So here it is, finally...the much awaited Team Galactic fic. I sure hope you enjoy it, I worked hard on this one! And yes, the chapters are supposed to be short and jumpy. I'm experimenting with a new style for this one.

Anyway, enjoy!

Prologue.

June 14, 1991.

One Road, Sunyshore City.

12:45 PM.

They always stared at him as he recklessly ran down the roads, always whispered softly to themselves, "That's the Catcher's kid," always looking at him with stern eyes and scared gazes. Clutching spare bits of metal, pieces of motherboard, of motor, of machinery, of computer and gear, he'd run through the Market, down the rocky edge by the coast, up the fragmented steps to his house.

They whispered behind his back.

"-That's the Catcher's kid-"

"-what's that? Yet another computer part?-"

"-doesn't he have any friends?-"

"-shame what happened to his parents-"

"-he's being raised by the Catcher family, you know, Terra and Gar Catcher-"

"-he's not normal."

"-I don't think it's right for a kid his age to stay indoors all the time-"

"-fiddling with his machines-"

"-an abnormal child, at best-"

Not normal.

Not normal, not normal not normal not normal.

That's all they could say.

That's all they ever said, an endless rehashing of the truth, what they thought was the truth.

Oh, he was a bright child, top of his class, skilled in speaking, proficient in reading, learning to play the piano, a total whiz at computers.

But he was…..not normal.

Because he liked machines more than man.

Because he liked machines more than man.

After taking home whatever it was he had found he would jump past his grandmother in the kitchen to the ladder that led to his lofted bedroom. She would cry out in fake surprise, and he would hug her, showing her this bit of metal, or that scrap of plastic. Always she would smile and say that he was a bright child and a good child and pat his head before the thrill of his discovery would lead him to his room and his own devices.

They were numerous.

One could hardly count the vast amount of machines that he had made: tiny robots that danced on the windowsill; larger pieces of metal glued together that lumbered incessantly, whirring and grinding and knocking against furniture. When he was young, he made tiny bots that could barely do more than wiggle and flop off the table, causing roars of delight from his grandmother at his antics. As he grew older, he began to fill his room less with the little machines cobbled from spare parts.

His first actual robot was a working model of a Vibrava that he'd made for a school project.

The assignment had been to create a model of a Pokémon that held special meaning for each child or some silly blather the boy, now a man-child, hadn't really paid attention too. He was distracted by the thoughts of how he could get this model to move, the inner workings of the physics of motion, of tension, of flight.

His grandfather had a pet Vibrava that had accompanied him from Hoenn. The Vibration Pokémon was spry despite its age and would often buzz the boy in jest, testing his reflexes. It was because of this silly Pokémon's demeanor that he chose it to be the finished product.

He slaved in his room for a week, taking apart some spare computers he'd bought from a scrap dealer and splicing the pieces together. When he was finished, his grandparents helped him with the ascetics, while the real Vibrava looked on interestedly. The man-child, the Catcher's kid, the Not-Normal, had produced a masterpiece, a Fake-Mon so real it nearly breathed.

The other kids were astounded, as well as the teacher. The closest anyone else had gotten was the paper-maché Vulpix installed with a tiny lighter that spit flame every ten seconds.

The man-child watched grimly as he let the Vibrava fly around the room, buzzing the teacher and repeating the recorded call on its tiny voice recorder, "Vibraaaaava! Vibraaaaava!"

His teacher was so impressed she contacted his grandparents. She wanted him to attend a special school for engineers and scientists; after that project, it was painfully obvious his talents would be wasted on a journey that the he would not undertake nor want to undertake. The forms were arranged and signed, and a man came and collected him for the school, accompanied by a girl the man-child's own age with flowing blonde hair and a fetish for fur-topped boots.

When the man-child left home, he placed the stilled robotic Vibrava next to his grandfather's cane in their bedroom.

And then They had a new topic to discuss. Not-Normal had left, to be replaced by an angry teen who shocked the world and became a Gym Leader.

Not-Normal was forgotten in the flow of time, except by an old couple willing to recount his sad tale to passing travelers in the markets.

The tale was wrought with sadness, and ultimately left the listener unsatisfied, as the elderly couple never heard what had become of the boy. His grandmother never laughed again, and his grandfather retreated into his room, trying to make the robot fly again.

He had emerged a man.

A man who ran with reckless abandon to a destiny that he could not claim.

August 1, 2000.

Granite Stree.,

Veilstone City.

12:27 PM.

"So you see, Mister…"

"Helios."

"Ah, Helios. So you see Mr. Helios, this building is perfect for your every need. It has five floors with spectacular views, and we can even install warp tiles on your floor if you wish. In addition, it is close to the main communications center, as Radio Sinnoh and Jubilife TV will both be leasing in the adjoining office park."

The two figures stepped over the construction barrier, the taller with a lanky ease. He scratched thoughtfully at the two-day stubble on his chin, looking around. The other figure, a short man with a perpetually ruddy face stared around at the construction, mopping his brow with a handkerchief.

Around the two, cranes and construction workers bustled about. Several times, the taller of the twosome had to duck out of the way from a lurching crane or work-Machamp carrying a heavy load.

"So which floor are you interested in leasing, Mr. Helios?"

'Helios' looked around, gauging the distance and looking around at the construction workers. This office building would be the flagship of Veilstone City. It was located on a small bluff overlooking the city hewn from rock. In the distance, Helios could see the bustling casinos, shops and spas of the Gaming District, as well as Meteorite Park to the left of the Gaming District. The Gym was just barely visible in the distance, its cheery golden roof winking in the mid-day sun.

"I'll take the whole building." Helios replied calmly, without really even thinking about it.

"I'm-,uh…ahem…what?" The ruddy-faced, plump realtor stuttered and mopped his face again under the harsh noonday sun. He clutched his briefcase protectively, not completely sure if he'd heard his companion correctly.

"I said, I'll take the entire building." Helios repeated, not even meeting the other man's face. "Warp Tiles on every floor, to my specifications. And I'll also take those storage units there, with a tunnel connecting that unit to the first floor."

He pointed down the slope, where a collection of warehouses stood. The realtor followed Helios' lanky and slender arm, mopping his forehead again.

"Well, uh…Mr. Helios, this building would be only for sale if the City Council agreed to it. It's a joint conjecture with the Council…it's not meant for just one tenant! Certainly you jest, Mr. Helios. You couldn't possibly wish to have the entire building…."

Helios cut him off with a wave and an insolent stare. "Nevertheless, I will take this building. Cost is no object."

The realtor again mopped his brow, withering under the harsh glare. "I'll…I'll see what I can do."

Helios smiled a cold smirk devoid of any real feeling or warmth. "See that you do."

He turned and walked past to the steel frame of the building, which was almost finished. Workers were yet installing the glass on the top floor. Most of the ongoing construction was setting up for the elaborate landscaping project on the grounds in front of the building.

Helios clasped his hands behind his back and planted his feet, gazing at the tall structure that would soon be his. It had a name, some ridiculous label as the Veilstone Center for Technology and Progress. He would leave it, sitting on the banner that announced this fact, on the first floor. But it would truly be something else. His headquarters…his life…his Team Galactic world…..

December 14, 2000.

14 Granite Street: Veilstone Center for Technology and Progress.

Veilstone City

8:56 AM

The man called Helios strode purposefully up the steps from Granite Street, literally ignoring all of the crowds on the sidewalk beside him. The crush of people were milling around in front of the newest building in Veilstone, waiting for the opening ceremony. A single red ribbon was stretched across the glass doors leading into the lobby, ready for the Mayor of Veilstone to cut the ribbon and declare the building open.

But the one topic on everyone's mind was the sole tenant of the building: some research organization called Galaxy Corp. Earlier in the year, before the building was even completed, this organization had outright bought the entire building from the city, barring anyone else from utilizing it, which was supposed to be open to everyone. It had been a hotly advertised and debated battle, and in the end, the representatives of Galaxy Corp had convinced the City Council to sell them the building. Rumor had it that the current Mayor of Veilstone, who was up for re-election next year, would have to contend with the fact that Galaxy Corp had stolen the building from everyone else.

Helios heard whispers and theories of this as he pushed his way through the crowds. It seemed as if the myriad of people had nothing better to talk about, even bypassing the immensely hot topic of the installation of a new Champion in the League this season. He snorted and calmly stood next to one of the giant communications dishes in the front square, using its shade from the sun.

The wind was chilly this morning. Veilstone caught the wind currents from Snowpoint City directly, considerably cooling the city by September each year. Clumps of recent snow were on the ground, as well as numerous icy patches. Several of the crowd slipped on such patches in their haste to get closer to the podium erected in front of the ribbon.

There came a collective hush as the Mayor of Veilstone, an attractive woman with lavender hair stepped forward. She was well respected by the community for her actions in lowering the crime rate as well as spearheading this program to rebuild her city's image.

"Welcome, all!" She exclaimed into the microphone. "I'm delighted to see all of you here. Especially you, Councilman Barker. I thought you didn't like me?"

The crowd laughed as one of the councilmen stepped forward, waving to the crowd. He was running against the Mayor in the upcoming elections, and had harshly criticized some of her decisions in office (including the decision to sell the building she was currently standing in front of). It was well known that the two were bitter rivals, and had been for a very long time.

"At any rate, it is pleasing to see such a turnout today. We of Veilstone City are dedicated to progress and technology, and it is with the goals of progressing into the new millennium that this center was established."

Here the Mayor paused, looking down her horn-rimmed glasses to her speech notes. Helios narrowed his eyes as a sudden thought hit him. Those eyes….so commanding…

"It has been a long time since any sort of good publicity was earned for our fair city. Most think that Veilstone is old, and crumbling, something not to be considered. Many come here to play in our Gaming District, ignoring the fact that we are a proud city with a proud heritage. Those who can see our progress think that we reached our cap a long time ago. They think that we cannot be as one with our sister cities."

There came a general murmur from the crowd as the Mayor let those words sink in. It was true; the rest of Sinnoh thought that Veilstone had gone downhill in a hurry, what with the lucrative Gaming District being installed. It was even to the point that many had begun to leave the city for other, more prosperous cities in Sinnoh, with only passing Trainers left to sustain the economy.

"Many think that we have slipped too far from our original goals, our original achievement to progress." The mayor continued. "We must prove to them that we have not, that our own city can rise above the rest and regain its status as the center for technological progress. We of Veilstone must prove that we are not lagging behind the rest in terms of our quality of life. We must prove to the rest of Sinnoh that our place is not behind our sister cities. We must prove that we can advance beyond our image. We must prove that we can, and do, embrace progress and change. We must prove that we are the best place to live in Sinnoh, and the hub for technological progress!"

Cheers erupted, the most prominent being from the small crowd of VIPs next to the Mayor: several members of the City Council, the police Chief and his first Lieutenant, as well as Veilstone's Gym Leader with his young daughter.

"With this in mind, I'd like to declare the Veilstone Center for Technology officially open!"

The Mayor cut the ribbon with a large pair of ornamental scissors, the ends fluttering gently to the frosted ground. Clapping and cheers came from the crowd as they pressed forward, looking to enter the building.

Helios watched them enter, chattering excitedly. For now, the building was completely and totally empty. He had yet to begin the arduous task of moving in. He would let the people satisfy their desire to see the building. He would close it later, when public notice had faded. Right now, he had sighted his first task.

The Mayor stepped down from her perch, chatting with several council members and the Gym Leader. She didn't notice the blue haired man watching her intently, nor did she notice his pleased gaze. Her mind was focused on PR.

Helios nodded once, and then slipped back down the steps.