Aquatic Answer: Letters from a Team Aqua Vessel

By megacrazyhand. Art by Tikitik.

Letters from a Team Aqua Vessel

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Day 1

Dear Mother,

Today marks my first day on the vessel, SS Ishmael. The overall atmosphere of our voyage is one of baited breath. They say that when you set off on a voyage of discovery, you will see both a lot of what you know and a lot of what you never thought of. I'm also glad to be one of three people in my class to have received this honor— even if I'm the dumbest one.

We all met with the Captain in his office. I was surprised to see him dressed in a blue pirate costume. His office itself was almost cartoony with an anchor stationed above his desk and behind him a picture of one "Admiral Archie" (who is this, by the way?). He looked almost regal, he must be important. Before I could ask, the Captain told us that we were here to observe the evolution of Water-type species and monitor currents as part of a project to see if they were related.

Simple enough, and we were sent to our rooms to see if we could adapt to the ocean before seasickness set in. Now excuse me, but it is too late for me. Hopefully next time I write you, I shall have sea legs and a sea belly.

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Day 5

Dear Mother,

Today is the fifth day on this vessel. While some of the crew strike my classmates and me as strange, we've seen some remarkable things. For example, our instruments picked up several Magikarp evolving right beneath our ship yesterday. We ran outside to look out and we could see the newly formed Gyarados swimming south behind us. It really was a very exciting sight to see them leap out of the water and split into new directions to find more territory. Afterwards, the Captain grabbed me on the shoulder and stared deep into my eyes with his soft, milky-brown eyes before saying “good job”. I won't lie, I was half terrified.

More amazingly, though, is that three days ago, I saw a Trainer fighting a Gyarados. The Gyarados barely escaped the trainer and was left with a bump on its head. Yesterday, it ran up besides our boat while a flock of Wingull hovered above. As I stared into its gaping maw, coming the closest I have ever come to facing down nothingness, I heard a "wreeoooar" as a Wingull swooped down and smacked it across the face. I recognized the attack as Aerial Ace. I assume it learned it either before being released by a Trainer or having learned it from one that did.

The shocked Gyarados fled, and the Wingull started to glow. Its slick body bloated, and its wingspan widened. Its mouth became a tub, and the Wingull had evolved into a massively heavy Pelipper. Perhaps I was merely impressed that this Wingull had evolved after saving my life, but it was truly a majestic sight. The Captain also walked up to me here, grabbed me on the shoulder, stared me in the eyes with his warm, milky browns and said "good job". It was also terrifying then.

The Pelipper is still with us, I've named it Lucky.

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Day 10

Dear Mother,

I cannot lie, this ship is getting really weird. The Captain has made lectures he gives on how valuable the ocean is mandatory. For some reason, every night a horde of Zubat and Golbat surrounds our ship despite there being no native population this far out to sea. The Captain provides me with no straight answers about this.

The Captain himself is an oddity. My fellow classmates tell me that all he does is flirt with them, and as we are at sea, there is no recourse. The Captain also keeps a Mighteyena, which he calls "woof", by him at all times. I doubt the ship environment can be healthy for Woof, as there is very little room for him to run. When I asked the Captain about this, he responded with, "the sea is better for everyone! When you meet Archie, you'll understand!". He then proceeded to sing the "Praises of Archie", a song with a five-part harmony that he personally wrote. I still do not know who Archie is or why he has a song written about him in five-part harmony, but I've been told that he's very successful and that I should expect him soon.

If you've received my last letter, you might be wondering about Lucky the Pelipper. I have taught Lucky to perch on my arm and answer to its name. Lucky is a good Pelipper (although the Captain is attempting to teach him the harmony for the "Praises of Archie").

As for my work, Milly, Cary (my classmates), and I have discovered what appears to be a powerful geothermal well under Route 128. The energy pouring out of it is astonishing and might even be capable of powering an entire city. I understand that a few years ago this well would have been completely undetected, but thanks to this organization's advances, we now have some sort of homing radar. Frankly, none of us really understand it, but the Captain and the crew are delighted at what we have found. It's possible this discovery might change the world forever. If so, they better give me credit for finding it. I shall write you next in a few days, when I meet Archie. I look forward to meeting this man.

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Day 13

Dear Mother,

Yesterday, Archie arrived. He didn't come by boat, as I had expected, but rather on the back of a Sharpedo. The man wore a blue jumper, a gold anchor chain, and a smile. More surprisingly, his Sharpedo was decked out in some necklace with a large pearl on it. I guess if you have the wealth then you got to flaunt it, right?

His presence on the ship energized the Captain, who doubled all efforts to look impressive. This meant the crew had double the work to do. Luckily for us, we were interns and not crew. Instead, we were invited to dine with them.

Upon entering the room we saw the Captain and Archie had already drank through their mugs of nondescript Sailor drink. Also on Archie's side was Woof, seemingly relaxing with another Mightyena that I assume was Archie's. Still not sure why sailors have Mightyenas, by the way.

Archie's presence captured the entire room, and I was drawn in, slowly, by his gaze. Then he burped in my face and began to laugh. Admiral Archie, as it turned out, was a real prankster. He began to talk about his escapades at sea, and we were all drawn into the tall tales. Then he asked about the underwater geothermal source we found. He told us that he was in talks to get a submarine and that once he had one, the world would be forever changed. I can get behind a man with ambition. Following a little more light talk, I attempted to sing "The Praises of Archie". I fell flat on my tenor part and no one else joined in. Maybe I should learn the baritone part. At that point the Captain had Woof escort me to my room, his teeth lovingly bared, as my night ended early. At least I tried, I have no regrets.

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Day 18

Dear Mother,

Since Admiral Archie left, our ship has changed its general direction to where we found the energy signature. While we don't yet have the supplies to tap the geothermal energy, the Captain has promised them soon!

There is some trouble, though. For example Milly said she noticed [redacted] flying from [redacted] in the night. Why are so many Zubats and [redacted] flying from the ship at [redacted]? And Cary said [redacted]. It's terrifying that anything like that could ever happen! Truth be told, I'm not sure how much I believe her; the Captain is a wonderful guy!

Anyways, I showed Lucky how to get to the house on a map, so hopefully he'll find his way and you'll meet him. When I showed him the map, he was bounding with energy! He even tried to eat the map! You probably should have some snacks ready for him, it's easy because he eats everything. That said, he'll definitely find his way back to our location at [redacted].

I hope you receive this letter in good health and I can't [redacted] get your next letter!

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Day 24

Dear Mother,

For some reason, radios have been banned on the ship. Lucky and I have lost the only link to the outside world other than these letters. By the way, yours had a bunch of black splotches. Strange, isn't it? I'm glad you found Lucky agreeable though.

Work has been slow, the geothermal source under the ocean seems to be gaining in power. Cary and Milly seem to suspect that it might not be geothermal energy— but if not that then what could it be? I feel like the Captain knows, but his lips are tight. "Loose lips sink ships", he said with his milky browns. He also claimed to have seen it happen, specifically in regards to an angry Alolan Alomomola. He then got [redacted]. Must have been terrifying.

I would not lie and say that the sea is what worries me now. There has been less evolutionary activity and more chaos. I'm told this is the norm, as the Magikarps and Wailmers that have evolved stake out a territorial claim, but that doesn't explain the [redacted]. Why would a Zubat do that?

Well, I hope this weirdness calms down. I'd [redacted] stuck here forever.

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Day 26

Dear Mother,

I have no knowledge of how you will receive this letter. [redacted] is still gone, and Milly and Cary have both already left the ship. It feels as if the world is ending. All the Captain will say is "I have made a terrible mistake". The life from his milky browns have been drained.

The [redacted] now wear blue uniforms, like Archie's. They weep openly as each large wave smashes into out [redacted]. We're told that elsewhere in the region there is intense sunlight that has brought mass dehydration. I know no more than this. I have the terrible feeling though that this is my fault.

Tell Lucky I [redacted]. I hope I [redacted].

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Day 28

[redacted] [redacted] I'm [redacted] [redacted]
fine [redacted] [redacted] why [redacted]
[redacted] not: [redacted] It's [redacted]
[redacted][redacted][redacted][redacted]
[redacted][redacted] the end of the world [redacted]
[redacted] as [redacted][redacted] I [redacted]
know [redacted][redacted] it [redacted] and
[redacted] I feel [redacted][redacted][redacted]

Fine [redacted][redacted][redacted][redacted]

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« previous || police report

The Witness claims that he was aboard a Team Aqua Vessel while the weather crisis occurred. This claim is substantiated by [redacted] (see charge 8c). The Witness also claims that he was a major part of finding [redacted]. He claimed that he only completely understood what had happened when he personally witnessed the battle between Groudon and Kyogre. The Witness said this tearfully and can be believed.

The Witness claims that during their time on the vessel, they sent a number of letters to their Mother. Interpol has since retrieved these letters and found them to have been heavily censored. Interpol has concluded that they were censored by [redacted] at the order of [redacted] (see charge 10d, false imprisonment).

From what could be told of the Witness's recounting of facts, they likely had no culpability, and had they refused to cooperate it is highly likely that physical harm would have been brought against him. Likewise, it is also certain that the Witness truly believed in good faith that he was merely looking for geothermal energy sources. No reasonable prosecutor would ever prosecute this case, and no charges should be pressed at this time.

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