Gladion stood frozen, staring at the open crate where two rotting human bodies lay, their faces unrecognizable, marked by stab wounds and burns.
The stench hit him like a Toxic attack, and despite having taken down Team Rocket grunts and other criminals in the past few years.
Gladion was from Earth where such scenes were very rare and he was just a normal person here. He was still not used to this.
Gladion vomited, doubling over, his eyes wide with a desperate need to unsee the horror. He wanted to forget this.
Ultron floated closer with concern, [Sir, your current physiological response is entirely expected] it said telepathically.
[Exposure to mortality at such proximity would unsettle even the most seasoned of individuals.]
Ultron senses Gladion's breathing quickened, his chest heaving.
Ultron's voice pressed on, firm but soothing. [Your breathing is erratic. I recommend steady inhalations—four seconds in, four seconds out. It will mitigate the dizziness and nausea. I must insist you avert your gaze from the remains. Fix your eyes on me instead. There is nothing to be gained from subjecting yourself to repeated trauma.]
Gladion forced his eyes away from the crate, locking onto Ultron's gleaming steel body. 'Focus, just focus,' he thought, following Ultron's instructions, breathing in for four, out for four.
His breathing steadied slightly, the nausea easing. Ultron's voice continued, [Focus on my voice. Let the silence of this place fade. You are not alone—I am here. And as long as I remain operational, you shall never face such horrors without support.]
Gladion's breathing slowed,"Thank you, Ultron," he said aloud, his voice hoarse. "I think I'm fine."
[Now, sir… shall we proceed when you are ready? Or would you prefer I remain here a while longer until your composure returns?]
'It's like having a psychic therapist,' Gladion thought, a weak smirk forming. "I'm good, buddy. Let's finish this job."
Lt. Surge, standing nearby, gave Gladion a firm pat on the back with understanding. "You really have a nice Pokémon out there," he said, his gruff voice softening.
"I couldn't hear what it was saying, but it seems like it worked. Get used to it, kid. You're a major Gym Leader of Kanto, one of its greatest protectors. You have not been assigned missions like investing murders or worse crimes yet since the higher upswant you to grow up a little and gain some more experience."
"In war, we saw sights like this every day. Count yourself lucky to see it just a few times a year now."
'"Yeah, lucky me." Gladion said sarcastically.
Surge turned away, his focus shifting to the Mayor.
Officer Jenny stepped forward as she faced the reporters crowding the basement, their cameras still flashing despite the grim discovery.
"We have found dead bodies up ahead," she said, her voice sharp. "Please close your cameras and leave this site. We will be sealing this area."
A reporter with spiky hair protested, "But—" Jenny cut him off, her eyes unyielding.
"We've tolerated you enough and let you into this off-limits area to expose the Mayor's crimes. But this is as far as I bend the rules. Leave! The Viridian City police will release a statement later."
The reporters' faces deflated, and they shuffled out, muttering, their cameras lowered.
Surge marched toward Mayor Goldmane, who stood cuffed with two officers standing with him.
. Surge's voice was low, dangerous. "Would you tell me who the two dead people are, Mayor?"
Goldmane's eyes darted, his voice flat. "I don't know."
Surge's face flared with anger, his fist clenching. "Cut the crap. Tell me who they are right now and why they died, or would you prefer Gym Leader Gladion going into your mind to find out? No, I think I'd prefer my Electivire shock you a couple times—then you'll talk… if you're still alive."
Goldmane shivered, under Surge's threat, and he started blabbering, his voice trembling. "They were guards who developed a conscience and were going to inform the authorities about what was happening. They were taking recordings of our deaIings with the smugglers and the photos of these Pokemon. I found out and had them silenced."
Surge shook his head and delivered a solid right hook to Goldmane's face, knocking him out cold. The Mayor crumpled as he hit the floor.
Surge turned to Gladion, his voice firm but warm. "Good job, Gym Leader Gladion. You've rid Vermilion City of a pest."
Gladion nodded, too drained to argue, 'This was supposed to be my first Aura Guardian mission, but it feels like a gut punch. I should have asked Koga and Agatha for more things to do this mission. Well, at least I got a Froakie out of all this.'
Surge clapped a hand on his shoulder, his aura steady. "You can go home and rest. I'll take care of things here."
Gladion nodded, his voice quiet. "Thanks." As he turned to leave, Surge's voice stopped him, "Kid, old man Maren would be proud to see you today. His grandson's doing things the old man himself wouldn't have dared for the betterment of the Region. If he were here and seeing you mopping after seeing two dead bodies, he would have said get over it. So get over it!"
Gladion nodded as he put Ultron back to his Pokeball and teleported back to his Gym.
-------Author Notes------
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