=*=*=*=

I groaned miserably and wiped the numerous beads of sweat that had collected on my forehead with my arm. The unforgiving sun beat down with a vengeance today, making it one of the hottest days on record this year. The T-shirt and shorts I was wearing did little to help reduce how warm I was. I reached for my backpack and pulled out a lukewarm bottle of water, unscrewing the cap and swinging it up to my lips. I drained the whole thing in a few long gulps, a sluice of moisture that quenched the dryness of my throat. After placing the empty bottle back in my backpack, I lifted the pair of binoculars to my eyes and panned them over the endless waves of savannah grass. Unsurprisingly, the Pokémon that were out there weren't moving much either, just trying to conserve water and energy.

I had gotten an internship as a Ranger at the Safari Zone in Kanto instead of following most of my peers in their journey to become Pokémon Masters. I thought it was a silly dream, to be honest. How could so many people become the sole "Master" of something so vast? And even if you did catch "every" Pokémon, more species were being discovered all the time, what would you do then? Reaching down to my side, I lightly fingered the Pokéball that was clipped to my belt. The only Pokémon I had ever caught, one that I didn't even have to battle to do so...

=*=*=*=

It was about a year ago when I had come across her - a Scyther that had been critically injured in a battle with a pair of poachers. At my arrival, the poachers had bolted and disappeared into the thick woods, while I stayed behind to deal with the injured Pokémon. I only had a few Potions on me for emergencies, and I ended up going through them far quicker than I would have liked. I knew that without immediate aid from a PokéCenter, there was no way that the Scyther was going to make it through the night. I had only one Pokéball, a gift, given to me as a 'good luck' present. Retrieving it from my pack, I quickly "captured" the injured Pokémon; the sheer fact that she didn't resist being captured was a testament to how injured she was. Quickly, I rushed the injured Scyther over to the nearby Pokémon Center where I placed her in the care of medical team. There was nothing else I could do for her.

After a few days, a few of the other Rangers and I returned to pick up the Scyther in a more traditional manner. The wild Pokémon was sedated and placed in a protective cage until we reached the Safari Zone. Once we had opened the cage, it took us several moments to realize she had actually left it, she'd just moved so fast that we hadn't seen her. The Scyther stood before us, however, she was staring directly at me, and for a few moments I was certain she was going to strike. I had made sure not to wear anything red for today, so what could have gotten her attention? Knowing what the bladed arms could do to the trees, I knew that if she attacked my body would be diced to bits before I could blink.

Instead, to my surprise, the Scyther calmly walked up to me and nuzzled her head against my chest. It took me a few breathless seconds to realize that she was thanking me for saving her life. She was taller than most of the Scyther I had observed, being a few inches over five feet, and making her come up to my chin. If she stood on her toes, she probably would have actually been taller than me. It felt odd, having a Pokémon show their appreciation like this and cautiously, I reached out to place my hand on the jade-colored chitin of her shoulder. She didn't respond negatively to the movement, so I let my fingers touch it. It was smooth and warm under my fingertips.

"I think she wants to be your Pokémon." One of the other Rangers remarked from the other side of the Jeep. I blinked in surprise before looking back at the Pokémon that had only now removed her head from my chest. She looked up at me, her eyes were fierce and determined, and even though I wasn't the greatest at reading people's faces, that look was instantly recognized. 'You protected me, now I will protect you...'

=*=*=*=

A loud, sudden crackle of static from the CB radio jolted me back from the past and to the moment at hand. "This is Park Marshal Jenny calling Drake, come in, Drake." The woman's voice flowed from the radio. I leaned over to pick up the radio, accidentally pressing my hand against the burning hot leather seat. I yanked my hand back with a grunt of pain, before plucking the transponder from the dashboard.

"This is Drake, what do you need, Ma'am?" I asked, leaning against the side of the jeep.

"We've just got the latest update from the Weather Center; it looks like this heat wave is going to be sticking around for a while." Great, just what I needed to hear. "We're officially at an Orange status. I want you to remind any trainers you find that campfires are prohibited, as well as keeping Fire Type Pokémon outside of their Pokéballs, until further notice. Also, if you can, make sure that there aren't any stampedes at the water holes."

I nodded, reaching down and pulling out a map of the Zone and unfolding it over the hood. I'd probably need to fill up on gas at one of them before heading out towards the water hole. There was a number of Ranger outposts littered throughout the area that I could stop at, possibly get some more water as well...

"Roger that, Ma'am. Drake out." I placed the transponder back on the receiver and climbed into the seat. The leather was scorching hot against my back, even through my clothes. Reaching down to start the jeep, I paused, plucking the Pokéball from my belt. Kastha hadn't had any exercise in a few days; I'd been running all over the Safari Zone trying to make sure other Pokémon were coping with the heat. The ball swelled up at my touch to fill my palm snugly. Pressing the catch button, the red and white ball popped open and the crimson materialization field shot forth, taking the form of my Scyther. I couldn't help but smile at her.

"Hey there girl. I thought you might like a nice run today..." I spoke cheerfully, reaching out to rub her head. I always found it curious how Pokémon could understand human language. Could they understand everything we said? Or select words, like attacks or activities? Regardless, she perked up at the mention of running. She knew what was going to happen as soon as she saw me in the Jeep. It was a race. The only way I had a chance at keeping up with her was if I was in a car. I'd get a seven second head start, then she'd come after me.

Kastha voiced an excited cry, clashing the blades on her arms together. I fired up the engine, the sudden roar startling a flock of Murkrow from their roost. They cawed loudly as they ascended into the sky. I popped the clutch and shifted the jeep into first, slamming my foot down on the accelerator. Dirt and shredded grass sprayed out from beneath the rear tires, something that Officer Jenny would probably not be happy about if she found out about it. Finally, the tires gripped properly and hurled the vehicle forward. I wanted to get as much speed as I could before the head start was up, otherwise she'd catch up in an instant. The accelerometer crept to 30...35... Pop the clutch, shift to second, 40, 45... The wind whistled by my head as the jeep rattled over ruts and potholes. I had stopped counting the seconds, but time had to be up, for when I glanced back towards the tree line, I could see a green blur of motion and a cloud of dust closing in on the jeep like a missile.

50...65... The pedal was jammed to the floor, the world around me a blur. I prayed that I wouldn't lose control or I'd be paste. 70...75... The blur started to fall back, but with a surge of speed that was mind blowing, she overtook the jeep and I could only catch her outline as she blasted by. Okay, fast enough. I hit the brakes, the battered jeep moving so fast that the tires actually bounced over the dirt for a while before the vehicle actually slowed. I exhaled in relief when I finally stopped, the cloud of dust in my wake washing over me and making me cough. Waving some of the dust away, I stepped out of the jeep and waited for Kastha to get back to me. She could be well ahead by now.

I didn't have to wait long, for she seemed to materialize before me, beaming in her victory. She let out an expectant trill, nudging her head against my arm. I chuckled, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a couple of Pokéblocks. "Here you go girl, you earned them." I unwrapped one of the treats and offered it to her. She leaned in, plucking it out of my fingertips with her mouth. I smiled and rubbed her head, letting her munch on the last two before climbing back into the jeep. "So Kastha...do you want to ride with me in the truck or do you want to go back in your ball?"

Kastha replied by practically blinking into appearance behind me. It was sometimes unnerving, her speed and agility, but I felt far more comfortable with her on my side. She wasn't built to ride in the seat, so she rested in the bed of the truck, although she chirped with irritation about the heat of the sun-baked metal. I'd make sure to spray down the truck with some water when we got to the next outpost.

I took it slow for the rest of the trip, since I had probably torn the trail up enough to have Marshal Jenny suspend me. The outpost grew on the horizon, a small hut with a water tank, gas pump, and watch tower. I pulled to a stop and walked over to the door, pushing it open and sighing with relief at the wash of air-conditioned heaven that flowed over me.

"Shut the door quick, will you? You'll let out the cold." Selene muttered, leaning back in her chair with her boots propped up on the desk. Selene Marchesi, another one of the Rangers, one who had joined at about the same time as I had. I wouldn't deny it, she was hot, and the sight before me almost made my jaw drop. The day's heat had left her in fewer clothes than I had ever seen her in before. Her shirt was tossed over the back of a chair, leaving her in only a brown bikini top and a pair of matching shorts that I didn't think could get any shorter. Her blonde hair, normally done up in a neat ponytail had been let down and bunched around her shoulders. Honestly, she looked like something you'd find in a pinup magazine.

She noticed my stare and rolled her eyes at me with a disgusted groan. "Pervert."

I only shrugged, "Hey, you're the one dressing like that, don't blame me if I take notice..." I walked over to the mini-fridge tucked away in the corner and grabbed a few chilled water bottles. It was surprising how much water a person could go through... "You hear what Jenny had to say?"

She groaned miserably, shifting her body into a sitting position. "Yeah, I did... What's been going on with the weather, huh? It did nothing but rain for three weeks last month and now we're in the middle of a drought. I'm worried that the Pokémon won't be able to sustain themselves."

I shrugged again, moving over to the charts and looking over them. "Are there any trainers nearby? We need to start telling them about the fire ban." Selene quickly swiveled around and checked her laptop. We had started giving Trainers digital 'tags' when they entered the Safari Zone after the number of poachers had increased. By using satellites, we could pinpoint any trainer in the Zone. This was also handy in case someone needed rescue or emergency transport.

She tapped a few keys and nodded. "We've got a few groups scattered around. The closest is about nine kilometers southeast of here." She spun her laptop screen so that I could see the map of the zone, the trainers marked as blips on the screen.

"Alright. I'll head off in that direction." I said, marking the positions on my Pokénav before heading to the door. Kastha sat patiently in the bed of the Jeep, although I could tell she was suffering on the hot metal. "Get Jenny on the horn; see if we can't get a water tanker out here to moisten up some patches of grass for the Pokémon to eat...give them something to drink too."

"How can you be near that thing?" Selene's voice put my return on hold and I turned back to see what she was talking about. She was peering out the window towards Kastha, her expression perturbed at the sight of the large Bug-Type.

"What, don't like bugs, Selene?" I chuckled, being rewarded with a clipboard being thrown towards my face. I ducked away from it and jogged back outside, seeing Kastha smiling at me. She chattered softly, an almost insectile purr; but the way she was constantly shifting around told me what I really needed to know. I reached over and rubbed the smooth, green carapace, before unclipping her Pokéball from my belt.

"Sorry girl, but I don't want you to fry out here." I said softly to her, and she nodded her head, standing still for the moment it took for me to recall her. I looked at the ball for a moment and placed it back on my belt, walking over to the gas pump. Grabbing the old nozzle, I clunked it into the gas tank and filled the jeep back up. Just to be sure I wouldn't need to fill up again for a while, I filled a few jerry cans to the brim, capping them off and fixing them to the sides of the vehicle.

Climbing back behind the wheel, I checked the Pokénav one more time before starting the engine and heading out into the heart of the Safari Zone.

=*=*=*=

A herd of wild Tauros ran alongside the jeep as I drove towards the blip I had marked on the Pokénav. Driving much slower than I had with my race against Kastha, I was actually able to appreciate the Safari Zone for how beautiful it was. Even in the blazing heat, the endless fields of tall grass rippled and flowed like something alive, Pokémon of every type could be seen. A few Pinsirs lumbered through the grass, their large, steel-like mandibles snapping at the air. Pidgey soared overhead, crying out as they looked for their next meal. In the distance, a group of Kangaskhan gathered protectively around their young. Even in this heat they were able to function normally... and it made me wonder how humans still managed to become the dominant species.

After driving for a few minutes, I finally came across the first group of trainers. I didn't have to worry about them making a fire right now, even for cooking, it was far too warm to be around an open flame. As I pulled over to the side of the road, the group of four ceased whatever conversation they had been having and turned to face me. From the look on their faces, they probably thought they had done something wrong.

"Safari Zone Authority." I called, raising my hand. "We've got news that this heat wave isn't going to subside for a few days, so a fire ban's been put into effect until further notice. No campfires are allowed and no Fire Type Pokémon can be allowed outside of their Pokéballs until it passes."

"How are we going to cook then?" one of the Trainers questioned.

I pointed in the general direction of the headquarters. "If you can use a non-flame heater, that's fine, if not, there are eating facilities at the Headquarters and the nearby Pokémon Center." A few of them groaned, not wanting to walk back to the entrance of the Safari Zone in the heat. I didn't blame them either, which is why I pointed to the bed of the jeep. "I can give you a lift back if you'd like." The group discussed it amongst themselves for a moment, before politely declining, saying they'd be able to manage for tonight. "Alright then," I said, climbing back behind the wheel.

That was one group taken care of. There could practically be dozens of Trainers running through the Safari Zone at any given time. But at least I wasn't alone in my job. There were a few other Rangers doing the same thing so I could probably head back to the headquarters if I wanted. The clock on my Pokénav read 4:47, I had been out here all morning and the only thing I'd had to eat was some eggs for breakfast and the numerous bottles of water I'd been drinking today. I didn't think anyone would blame me for taking a break to eat. I drove for a little ways more, finding one of the large trees that stretched over the road, before pulling to the side to park under the shade.

Digging through my backpack, I withdrew a sandwich, a few more Pokéblocks, and a small squeeze bottle of honey - one of Kastha's favorite treats. Reclining against the tree, I released her from her Pokéball and set it on the ground beside me. Smiling, I took one of the Pokéblocks and drizzled some of the honey on it, waving it around softly. "Kastha...look what I've got." Instantly, she stood before me, her eyes alight, watching intently as I swayed the snack back and forth before her face. She trilled softly, almost mesmerized, and with a grin, I offered her the treat.

She plucked it delicately from my fingertips with her mouth, her expression joyful as she chewed on the snack. I smiled at her, turning to get my sandwich when I felt something altogether different. Looking back at her, Kastha was licking my fingers softly, trying to get whatever honey had dripped onto them. "Uhm..." I uttered, watching as her blade-like arms rested carefully against each side of my forearm, holding it in place while she cleaned me. Her tongue was smooth and slightly pointed as it curled between my fingers, leaving a thin trail of drool that quickly dried under her breath, making my skin feel cooler.

I blinked as I realized how closely I was watching her, slowly pulling my hand away from her mouth and wiping it on my shirt. She chirped softly, cocking her head at me with a slightly confused expression on her face.

"Thanks...Kastha." I said awkwardly, reaching up and rubbing her head with my clean hand, just so she didn't think she had upset me. I quietly offered her the other Pokéblocks and she took them to snack on. Unwrapping my sandwich, I looked over at her as I took a bite. She had nestled up in a patch of tall grass that sat in the shade, contently munching on the extra treats. A bit of sunlight glinted off her jade exoskeleton, making her look a bit like a jewel in the light. I felt awkward having felt like that before. Maybe the heat was getting to me or something... I reached for a bottle of water and took a long, cool drink, hoping the water would chill my head.

I chewed slowly on my sandwich, looking off towards the horizon again, watching the golden blades of savannah grass bend and shimmer under the wind. There were times where I felt like I could just live out here. Considering the fact that they had found a kid living amongst a group of Kangaskhan a few years ago, it wasn't like my thoughts were too far out there. I'm sure Kastha would like it as well; I often had trouble getting her to relax in public areas. As if she could sense that I was thinking about her, Kastha lifted her head and looked at me, chirping softly.

I smiled softly, patting the ground beside me. "Come here, girl."

With a happy cry, she lifted herself up and walked over to my side, her body perfectly balanced even with her strange, insectile proportions. Nestling in the shade beside me, she leaned her body against my arm, rubbing her head against my shoulder. My fingers once again found themselves rubbing her head, tracing over the ridges, and she closed her eyes and chirped happily.

"Are you feeling okay, girl?" She was being a lot more affectionate towards me than usual. It didn't bother me; I just wasn't sure what had brought it on. There was something else there, too. Something I couldn't quite put my finger on...

"Drake, where the hell are you?" Selene's irritated voice crackled from the radio, and Kastha hissed sharply in annoyance. That startled me more than her affection did. Kastha hardly ever showed aggression to anything that wasn't a threatening Pokémon...if it wasn't red, at least. To see her snap like this without provocation was something new... I rubbed her shoulder to calm her, before I reluctantly pulled myself to my feet. I looked down apologetically at Kastha before walking over to the jeep.

Grabbing the transponder, I sighed and clicked the 'Send' button. "Yeah, what do you want?"

"You haven't moved for ten minutes, what's going on?" I sighed, shaking my head. "I'm changing a tire, okay?" I lied, looking back over at Kastha. She stared back at me, her dark-gray eyes locked to mine. There was a long pause from the other end of the radio, before Selene spoke again.

"It takes you ten minutes to change a tire?" she asked, incredulous.

"Have you tried changing a tire in this heat?" I snapped back, probably taking the lie further than I should. She didn't reply to that, so I continued. "Look, I'm heading towards one of the watering holes. I'll radio you when I arrive."

"Fine." Was the only word spoken in response before the radio went dead. I sighed, replacing the radio on the receiver. Looking back at the tree and at Kastha, I shrugged. "Well girl, I think lunchtime is over..." She chirped softly, sounding almost...disappointed. She had really wanted to spend some time with me. Now I felt really bad for having not paid attention to her for the past few days.

Walking over to her, I crouched down and rubbed her head softly. "I'm sorry, Kastha...I'll make it up to you later, okay?" She let out another soft chirp, her smooth tongue curling out once more to lick at my palm and fingers. There was that odd presence in the air again, and I smiled weakly, slowly pulling my hand away from her. I lifted the Pokéball from my belt and clicked down on the catch. Before my eyes, Kastha dissolved into a crimson blur and was pulled into the ball. The red-and-white sphere warmed briefly for a moment before cooling. I shook my head, shrinking the ball down to its storage size and clipping it back to my belt.

I stood and looked around for a second, stretching my arms behind my head. For a moment, the Zone seemed strangely empty, it was almost unnerving. I figured it would be best if I hurried along before Selene or Officer Jenny decided to call again with more questions. Climbing back behind the wheel, I turned to key in the ignition, hearing the low whine of the jeep's engine escalate into a hearty growl. Shifting into drive, I headed off towards the nearest watering hole, only a few kilometers away. No doubt with the heat, it would be a potential trainer's paradise, with almost every Pokémon in the area trying to cool down and keep hydrated. But there was the problem. With so many Pokémon in one place, sickness could spread, the water could become polluted, there could be stampedes for water, and any one of those would be trouble in the reserve.

After a few minutes of driving, I pulled the jeep off the trail, instantly being bucked in the chair as if I was riding an angry Rapidash. I slowed down as the jeep tore through the tall grass, to make sure I didn't hit anything or get a real flat tire. As the watering hole came into view, I let out a low whistle and stopped the jeep. There had to be at least...forty Pokémon down there. I grabbed my binoculars, lifting them to my eyes. There were dozens of them, all sorts, baying, barking, shrieking, all of them wanting water. Centering on the middle of the watering hole, I saw the source of the problem. A group of Tauros were standing inside the shallow pool, drinking their fill, mud and dirty water dripping from their underbellies. A few straggling Pokémon drank from the edge of the pond but for the most part, the Tauros kept the others from drinking, trying to charge the ones that approached, stirring up the mud even more.

Grabbing the radio, I quickly patched through to Officer Jenny. "Ma'am, this is Drake. I'm at grid marker AF-23, there's some trouble at the watering hole. I'd recommend sending out a water tanker, otherwise, there could be some serious problems." Officer Jenny was quick to respond.

"Will do, Drake. We've been having these incidents popping up all over the Safari Zone. I'm worried that we're only delaying the inevitable. We need rain soon, or there's going to be a major incident here." This was one of the only times that I had heard outright worry in Officer Jenny's normally stoic voice.

"I agree, Ma'am. Should I try to go down there and see if I can break it up?" I asked, although wading into the middle of that many Pokémon, docile or not, was not a comfortable thought. Luckily, Officer Jenny quickly solved that problem.

"No, there's no need putting yourself in harm's way. Just keep an eye on the situation until the tanker arrives, okay?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Drake out." Returning the transponder, I took another look through the binoculars, swearing under my breath. If the tanker was leaving the main Headquarters, it'd be at least twenty, thirty minutes before it got here... and that was a best-case scenario.

"Think they can hold off till then?" I muttered to Kastha, rubbing her Pokéball absently with my fingers.

=*=*=*=Chapter End Notes:Well, there we go. My first shot into the Adult Pokéverse. Hopefully, you enjoy it, and I can't wait to get feedback from you guys.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended, and is applicable for all consecutive chapters that follow.