Genesis.
AN/ Sorry for uploading the same chapter again but I completed it. Go and take a look.
"So, this is the dark web…" Arthur said, watching the screen brighten with the appearance of a cosmic sunrise on the page's background. "It doesn't look like it."
"Let me guess; You were expecting a script full of blinking messages and ads?" teased Lucas "Or maybe a page filled with green 0s and 1s on black?"
"A bit of the two," admitted the teen "It would have at least screamed crime and secrecy, instead of… your friendly home page. I love the art though. It feels—"
"Futuristic?"
"—Sci-Fi-ish; It's fitter. And yes, the two are different but I won't bother explaining because it's not today subject. Not that I don't know, I do; I just won't bother."
"Right?"
"Of course." Loftily returned Arthur. "Now, I would appreciate it, if you get those four eyes ahead and carry on with the lesson, instead of the sass."
"Yes, me Lord." The four-eyed Lucas pushed his glasses up his nose and tore his gaze away from the cheeky teen after a dirty eyes-roll. He paused a little, pondering on how to make his course and cleared his throat when he was about to begin.
"Since the beginning of our conversation," He started. "we have been using the term 'Dark Web' but, in reality, Genesis is not one, strictly speaking. It is an alternative to the Pokeweb and contrary to what you think, its activities are not limited to those considered illegal by the alliance."
Arthur sat quiet, and focused. Lucas went on.
"As you know, the global network situation is complicated. Each nation has its own Intranet and access to it is restricted for everyone outside its ground. The Pokeweb was an initiative of the alliance to link these different networks and facilitate the flow of information around the world. However, the states back then were militaristic, and each league wanted to keep a firm control over the intelligence of their nation. The originally thought Pokeweb not only opposed the league's intentions but could also reveal their military potential."
"Through social network and media?" conjectured the teen. "Is not that a bit farfetched?"
"Politics." Lucas shrugged. "If not for that, the Pokeweb would have been more than an amalgamation of each Nation's intranet. Today, if you conduct a search on the Alliance's engine, it will first determine your location and then direct you to the cyberspace of the corresponding geographic region. To navigate those from foreign countries, you must submit a request and agree to their terms, which are usually access to your activities."
"And Because of it," Added Arthur, "trades were monitored, demands evaluated and supplies manipulated, leading to an inflation backed by a price war and resulting in, the world's first economic crisis."
"That's the smartest kid alive for ya." Praised Lucas, "There's nothing he doesn't know, whatever the subject, even the difference between futuristic and Sci-Fi-ish!" The said kid snorted "Though, I have to give it to you, Arthur, you are well informed. Indeed, the 45's recession was a result of the limitations imposed on the Pokeweb. Since then, conditions and oversight have been reduced for the most part and open access has been granted to the largest companies. This was the beginning of the separation between governance and leagues.
"However, despite all these reforms and others that followed, the Pokeweb remains as restrictive as ever for the average user. Shared content is censored, sensitive information is controlled and the leagues, above all, reserve the right to monitor discussions if keywords were used.
"There have been several attempts at alternatives— chat rooms, electronic marketplaces, true dark webs and whatnot, but they either did not last long, were not accessible to everyone, or targeted a specific group. In their effort to avoid the league's radar, these private networks had few users, contents, and services. It was at this time that Genesis appeared, succeeding where the Pokeweb failed, and becoming years later, the world's leading and most independent cyberspace. Genesis is not a dark web but THE web."
"THE web…" Arthur suppressed the bubbling excitement at the prospect of this new well of information— One that might get him closer to the happenings behind his predicament while satisfying his more… liberal searches— and barreled the Techie with the myriads of questions that poured in his mind.
What was the Alliance response? How wide is the network? Does it encompass all twenty-one regions? Why all the secrecy around it? How could I access it? Who created it? What protocol are they using? Is it connected to the Pokeweb? What kind of services are available? The risks? Any protection against cyber-attack? Are there cyber-attacks? How is it regulated? With IMOs? Are there fees to pay? No? Yes? How much? Why aren't you answering? I'm talking to you, Ho! Hey!
Lucas massaged his knitted brows as he was tossed left and right with his ears assaulted by an unending stream of what, when, why. He sighed at the grin on Arthur's face, knowing full well that the teen had stopped asking those questions out of interest for the network but for the fun of it.
"Can you stop?" he asked, fighting the rising headache.
"No— Why is the sky blue? Where is the second moon coming from? Are Legendary real? Do you believe in—"
"Are you being serious right now?"
"— Originals? Why is NO-OO the only one without wings? Is he knowing that we are having this discussion? What—"
"So, it's like that? I can also play this game." The twenty-seven years old Y.A. (Young Adult) laid his hand on his offender's shoulder and proceeded by giving him back the taste of his own medicine, back and forth shaking and silly questions.
The two of them remained locked in a rhythmic sway, amidst a mess of words, until a snort escaped Arthur's smiling face. "Have you no shame!?" The laugh that ensued ended their little squabble.
"I could say the same to you. What are you? A kid?"
Arthur laughed harder. "Yes! actually I am!"
"Ow…" Lucas gave a second look at the 5feet of height and spotless chin before realizing once more that his friend was indeed a kid. But he didn't yield, "So what? Age is just a number."
A devilish grin appeared on the teen's face. "That means, it's Ok to woo—" The quid abruptly ended when he witnessed light reflected on glasses. He coughed. "You know what? we have wasted enough time like this, let's get back to the lesson."
The overprotective son waited, staring and Glass-fu-ing, until a sweat rolled down his target's temple. It was good enough. "… The first thing you asked was the Alliance response. You should understand that putting in place the world-wide infrastructure that is Genesis, need a lot of resources; the more so when it comes to maintenance and security of its integrity against external attacks— mainly the alliance. The amount of money, people and technology spent in the network every year are, without a doubt, obscene. Now, imagine that kind of fortune moved around right under the radar of the Alliance and without their knowledge."
"They would freak out."
"And they did. The apparition of the platform had risen many red flags, as many still remembered the hegemony that was Team Rocket, the very team that had been hair away from overthrowing the Indigo League if not for Professor Oak and his two legends of pupils—Red and Blue, and… maybe, with the help of someone or something more…"
Arthur's heart leaped to his throat. "What!?" but he only got an enigmatic smile.
"Forget about it; just some far-fetched theories I read on some dead forums. Getting back to the alliance, despite the warnings it issued and the backing of Indigo, the other member states weren't really convinced to act, as he was not anybody problem and it didn't help that Genesis what was everyone needed, a free international network with no restrictions or oversight on shared information and services."
"They let it be."
Lucas nodded. "Things only took a turn after… the advent of the Wild Hunt…"
The atmosphere shifted in the room. Arthur got throw off his mulling over the 'something' that might have helped in the fall of Team Rocket and winced at Lucas' pensive expression. He sat there, fidgeting and failing to find words to say. Arthur, like any other Oplean, knew about the Wild Hunt.
The organization was a gathering of like-minded people sharing the thrill of adventuring in the deepest parts of the wild lands— areas nearly empty of human activities and presence. What had started, on the newly created Genesis, as a community of veterans exchanging maps, locations, intelligence, warnings, advices and expertise, turned into a billion worth enterprise specialized in the tracking and capture of exotic Pokemon— any specimen presenting a strong lineage or a peculiar mutation, either for the breeding market or the sale of parts of interest.
With the trainer Boom that followed the creation of IMO, the demand of such Pokemon exploded, enriching the organization while increasing its activities and thus the harm done to the targeted ecosystems. Their inhabitants, hunted and persecuted, eventually retaliated, rallying into mad charges and whirling towards humans dominated areas with the intent to lay waste on everything that stood their way.
Arthur also knew Lucas's father, a ranger, had been drafted to quell one of these charges and that the man didn't come back after the mission. The tide had been the worst ever recorded in the region, Oplea, and the word alike. There was method to that madness, a distinct hierarchy among the frenzied Pokemon, resulting in an organized attack of such a magnitude that would have devasted the western major cities if not for the league master, his council 4, elites' trainers, professionals and rangers drafted across the region.
"Well, where was I? hmm? Why the face Arthur? You are making things sappy…"
"It's okay." Lucas got himself a hug. "Let it out, I'm all ear."
"Dafuck?" He disengaged from Arthur's forceful arms— "I'm giving you comfort!" — "I don't want it!" — and made more inches between their seats. "Don't ever do that again Arthur… It's suss…" He coughed, trying to disperse his awkwardness and carried with the Q&a. "I said the situation changed after that incident provoked by the Wild Hunt."
Arthur smiled, "They began to investigate the network?" and brought his seat closer.
Lucas groaned. "Maybe?" He spied the teen's hands. "There's only so much I could infer from blogs, journals and whatnots. I think that even then they weren't very, umm, focused? on Genesis. Instead a man-hunt for the members of the W.H. had been the direct response of the alliance.
"The cracking of Genesis really started after the stunt pulled by Team Magma back in Hoenn. The death of a league master, a symbol of peace and prosperity, had enraged far and wide and had cemented the brittle cohesion of the twenty-one regions. It was then that the International Police had been formed, its mission, to dismantle all those new Teams and, to investigate the network which had been empowering them." The Techie relaxed after realizing there won't be any suss.
Arthur looked at the Sci-Fi-ish page that had now morphed into an interstellar cloud with the network name proudly displayed with his 'helicoidal' Logo and couldn't help but to be sarcastic. "Those guys are doing well, huh?"
Lucas sighed. "Could you blame them? By the time the I.P (International Police) had been formed, Genesis had already become a necessary evil, even, the fourth Wonder."
Nothing came. The bored silence wasn't what he had expected. He coughed. "I said, fourth wonder."
The office was still as bored. He tried again, raising his arms dramatically like any showmen to add on the drama "The, fourth, wonder!" But Arthur nonplussed look only turned to amusement, striking a nerve. "You can't be serious Arthur. I'm talking about a damn wonder!"
"I know. So… what?"
"So what!?" he blurted, dumfounded and outraged. "A freaking wonder! I'm telling you that Genesis might bring a qualitative change to society as we know and all you have to say is so what!?"
"I… You are right. I should be more amazed." The teen acknowledged, then cleared his throat, an expression of utter marvel on his face. "Woooaaaaaw, that's craaazy!"
The mockery wasn't missed. The Techie slumped in his chair exasperated and defeated. "Do you even know what a wonder is?"
"Who doesn't?"
Everyone knew about them.
A wonder was a title not given to just any invention. But to technological marvels which had revolutionized civilization and changed an era. There were three; The Pokeball, the Pokedex and IMO
The Pokeball was created in medieval Kalos by inventor and philosopher Averroes. The king, in his great boredom, summoned the man known as the smartest in the kingdom and challenged him to make Pokemon training possible for a child, at a time when the practice had left countless battle-hardened men maimed and any fools— Peasants desirous of a knightly title—dead.
Averroes' solution was to subdue the Pokemon by depriving it of its freedom. With the funds given by the crown, he gathered the greatest minds in Kalos and developed the first thesis on Ether, resulting years later in the creation of the first ever Pokeball : The Bag of Holding.
Awed by the genius of the invention, the King and his advisors stole its formula, murdered Averroes and any peers who worked on it, mass produced those spatial bags and launched a gigantic campaign against the neighboring regions. Kalos became an empire.
Unfortunately for the new emperor, one of his concubines, a princess from the defeated Paldea, stole the secret of Averroes' invention and delivered it to the various resistance movements. A huge civil war broke out and the empire fell. What no one had foreseen was that the sword of liberation would point to the nobility. The invention of Averroes marked the fall of kingdoms and the rise of states.
The Pokedex was invented by the late Professor Samuel Oak, 70 years ago, during a time when Pokemon were not yet the driving force of the industry. Little was known about them and Pokephobia was still strong among the mass.
Samuel Oak wanted to share his passion for Pokemon with the public and made it his mission to inform them. He left his position as League Master, and traveled all over Kanto, studying and recording every Pokemon on his path. He collected information about their size, physiology, evolutionary line, moves, behavior, etc. and gathered fifty years of research into a database, the first Pokedex.
Despite its exhaustiveness, Samuel Oak's invention wasn't revolutionary. The Ex-league master had not been the first to take an interest in the study Pokemon and his encyclopedia was one among countless others made by equally passionate men and women of science. If the Pokedex had been able to place itself above its peers, it was with the help of another Pokemon Fanatic, Bill Masaki, who made the database available to scientists around the world, thus creating the first ever Global network.
A wonder was born. The open database had awed and inspired, sparking a great movement in the scientific community and motivating every researcher to share their own studies. A scientific group was formed, and standards were adopted to enforce a level of consistency and uniformity to methods and units used for the study of Pokemon. The group grew to become the Order of Pokemon Professor and Samuel Oak, one of its Founding members, was given the title of "Pokemon Professor", the first of the Organization. He was 98.
The Pokedex wasn't as mind toppling as the Bag of Holding of Averroes but, the changes it brought were as profound. With the help from the Order and their publications, the Pokepedia, open and universal had gradually demystified those fantastic creatures known as Pokemon and put them closer to humans.
Samuel's Oak had succeeded in his mission. Its invention marked the dawn of a modern society, one where humans and Pokemon work together for a better future.
The last and most recent wonder was IMO. Recognized as the first man made Pokemon, IMO was created 25 years ago by Professor Nicolas, the lead Pokemon Professor of Oplea. Its function was to reduce the mortality rate of young trainers during their adventures— mainly caused by attacks from wild Pokemon and even the trainer's own Pokemon following abuses.
IMO was a mineral group Pokemon with an artificial intelligence and the look of a black screened watch. The first versions of Professor Nicolas' invention were of a lower intelligence but sufficient to scan the environment of the trainer, determine a potential danger and protect him in this case. They had one move, Protect.
Each day, they were able to defend Trainers against three attacks from eight starred Pokemon, the number increasing with weaker attackers. They could be recharged by any source of electricity after running out of energy and the latest models can be charged by sunlight for those deep in the wild.
With drastically reduced risks and improved safety, the number of novices exploded. The artificial Lifeform had erased any residual fear of Pokemon, preserving Trainers in their journey and associating the activity with sportsmanship. The gym circuit grew to become the main driver of all nation's economies.
IMO placed trainers at the center of society, right next to Pokemon, and strengthened the ties between the two races. Professor Nicolas' invention marked an age of interdependence. Everyone had a Starter, more than just a Pokemon, an inseparable half.
Arthur ended his short presentation and gave his audience a cocky smile. "Never doubt the Smartest kid alive."
Lucas gave him a dirty look "Nothing to brag about. If you knew then what a wonder is, you should have had your mind blown off."
"Meh." The teen got up and stretched, tired by all the sitting. "Sure, Genesis seems impressive enough to be called as the fourth wonder but, the title should have been given to Professor Rowan's genome. A pity, his researches are not a Tech."
"It is hardly an injustice." Yawned Lucas. "A 'wonder' is an unofficial title given by the mass and he did receive the Oak Prize of science."
"Yeah. So, what make Genesis that mind blowing except for the free exchange of information?"
"The parallel economy." Answered the Techie. "Genesis offers benefits and services in addition to freedom of use. In addition to the untraceability of their users, they have their own digital currency with an impressive money laundering system, making possible to withdraw any money made on the platform without arousing the suspicion of the league."
"Had you ever used it? Their online payment."
"Still do." There was a slow reminiscent smile on his lips. "Back in the days, when I was still wandering around, it was the only way to make ends meet. You should already know but journeying without proper support is tough. Living expenses, training expenses, traveling costs and Liza's infinite stomach…" he sighed, "I could barely save for college. But after earning my fourth badge, I got a higher access to the platform and money kept coming in."
"Shady stuffs…?" Arthur asked, scrutinizing carefully the not-so-meek nerd— who created a spy program— and trying to glean bit of a possible dark past.
Lucas was unreadable. "Who Know?" but Arthur kept his gaze.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"… I see."
"You see nothing."
"As I though… Interesting."
"What is?"
"Don't worry, just another secret between us."
"Your two bits reverse psychology don't work on me."
"You seem agitated."
"Am I?"
"I don't judge. You should know that."
"Thanks?"
"You needed the money. I understand."
"Ok."
"Ok." Arthur's tone was sympathetic. "You had to do what you had to do.— How did you retrieve the money with the I.P snooping around? Users are anonymous on Genesis, but they should have at least detected some points of service."
"They are working with several companies that handle the transfer." Answered Lucas. "Whenever I wanted to make a withdrawal, I would get an assignment from an individual or a small business and a dozen seconds after accepting the task, the payment would be sent to my bank account with a confirmation on the task's completion. And According to some rumors, if the amount reaches a certain threshold, they will legally give you shares in some tierce company"
"They even provide an origin for the funds… And these companies, aren't they investigated?"
"The I.P tried. I still remember their crackdown on some Big Tech like 'Journey', 'Pay-day' and 'Kadabra'. They didn't find any incriminating evidences as Genesis laundering system was already reliable and met a hard wall of elite trainers when using more forceful approaches. At times, the police went up against influential structures like breeding Houses and research centers."
Arthur took in everything Lucas taught him about Genesis and finally, asked him who the owner might be, the question that mattered the most.
"That's a good question you ask. There are many theories on the subject and two are the most supported by the keyboard community. The first points to the Alliance. According to this theory, the alliance set up Genesis to facilitate trade and specially to reduce the tensions that were building up after the crisis."
Arthur hadn't expected it "Why would the alliance set up a platform that supports crime to this extent?"
"Objectively, Genesis does not support criminal groups, only users and their assets. And for your question… Maybe it's a way to control criminal activity? The theory is the less popular of the two. The second one puts forward a set of multinational corporations fed up with the leagues' restrictions and intent on controlling the global economy."
"This theory makes more sense… but," he shared his doubts. "What if Genesis belonged to a… Team?"
"A criminal group? Impossible. The resources deployed to set up Genesis are far beyond what one Team and other groups can provide. And with all the money generated by the network, why would they keep getting their hands dirty?"
"To overthrow the world order? Or pressure the alliance through the network like Team Magma with the volcano? From what you've told me, if Genesis disappears or shuts down its services, a new crisis could emerge."
"If that were the case," replied Lucas, taking off his glasses and cleaning them with a tissue. He always did so when thinking hard. "The alliance would be forced to make the Pokeweb into an independent cyberspace and the crisis would eventually pass. It would even be to their advantage. And as far as a possible coup is concerned, it won't happen. The Alliance has existed since before the Teams and has resources and means accumulated over centuries. Overthrowing it is not just about money."
Arthur offered several hypotheses about the intentions of such a group, but each of them was deemed improbable, even ridiculous. He was a little frustrated by Lucas narrow mindedness on the matter and with a little prodding, The Techie finally took a moment to think about it.
"Why are you so fixated on this?" He sighed. "If indeed Genesis belong to a criminal group… I can't guess their purpose, but their goal must be gargantuan if they need all that money..."
Lucas missed the brief grimace that appeared on Arthur's face. A sudden transmigration, A power fantasy and A Trillion worth enterprise planning to take over the world… It was paranoia, but the transmigrated teen could feel it in his guts; Genesis will be in the center of an era-changing event and he, summoned hero, would have to stop them.
He didn't like it. Not a bit. No one asked him if he wanted to be a hero. He had just graduated high school and was preparing for the trip to his new Uni when he woke up in a new bedroom, a new body and a new life. Arthur balled his fist, his vexation threatening to spill into a frustrated scream.
I didn't ask for any of this.
Lucas tilted his head. "You said something?"
"No."
He was a little surprised by the dry reply but didn't dwell on it. Instead, a lecherous smile spread on his face. "Well, well, well... Now that you have a good idea of what Genesis is, it's time to do a little bit of surfing…"
They spent the next hour going through different websites. They started lightly with social networks similar to those from Arthur's home world: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, etc. Those kinds of social networks were also found on the Pokeweb, but the ones in Genesis were accessible to everyone, no matter where they were, and were free of censorship.
For the first time since his transmigration, Arthur was able to see art: Shapes and figures, rounds and curves, posing in outfits too little to cover them, or modeling with nothing on safe pretty hands to hide the comeliest parts. He was grateful. Coming from a modern society corrupted by a porn culture, it had always gnawed at him to not have some R-18 on him. He had reverted into kid but the eighteen years old in him had been desperately craving for it.
"Thanks Lucas…" uttered the dopamine charged teen. "Can you… umm… s-send me those?"
Lucas smiled. "I got ya."
Arthur couldn't have asked for a better brother.
After visiting those social platforms, they went through some services on Genesis, Pokémon's sale and job's posting. The Pokemon offered on those sites were either regulated by the leagues or products of prohibited breeding programs. A popular one was Lopunny breeding. The program aimed to make females more feminine and attractive while making males more virile and stronger. Arthur was mind blown. Sweet Arceus, they are THICKS! He found Liza, Lucas' starter, to be well loaded but against them she was just a light weight.
The job's posting service were platforms where everyone could post or take missions. The tasks were varied and went from berry picking to protection of goods and people. They were most often illegal.
Arthur wanted to go further into the depths of Genesis, but Lucas was against the idea. To go further was to go into the dark web and even though the techie knew the teen was mature for his age, he still believed that it was too soon for what laid ahead. Arthur was trying to find any excuse to convince him to let him take a look when suddenly the office door was flung open. It was Liza, Lucas' Lopunny.
Liza was tall for her specie. 4feet85 against an average of 3feet11. She was wearing a maid's uniform tight on her figure and her blonde hair styled in a Dutch braid was adding to her blazing sex appeal. The bunny smiled at Arthur's gaping expression and turned around, wiggling her bouncy ass while closing the door behind her.
It was a Karate chop from Lucas that separated Arthur's enamored gaze from the Lopunny inviting tail. "The hell!" He cried, his hands massaging the ache on his head. "Why did you hit me!?"
"You were looking at Liza like a hungry Arcanine in front of a piece of meat."
"I wasn't… Just surprised by her clothes. That's all."
"If you say so." Lucas wasn't convinced. "Start by wiping this off first."
As he followed the direction of his finger, Arthur noticed the drool on the corner of his mouth. He was surprised. He couldn't believe he had let go of himself this far. He spied Liza, trying to make heads and tails of the situation and got himself enthralled by her chocolate breasts which were pushing against the strapless outfit and gaining volume with her arms crossed under them.
"Looo~Puuu~Nyyy~" The bunny swayed her knockers left and right, making the captivated teen dance on the same rhythm and proceeded by striking several poses, exposing her outfit in all its glory and her black lingerie with a ballerina choreography, a wide leg hold turns. Liza grinned as she noticed a shifting in Arthur's pant and was about to have him completely fall for her charms when she too, received a karate chop.
"Liza, stop using 'Attract' on Arthur." Reproached Lucas. "He had some eye candies and it made him a little… sensitive."
Arthur's blood ran cold as the spell broke. He hastily brought his hands down and looked utterly terrified at the Lopunny who was complaining on the domestic violence (The karate chop) to her trainer. As his heart rate slowed down to normal level, he regained his ability to think and understood what had hit him. It all makes sense! He thought dumfounded.
'Attract' was a move that could awake desires buried deep in a person and with the web
session he had it wasn't surprising that her mental attacks had been so potent on him despite his defenses. Arthur gulped as Liza sent him flirtatious gazes and shuddered when she slowly made her way toward him.
"Liza! stop it!" She burst out laughing at his distress and came closer. She reached the office desk where he was, and the two ended up in a game of tag around the furniture.
"Since when did she learn that move?" Arthur asked as he moved right when Liza moved left.
"Huh? A while ago." answered Lucas.
"And why is she wearing a maid's outfit!?" He moved left as she moved right.
"I would like to know that too…"
"Lopunny!" Liza climbed on the desk intent on ending this game, but Lucas acted, picking her up. Arthur relaxed with the threat taken care of and looked on the two who were having another moment. Liza was cooing in her trainer's chest, her legs crossed behind him while Lucas was smiling down at her, his hands supporting the Lopunny on her furry thighs.
Lucas felt the suspicious look casted on them and realized Arthur was still in the office. He noticed the dark sky outside the window and made his escape. "Look at the time, Arthur! It's already past seven! If you don't hurry up, Mother Marthe will worry."
The teen watched at the clock hanging on the wall and was surprised to see that it was past his curfew. He couldn't delay any longer. "Don't think I'll leave it at that!" He quickly put his things away and dashed out the office as Lucas and Liza said their goodbye.
"Good night to you too Arthur!"
"Nyyyy!"
Arthur ran through the quietness of the night, passing a few passersby heading home or to the local bar. In Otambourg, there was little activity at night. As he looked at the moon, up there in the darkened sky, he wondered for the nth time why he had ended up in this world.