Oak was waiting near the mansion's main elevator, a single suitcase beside him. Elara arrived moments later, pulling a small rolling case, her tablet tucked under one arm.
"Everyone ready?" Oak asked, and when we nodded, he pressed the elevator call button.
The doors opened with a soft chime, and we stepped inside. But instead of pressing the button for the terrarium level—the only destination I'd used before—Oak reached for a keycard in his pocket and swiped it across a hidden panel.
A new button illuminated. One I'd never seen before.
STATION - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
Oak pressed it, and the elevator began to descend.
We passed the terrarium level without stopping, the elevator continuing down into depths I hadn't known existed.
The descent lasted longer than I expected, and I found myself wondering just how deep underground we were going.
Finally, the elevator slowed and stopped. The doors opened.
And I stepped into something I absolutely hadn't anticipated.
The underground station was massive.
We stood on a platform carved from smooth stone, lit by the same bioluminescent moss that filled the terrarium, but at a higher concentration, creating a soft blue-green glow that illuminated everything clearly.
The platform stretched at least fifty meters in either direction, with sleek metal railings and posted signs indicating different boarding zones.
But what caught my attention was the train itself.
It sat waiting on the tracks, a sleek machine of silver metal and tinted windows that looked more like something from a science fiction movie than a conventional locomotive.
The design was aerodynamic, built for speed, with a pointed nose and smooth curves like a bullet train.
"What is this?" I asked, unable to keep the awe from my voice.
"The Oak Network," Oak said, leading us toward the nearest passenger car. "A private underground rail system I established decades ago to connect my various research facilities. This line runs from the Oak Estate to Pallet Town, with a few stops at other secure locations along the way."
"I've never heard of anything like this," I said, following him onto the train.
"That's intentional," Oak said. "The network is known only to a select few. League officials, certain elite trainers, and researchers are working on sensitive projects. It allows for discrete travel without public attention."
The interior of the passenger car was comfortable but not luxurious. Cushioned seats arranged in sets of four around small tables, storage compartments overhead, and windows that currently showed only the stone walls of the underground tunnel. The lighting was soft, the air climate-controlled.
Oak chose a set of seats near the middle of the car and settled in with his suitcase. Elara took the seat across from him, already pulling out her tablet to review notes.
I sat beside Oak, and Gible immediately hopped up onto the seat next to me, curling into a comfortable position.
"The journey to Pallet Town takes approximately one week," Oak explained as the train's doors sealed with a pneumatic hiss.
"We'll make two brief stops for supply transfers, but otherwise, it's a direct route. The train is fully stocked with food and amenities. There's a sleeping car two sections back. Feel free to explore once we're underway."
I felt the subtle lurch as the train began to move, accelerating smoothly from the station. Through the window, I watched the platform slide past, then disappear as we entered the tunnel.
The speed increased gradually, and soon we were traveling fast enough that the tunnel walls blurred.
I leaned back in my seat, feeling the gentle vibration of the train beneath me, and let my thoughts wander.
'Pallet Town,' I thought, watching the darkness rush past the window. 'The starting point for every Kanto trainer in the games. Ash started there. Red started there. Blue started there. It's tradition.'
'But this isn't a game. This is Extreme Mode. A timeline where things are harder, more dangerous, where the previous system user changed everything.'
'So why does my journey still start in Pallet Town? Why follow the same pattern?'
The question nagged at me. If this were truly a different timeline, a harder mode, why would the starting location remain unchanged? Why would the fundamental structure of a trainer's journey mirror what I remembered from the games?
'Unless...'
The thought crystallized slowly.
'Unless Pallet Town being the starting point isn't arbitrary. Maybe there's something there. Something important. Something the system wants me to find.'
I glanced at the system interface, still showing Gible's updated stats:
POKÉMON: Gible
Level: 7
Type: Dragon/Steel
HP: 24
ATK: 14
DEF: 18
SP. ATK: 11
SP. DEF: 11
SPEED: 10
Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Scale Shot, Dragon Rage
Ability: Rough Skin
Free EVs: 3
Current EXP: 110/180
[Current GP: 860]
Eight hundred sixty GP. More than enough for another Genetic Optimization, with plenty left over. I could max out another IV stat right now if I wanted to.
"You're thinking hard about something," Elara said, looking up from her tablet. "I can practically see the gears turning."
I smiled slightly. "Just wondering what's waiting for us in Pallet Town."
"Your license, for one thing," Oak said. "Your official recognition as a Pokémon Trainer. The ability to challenge gyms, participate in League events, and travel freely through the regions."
"And Ash Ketchum," Elara added. "He should be arriving around the same time you are. Professor Oak sponsors several new trainers each year, and Ash is one of this year's recipients."
My attention sharpened. "Ash Ketchum. He's getting his starter from you?"
Oak nodded. "That's correct. Bright young man, if a bit impulsive. Reminds me of another trainer I sponsored many years ago." His expression grew distant for a moment. "Though circumstances are different this time."
I wanted to ask more—about Ash, about the other trainer Oak was referencing—but something in Oak's tone suggested this wasn't the time.
Outside the window, the tunnel darkness continued. Inside the train, the soft lighting and gentle vibration created an almost meditative atmosphere.
Gible had already fallen asleep beside me, the little dragon's breathing slow and steady.
I reached over and gently ran my hand along Gible's scales, feeling the warmth of living steel beneath my fingers.
Professor Oak turned on the TV, and a news announcement began.
"This just in, Team Galactic just blew up Team Rocket's hidden base inside Mt. Moon. Casualties are unknown at this point, but we will keep you updated as events unfold."