Pokemon: Bounty Hunter Alex

Alex didn’t take long to meet up with Vera and the others, as he had released Gardevoir and allowed her to track them down. He found them in the Pokémon play area, where weak, underfed Pokémon were kept at Novice rank without training. They remained cute, fluffy, and adorable, yet some were actually older than Alex’s own Elite ranked Pokémon. As far as Alex was concerned, it was the definition of cruelty and irresponsibility.

Then again, they didn’t have to battle or work for their food beyond being adorable, and the kids were having fun playing with them. It wasn’t all that different from how pet Pokémon were treated in the first place. They stayed with their owners in their homes, being adorable and needy without training or battling. They existed purely as companions or decorations, and all they had to give up in exchange was a longer lifespan, matching their owners’ own longevity.

Alex and the group spent a week atop Mount Lanakila enjoying its attractions before flying down the mountain on Mantine and heading east to continue their travels. Looking down from above, the peak’s snowfields quickly gave way to darker rock and then dense green lowlands, the temperature rising sharply as they descended.

Eventually, they reached the Haina Desert, where their warm, thick coats were replaced with light, cool clothing or, in some cases, little more than bikinis and shorts to cope with the harsh sun bearing down on them. They flew over Route 13 and spent a night in the desert, quickly growing frustrated with the dry heat and sand that seemed to get everywhere no matter how careful they were.

Seen from the air as they initially descended, it looked like an ordinary desert filled with ambush Pokémon lurking beneath the sand. Once they landed, however, Alex had to admit it was a veritable maze. Identical sand dunes were scattered in every direction, and heat-induced mirages distorted the landscape, making it easy to lose one’s bearings at ground level. It supported the rumors that the place was a deadly maze for the unprepared.

The next morning, satisfied with the brief one-day stay, they continued east along Route 13 and crossed onto Route 12, heading toward Secluded Shore. There, they planned to spend a full week, marking what would be their final beach stop in Alola.

The coastline here was noticeably calmer than the more developed beaches with plenty of tourists. Long stretches of pale sand curved between low rocky outcrops, and the water remained unusually clear close to shore, fading into deeper blue farther out. A handful of trainers were scattered along the coast, mostly engaged in casual battles with local Water type Pokémon that surfaced near the shallows.

The mornings were quiet, with only the sound of surf and distant Wingull calls, while afternoons revolved around swimming and other water activities. The evenings were peaceful and cozy as they gathered around a bonfire to keep themselves warm. By the end of their stay, the group was ready to move on, their appetite for beaches thoroughly satisfied for the foreseeable future.

Their next destination was Blush Mountain, a rugged stretch along Route 12 where volcanic rock and dry vegetation gradually replaced the coastal scenery. Even before reaching the visitor’s center, the air carried a faint mineral scent with occasional vents releasing thin streams of steam from the ground. In the distance, parts of the Geothermal Power Plant were visible across the mountainside, its pipes and industrial structures partially embedded into the terrain.

Entering as tourists, they joined a short guided tour through the Geothermal Power Plant visitor’s center. Inside, the exhibits explained geothermal energy through a scale model of the plant, comparisons with similar facilities in Kalos and Kanto, and a short documentary on underground heat and power generation. Through reinforced windows, they could see sections of the actual facility in the distance, though the main operational areas remained off-limits.

Continuing north, they reached Route 11 and headed west before finally arriving in Malie City, where Alex and Clarissa felt as though they had returned to Johto due to the strong traditional architectural influences. Buildings here leaned heavily into traditional design, with curved roofs, wooden facades, and carefully maintained stone paths. Even newer structures were built to match the same aesthetic, giving the city a historic atmosphere.

Despite that, the city was fully modern, with hovering delivery vehicles passing through side streets, people in futuristic-looking bodysuits moving steadily between shops and cafés, and busy businessmen heading toward the taller buildings. From elevated points in the city, the Hokulani Observatory was clearly visible on Mount Hokulani to the west, its dome catching light even through haze. To the north and east, the coastline opened into wide ocean views, with shipping lanes faintly marked by distant vessels heading toward Unova.

Here, they decided to stay for another week and enjoy the city’s amenities as tourists. Their stay promised a routine of short outings, extravagant meals, plenty of sightseeing, and, of course, shopping. It was their last opportunity to do so before their journey around the Alola region came to an end.

For Alex, though, it was only the beginning. He could finally begin hunting Team Bones and dismantling their operation.

The entire southern side of Ula’ula Island was considered Pokémon territory and was protected by Tapu Bulu from heavy human settlement. As a result, Team Bones couldn’t establish a distribution network there, since there was hardly anyone to sell to anyway. That left their distribution points concentrated across the northern half of the island, most prominently in this city due to its access to ships traveling across the region and beyond.

“Hey Dad, the twins and I were planning to head out for a night on the town,” Alvera said.

“Sure thing, just remember—”

“Don’t be afraid of trouble. I got it, Dad.”

“Alright, go have fun.”

“Yey!” The three cheered as they left, wearing crop tops, short shorts, and thin waist-high jackets, the standard for any teenager looking for some fun.

Meanwhile, Alex met up with Rhea and Clarissa before asking, “I’m about to head out and bring down some thugs. You girls want in on this?”

“No thanks,” Clarissa replied. “I’ve had my fun wearing Rhea’s exosuit, and I wouldn’t like to repeat it. I prefer fighting with my Pokémon beside me.”

“What about you, Rhea?”

“Will there be explosions?”

“No. They don’t have enough infrastructure in this city to make blowing anything up worthwhile. I’ll probably just run around and pop some heads.”

“That’s a no from me too, Chief,” Rhea said. “Call me when you need some demolition.”

Alex chuckled. “Sure.”

Having done his due diligence, Alex headed out for his first stop, a random dark alleyway that brought back fond memories. He remembered being in Saffron City years ago when he was heading home and stumbled across a drug den in a similar alleyway. At the time, he was poor, scraping together every bit of cash he could, and had fully intended to rob the local cartel.

He had succeeded, at least to some extent, especially when both Sabrina and Jenny chose to look the other way regarding the missing money. Looking back, he had been reckless, impatient, and more than a little stupid, but he couldn't deny the thrill of it. Fighting side by side with Raticate and Growlithe while carrying his brand-new guns had been exhilarating. He had nearly lost his first real Pokémon battle, after all, when the Sandslash used Earthquake on top of a building.

Now, here he was again, preparing to bust another drug den. The difference was that he was now far richer than the people running the operation and no longer motivated by desperation. This time, he was doing it simply for the love of the game.

“You lost, boy?” a man easily half a foot taller than Alex asked as he blocked the path deeper into the alleyway, where a line of addicts waited for their fix. “You’d best head out before I make you lick the pavement.”

“That’s nice of you,” Alex said before driving the web of his open hand into the man's throat, cutting off his airway and dropping him to the ground in agony. “I’ll extend the same courtesy and give you a chance to escape before the cops come.”

Immediately, the drug addicts scattered, unwilling to be caught up in the mess. They fled toward the far end of the alley, with a few brave enough to squeeze past Alex on their way out.

Meanwhile, the guards and distributors rushed to secure the door behind them, preparing to fight off their attacker. Alex released Gardevoir and allowed her to breach the door and begin conducting deep memory searches.

From those, Alex pieced together the layout of the city. Distributors were spread throughout, catering to the addicts’ needs, with several key locations used to store product before it was funneled further down the chain. Behind that sat a main warehouse, receiving shipments directly from the ports where the drugs were brought in. Apparently, they lacked the ambition to establish their own production on the island, unlike those on Melemele who had begun considering it.

In practical terms, this meant Alex only needed to hit the main warehouse, where a Champion ranked trainer was stationed to personally oversee Team Bones’ operation. Before that, however, he figured he might as well sweep through the local warehouses and clear them out of both product and cash to maximize the damage. As for the distributors like those in this alleyway, they were, in his estimation, too low-level to warrant further attention.

Hence, Alex began his cleanup of the warehouses, knocking out guards, breaking into safes, and collecting all the product and cash before calling the police in for a raid. He spent most of the evening working through the area, well past midnight, before finally turning his attention to the main warehouse.

As he was about to head inside, a powerful Expanding Force suddenly struck, causing the entire structure to crumple into debris. A Champion ranked aura flared immediately afterward and surged off in pursuit of the source of the attack. Alex was preparing to follow the unfolding drama when his phone rang, showing a call from Alvera.

“Dad! Help!”