeared. One studying political science and the other music.

These were not soldiers. They were not warriors. But, she had to give them some credit. They chose to heed the call of a homeland in trouble. And that mindset—the willingness to be part of something bigger—was a large part of what service was about.

Valeria, however, seemed promising. Her file talked about her family’s background and her recruitment speech. It seemed authentic—as if she understood that this would be difficult. But she also seemed twitchy—mpatient. Each time one of them stared around, she added another minute to her watch. Then, thirty-five minutes past arriving, she mounted the Lycanroc at her side.

Both were equipped with bullet-proof vests and survival gear. A water skin bumped against Lydia’s side as the wolf gallpsed through the sand. Her goggles kept the sun at bay, but also made the small woman seem almost alien. With a gentle nudge from her trainer’s ankles, the Lycanroc leapt over their heads, landing nimbly in front of them.

“Afternoon, recruits.” She took off ehr helmet for a moment, revealing the face of a porcelain doll. Old habits snuck in as her voice raised in volume. “I am Lieutenant Magnusson. This is my partner, Minerva.” She swept her eyes over the group before her. “For the next five hours, you are my subordinates. You live or die at my command.”

She allowed that to sink in, looking for fearful reactions. In truth, the desert had beel cleared earlier. A radio barrier erected to keep curious Pokemon out. “If you wish to leave, now is the time.” She allowed blue eyes to drill into each of them, her face as warm as an ice garden. “Am I understood?”