I am only perceivable to shrimp

Robert's first pokemon, he gets when he's around 10. The brave brigade are called in to deal with a pokemon that's causing increasing property damage and attacking locals. It's difficult to track because of its size, and anytime anyone gets a hold of it, it bites and claws until it's let go. Robbie leads the charge but its gets away, much to Robbies dismay, because its only a fucking buneary. Unfortunately, what the brave brigade didn't take into account, is that those fuckers hold grudges like it's a competition.

Cue a few weeks down the line, the buneary is actively stalking Robbie. This is how Robert finds it, in his dad's workshop, hiding under some metal after smashing up anything it could get its paws on. Robert is horrified because, holy hell, his dad is going to kill him.

He tries to get it out of the workshop, but it just gets him beat up. He's terrified of his dad's reaction and, in some parts, is upset at this pokemon for causing so much stress. But other parts of Robert connect with this tiny, angry rabbit. He's small for his age (because he's always waiting for someone else at the table before he eats properly). He's quick to violence (because he doesn't know what else to do with his anger, and hitting people makes them shut up). And he's disillusioned with the way the world is (because what else is waiting for him but a ready-made metal coffin?).

So he keeps going back to it, sitting, offering food, and talking to it. Eventually, the buneary begins reciprocating. Getting closer, offering berries when it realises Robert hasn't eaten, and on one special occasion, protecting Robert from his dad's 'training'. While Robbie doesn't believe in having pokemon, he does have a stock of balls in case of emergency. Robert steals one and asks the buneary if it will be his partner, stating Robert can better protect it like that and that it'll get to fight more if it wants. The buneary agrees, and from then on, they're a pair.

According to his pokedex (a requirement for all citizens), the buneary is male, which is a bit of a surprise because everyone always goes on about how girly the pokemon is. Robert doesn't care and names the thing Scrap, not only because he found him under scrap metal, but also because that's what he enjoys doing.

Scrap loves Robert, and only Robert. He attacks anyone else who attempts to go near him. Sometime during Robert's stint as Mechaman, he ends up evolving and gaining a mega evolution due to their bond. They're an absolute powerhouse pair outside the suit, to the point that some people joke the suit is for the villains' protection. Even after his evolution, Scrap's attitude never improves, and he remains short-tempered.

Robert's second pokemon is a penance. He's 15.

The astral pulse wasn't the only thing that Robbie and Elliot were working on before his dad's inevitable demise. Locked in the deepest part of Robbie's workshop, the two were working on synthetic pokemon that were more machine than living. Only existing to follow orders and complete missions, regardless of the danger posed to itself. Unfortunately for Elliot and Robbie, playing God resulted in a pokemon so out of control that they had to create new technology to restrain the thing. Robbie locks the thing away until he can decide what to do with it.

Robert is taken down there one day to show him exactly what he will be inherting, Robbie wants Robert to help him find a way to control the beast that he'd named Type:Null.

All Robert can feel is shame. How could his dad and Elliot do this? How could his dad ask him to help? Robbie imposes the importance of finding a way to control Type:Null whilst keeping its anger, but directing it away from the handler. He tells Robert he isn't allowed to visit it alone. Robert, of course, disregards his dad's warnings and sneaks down regularly with Scrap to talk with the man-made pokemon.

He names it Mercury because of its predominantly grey colour scheme. The buneary connects with the Type:Null's anger, and Robert connects with the fact that this pokemon has shaped and molded into something it shouldn't have been by Robbie and Elliot (and oh god isn't that a fact in the aftermath of the mech explosion).

Months after meeting Mercury, Robert decides he's going to let it go, he hacks the machine that keeps it under control (because not only is it inhumane, but Robert trusts it and so does Scrap - so bye bye mask). The thing comes off easily - which Robert isn't surprised about. He knows he's good at hacking. What does surprise him is the fact that Mercury completely changes shape and doesn't immediately leave. The pokemon (Silvally? He thinks he hears it calling?) quite insistently shoves its head into Robert's chest until he gets the message that it wants to come with him. Robert takes it partially because he wants to, and partially because he feels so guilty about what his father and Elliot did and his contribution to its situation.

Robert doesn't know what his dad will do to Mercury should he find out that its been 'tamed', so they stage a breakout. The entire area is torched, claws marks cover every available surface, and the door is heavily dented. In the end, it doesn't matter. His dad doesn't go near that part of the workshop. Then, 2 weeks later, he's dead, and Elliot has fled without considering what happened to his experiment.

Mercury is his most friendly pokemon. It is immensely glad when Robert can no longer be Mechaman. Part of Robert wonders if its happy that they're both growing out of the molds they were forced into.

Robert's third pokemon isn't technically a team member. Sometime in his 20s (before the explosion) Robert comes across a stray lillipup in an alley. It's stick thin, covered in fleas and ticks and scabs, but it still tries to rush to greet him when he moves towards it. Robert can see why it was dumped immediately when it comes out of the shadows. It's black and white. The colour is indicative of a crossbreed, and the fact it isn't shooting elemental energy everywhere in its excitement tells Robert it didn't inherit any types from the donor (adding additional elements to mono-type normal pokemon is why species are typically crossbred).

He picks the underweight pup up and takes it to the nearest pokemon centre (whilst he thanks god that they're free). The lillipup is quickly treated and devours the food Robert gives him before begging for more - earning him the name Beef.

Scrap hates Beef at first. He's too loud, too excitable, and too messy. Mercury doesn't care and lets the pup climb over it quite happily. Beef is so small that Mercury can barely feel him. Scrap only begins to tolerate him when he sees how Beef helps Robert through one of his depressive episodes. Tolerance becomes begrudging acceptance when he manged to stop Robert self-harming, something neither Scrap nor Mercury could do.

Due to Beef's demeanour and general lack of survival instincts, he isn't listed on Robert's official team, and is instead classed as an emotional support pokemon.

At some point, Beef begins to require more food to keep him full, and he begins to get chunky. Now, when a pokemon begins eating more and gaining weight, it typically indicates that the pokemon is due to evolve naturally sometime soon. This never happens. Beef just keeps putting on weight and doesn't show any signs of using this to evolve. His power levels increase to that of a second stage pokemon, but he remains unchanged. Robert and the Nurse Joys are baffled. The extra weight doesn't seem to bother Beef, so Robert just lets him grow at his own pace.

Robert's final pokemon he finds in the aftermath of his coma.

He rushes back to the crash site, desperate to salvage what was left of his family's legacy. He gets (most) of the mech, but the astral pulse remains elusive. Even with Scrap, Mercury, and Beef sniffing around, the cosmic power cell does not appear - nor is there any chatter amongst Robert's - ahem - clandestine acquaintances.

Running on no sleep and barely any food, it's just spite and desperation that keeps Robert searching. On day 3 of no sleep, there's a flash of neon blue in the grass. Robert was adamant that they had already searched that area, but obviously not, and so he reaches out to grab it - Robert's hand does not meet the smooth, cool exterior of the pulse. In fact, what it hits - while cold - is soft and furry. He pulls his hand back and comes face-to-face with a shiny hisuian zorua.

Robert blinks. There is a very dead, very malicious pokemon hanging around the crash site of Mechaman (he absolutely does not think about what this means, absolutely not. It's a coincidence, it means nothing, Robert is completely and utterly 100% fine). Surprisingly, the zorua isn't aggressive. In fact, she (he's pretty sure its a she anyway) seems to settle when she looks at him (absolutely not thinking about that).

Beef greets her with his usual, over-ecstatic exuberance, which she meets with a subdued politeness. Mercury goes next and is met the same way (don't think about it, don't think about it). Unfortunately, Robert can no longer ignore the fact she might be connected to him when Scrap - who hates social interaction - willingly goes up and guides her to him.

Fuck.

He is, much to his chargrin, an absolute sucker for any cute pokemon, so the fluff ball ends up joining the team. Robert names her Pulse, in retaliation for thinking she was the energy core.

Pulse melds with the rest of the team quickly and easily, never really showing any signs of violence that are typical of hisuian zorua. That is until people start re-blurring the line between Robert Robertson the Third and Mechaman. Pulse's attitude toward Mandy is piss poor. She's avoidant, snappy, and malicious. Causing problems for the woman on purpose, and generally being a disturbance.

Pulse evolves in the final battle with Shroud. The revival of the mech, coupled with Robert and his teams malice toward Elliot, is enough to push her over the edge into evolution. Her, alongside Mercury and a mega evolved Scrap, make short work of Shroud's team.

After the Mechaman reveal, this prior mood makes her look like a Saint. The constant blurring the z-team makes (not even on purpose sometimes) sends her nuclear, to the point Robert has to actively keep her away from them. Scrap and Mercury are of no help during this, and in some cases, aid her, because they too don't like how the team sometimes sort of forgets Robert and Mechaman are not interchangeable. (Whilst from a technical standpoint, Robert is Mechaman. The inverse isn't true, Mechaman isn't Robert. Mechaman is the polished, put-together hero that saves the day and helps the people. Robert is the well hidden, sharp edges and barbed tongue. He's sarcastic, sassy, and so close to snapping. His team prefer Robert.)