VPT Body-Swap Chapter 1

Augustus the Empoleon
VPT side story
Body Swap collab
Chapter 1: The man of iron (quite literally)


I typed away on my computer, hoping for a brake through. I had been investigating the mysterious organization Iron Ghost of what felt like centuries. They were elusive, slippery, and completely hidden in the dark. But I had to find them, those who perished in Atlanta deserved that much. And who knows, they might actually be a good ally. Besides, I needed to be able to tell the PRT whether or not to continue to engage the Iron Ghost.

"Shoot!" I yelled, my flipper hitting the desk at full force. So close but no brake through.

"Augustus, is that you," My wife, Laura, called from outside, "Your up early, it's not yet seven."

"Drat!" I muttered to myself, that meant that I had stayed up all night trying to find out about Iron Ghost. But that's what base leaders do, spend countless hours protecting their base in any way possible.

"Do you want some coffee?" She asked, her head entering the room. I knew that she was really checking to see if I was wearing the D-Span or not.

"Yes please." I said, retyping the hacking program. I looked up and made contact with her eyes. Despite the fact she was a Tropius, and therefore a grass type, it always felt like she could peer into my soul like powerful psychic types a rumored to be able to do.

"Okay, two cubes?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'll be right back." She said and left.

I grabbed the D-Span, a small helmet hooked up to the computer, and put it on my head. Immediately I felt my mind hooked up to the computer. The machine was able to translate my mental signals to the computer, allowing me to control it directly. It did have one unfortunate side effect, though. Somehow it was hurting my heart, and the doctor had strictly forbidden its use. But I had to use it, the safety of the base depended on it, on me!

I didn't notice the other virus trying to hack into our computers, nor did I notice the lightning outside. I the end what happened next was due to my own stupidity...

***

Where am I? I asked myself. I didn't feel right. I felt cold, like someone had stuck me inside a metal suit. When I breathed I made this peculiar noise. I couldn't feel my left arm or my legs, but I could control them. The left side of my face also felt cold. I opened my eyes, slowly. I was in a different room, hooked up to a different computer, in a different body. Only 27 years of training to control panic stopped me from panicking.

"Okay, just calm down." I muttered to myself, but was shocked at my own voice. It sounded mechanical and somewhat hollow.

'Daniel, are you okay, is something wrong? The base was struck by lightning and..' Someone asked telepathically.

"Of course." I muttered. Daniel was the leader of Iron Ghost! Almost immediately data banks hooked up to my...Daniel's body brought up info on Daniel and his organization. He had been very busy, Death Corps, Black Nova, hostile takeovers, and a host of other things. Not that I approved of his...tactics, he is very efficient.

I heard the door open and I turned around and came face to face with a very angry Espeon. Using the memory banks (those things are very convenient) I found out that she was Vee, Daniel's wife. This could be trouble.

"Err...hi Vee." I said, still not used how my, Daniel's, voice sounded.

"I do not care who you are or who you work for," She said in a low growl, walking towards me, "but if you do not tell me what you've done with Daniel or I will make it very painful for you!" She then fired a beam of energy at me.

"Wow, calm down!" I said, dodging the attack. "I am Augustus Terra of the Alabama Pokeuman Base, and I imagine Daniel is now in my body there."

"Ha, you expect me to believe you two have-"

"Somehow swap bodies most likely do to the fact that we were both mentally hooked up to the computers, digitally attacking each other; yes, yes I do." I said plainly.

Vee gave me a questionable look and said, "I don't believe you."

"What would you believe?" I asked, trying a different approach.

"I...I will ask some advisers, they will have some ideas." Vee said and left, but not before firing a pysbeam right above my head.

I sighed, it did not look like I would be getting out of this situation anytime soon. I decided to walk around and get used to this body, but everything felt wrong. My legs would frequently malfunction and and left arm kept firing randomly. Fortunately, it seemed to be out of bullets. I sighed, slumping into the chair, this didn't make any sense, how was it possible to transfer a soul over the Internet? Maybe I should have paid closer attention to Dr. Matters's when he showed me that bizarre theory.

Vee entered the room followed by several humans and Pokeumans. "Great, more discussion." I muttered under my breath.

"Is it true?" A human male asked. I pulled him up on the data banks (those things sure do come in handy). John was his name, leader of Tau. He was the brains of the group and appeared to be trusted heavily by Daniel.

"Matters on what she told you," I said, playing it safe, "It is true that your commander and myself have somehow switched bodies during a recent lightning storm while we were both hooked up to our respected computers."

"But that's impossible!" A Sneasel, Eric according to the memory banks, exclaimed.

"Ah, but it is all to possible." I said, more to myself then to them.

"So-so Daniel is trapped in a Pokeuman base?" A little Abra, Elanie, asked.

"No more than I am trapped here." I said, flipping the tables once again.

"I would like to study this further." Another human, Jason, one of their scientist, said.

"You'll get your chance to study this as soon as we get Daniel back!" Vee said in an absolute tone.

"Very direct of you, why not just ask?" I asked.

"Because then Daniel might be put in danger of those seeking revenge." Vee said, "The Alabama base did take in Atlanta refugees."

"Hmm...I guess you have a point." I said, thinking it was just an excuse not to negotiate.

"So, can you give us any info on your base?" A Typhlosion, Luke, asked.

"If you were in my position, would you give out strategic info?" I asked. The Typhlosion just looked at the ground for his answer.

"Anyway, Eric, Elanie, I want you two to keep an eye on Mr. Terra while I and Tau go and get Daniel." Vee said, revealing her plan.

'If only I could get in contact with my base,' I thought to myself, 'I could capture Iron Ghost in one quick masterful stroke!'

"Well, okay." Eric said, obviously disappointed he wouldn't be going on the mission.

"Remember, keep an eye on him!" Vee commanded as she and everyone but Omega squadron left.

I got the computer to bring up a holographic chess board, all set and ready to go, "So," I asked, "I don't suppose one of you play chess?"