Kamotz
God of Monsters
Pokemon: The Ultimates
(Rated PG-13 for violence, language, and implied sexual situations)
(Rated PG-13 for violence, language, and implied sexual situations)
The Ultimates Initiative is approved.
Five words; five simple words. But they changed everything the moment they appeared on Steven Stone's personal communiqué. He'd been trying for years to put the team together, gathering and locating spectacular individuals from across the regions. It wasn't easy; his superiors and backers and SHIELD weren't all thrilled with the prospect of assembling a team of untrained civilians to combat threats that essentially might never manifest again. It would be wildly expensive, and open them up to a heap of liability.
But Steven had continued to press the issue, and slowly built up a database of possible recruits. From there he looked into ones that would help him get the funding and approval: the most reliable and impressive of these unique people. Through their efforts and the results they brought to various operations, Steven assuaged fears and gathered support from SHIELD officials and financial backers, and the five words put everything in motion.
"Steven, what's the word?" asked Lorelei Prima. The curvaceous, red-headed, former-Elite Four master was Steven's second in command; his confidant and the one he trusted most.
"The Ultimates Initiative is 'go for launch.' Approved by the upper echelons. We've got backing, funding, logistical support, even proper equipment," Steven answered. There was a steely glint in his eyes. "This is really happening."
"They just gave us everything we asked for?" Lorelei asked. She found it hard to believe it.
"Most of it," Steven said with a nod. "We'll get operational facilities in the Triskelion, our own crew, and helicarrier access." He double-checked his information just to be sure, and nodded again. "We're in business, Lorelei. You know what that means?"
"Assemble the Ultimates?" she asked, smirking.
Steven nodded, barely containing his grin. "Assemble the Ultimates."
===
Gideon sailed through the air the ocean and sky stretched out before him: an endless expanse of blue above and below. Everything was just so blue. So peaceful. And he could just float there, above the bustle and movement of the earth below. He could just float there, basking in the warm glow of the sun: drawing from its strength. Below him the ocean frothed with life. Wailord and Gyarados and Milotic surged through the waves. Above them flew Wingull and Pelipper. Here the world was at such peace.
"Gideon, word came through this morning," a voice crackeld over the tiny communications device concealed in his ear. He recognized it as Steven Stone, his immediate superior at SHIELD. "We're go for the Ultimates Initiative."
"Understood. Heading back to headquarters now. Any idea what the final team will be?" said Gideon. He dropped from the sky, plummeting at astounding speeds. He ripped through the sky, scorching the air in his wake. He freefell through the clouds: falling until he was just above the surface of the ocean. Then he abruptly stopped his flight and shot over the waves. Water sprayed up in the wake of his flight.
"You've worked with a few of them before," Steven answered, his voice clear despite the roaring rush of air and wind. "It might take a bit more time to collect some of the more remote ones. But I'm hoping to have the team assembled by tomorrow."
"Where are we meeting?" Gideon asked.
"We'll have a portion of the Triskelion set up for us within the week once all the support and technical crews are reassigned," Steven answered. "Until then we'll be stationed in a helicarrier. We're boarding in Slateport. Hoenn."
"I know the place," Gideon said. He smirked. "Can't imagine we'll be very hard to spot once the carrier lands. Does the public know about them yet?"
"If they don't they will soon," Steven answered, and Gideon could hear the smirk on his face. He knew this was a big win for Steven. "How fast can you get here?"
"Time me."
With a flash, Gideon rocketed high into the sky. He soared high above the earth, beyond the edge of the atmosphere in the dead silence of near-space. He then twisted and fired back down to earth, spiraling as he fell. The spiral helped slow him down, and he then flew leisurely through the air over Hoenn. He stopped above Slateport City and slowly floated down to land outside of the harbor. He spotted the enormous helicarrier, a new piece of technology (technically a flying aircraft carrier) in the waters there. Steven Stone was already headed towards him.
"Not bad. Fifteen minutes," Steven said. They shook hands. "I think you're getting slow though." Gideon rolled his eyes and followed Steven on the walk through the city. Steven handed him his smartphone. "That's the list of the core team."
"This is a lot of people," Gideon murmured, thumbing through the pages and personnel reports. "Could get pretty crowded on missions. Collateral damage. Casualties...who knows what else."
"I won't be putting everyone out into the field at once. I'll get a feel for their team capabilities and how well they cooperate with one another," Steven said, taking back the phone. "I'll probably rotate the active squad and set up some as support roles. Different teams for different missions." He sighed and ran a hand through his steel-silver hair. "It's a lot to do."
"Different teams?"
"Sure," Steven nodded. "Brute force, stealth and infiltration, reconnaissance, heavy combat." He counted off the list on his fingers. "And I'm sure I'll think of more."
"I'd love to do some stealth work," Gideon said, looking down.
"Maybe recon, but no stealth for you, Mr. Bradley," Steven said with a laugh.
"Why not?"
"You're six and-a-half feet tall and built like a marble statue of human perfection," Steven said, pointing a finger at the super-man. "I'd prefer to save your considerable talents for things that really need hitting."
Gideon shrugged and floated up into the air. "Whatever you think is best, boss," he said. "Or is it 'Commander' now? That has a pretty cool ring to it, don't you think? Commander Stone?"
Steven considered it carefully, turning the title over in his mind. He smirked. "I like it. There's a bunk at the carrier for you if you need it. Just stay around. The rest will be arriving soon."