Today was the day I met my squadmates. The base is constantly bustling, with recruits and officers everywhere; no one seems to relax for even a second. The tension is as thick as the smoke from the Slateport factory chimneys, and I'm struggling to breathe normally.
My squad is small—just five of us in total, led by Sergeant Darius. He's a big guy with a hardened face and eyes that cut through you like a Swellow in a dive. When he speaks, you have no choice but to listen. He started the meeting with a quick look at each of us, sizing us up without a word, as if he already knew our stories. He said our missions would be quick and "effective," that each of us must know how to move, act, and protect ourselves alone. "There's no room for mistakes here," were his first words.
My squadmates... each has something that makes them stand out. First, there's Lian, a girl with short hair and a cold gaze. They say she's an expert in close-range battles, always accompanied by her Combusken, which looks as fierce as she does. Then I met Taro, a quiet guy who seems to prefer watching over talking; his Makuhita never leaves his side, and somehow, he doesn't either. There's also a younger guy named Jett. He's always talking about how Hoenn is going to "make history" and that this is all "for the common good." He seems determined, but I think he doesn't realize what we're really here to do. His Voltorb follows him everywhere, rolling alongside him with an almost constant electric hum. Lastly, there's Mika, who has a Masquerain with her. She's a bit distant, but you can see the experience and calm in her. She was the first to look at me and say quietly, "You'd better take care of your Pokémon… in the field, it might be the only thing that saves your life."
At the end of the meeting, Sergeant Darius gave us our first orders: in a few days, we'll be deployed near Mt. Moon for a reconnaissance mission. Our task is to locate a strategic, safe, and hidden spot where Hoenn can establish a secret base in Kanto. Mt. Moon is famous for its tunnels and caves—a labyrinth where one could easily get lost. It'll be a challenge, especially since everything must stay quiet. No one can know we're there.
Slugma was by my side the entire time. Even though I didn't speak much, I think I felt his support. In moments like this, I realize he's the only thing that connects me to who I was before.
Mika was right: my partner is my greatest support here. I'm trying not to think about what might happen if this goes wrong, if Slugma… No, I can't allow myself to imagine it. I'll make sure we become strong enough to prevent anything from happening.
Tomorrow we'll train in infiltration and camouflage simulations. This is real, and there's no room for errors.