centerGirl PowerpPart 1/center

pppLet the tale begin....

pSidney ran over the diagnostics with the mainframe computer one morime just to make sure. In front of him was a series of screens depictinarious maps and bird eye views of the surrounding area of Veridian City.
They detailed the various methods one could leave the city includineleport pads. It had taken months to bring this stratagem together and The
Boss himself could not have come up with a better plan for stealinokemon.

pIt was almost a shame that he would never get to hear of it.

pSidney looked around for a moment and suddenly spotted something at thar end of the room.

p"Ecans! pass me that clipboard would you?"

pThe Purple snake Pokemon slithered across the metal floor over to thank of computers lying against the far wall. It wrapped the clipboard its coils and slithered back across the huge space which the flooccupied. It passed the clipboard to Sidney, who in turn tossed an applor the Pokemon. It swallowed it in a single gulp an gave a grateful hiss.

pSidney smiled, and then wiped his sticky fingers on the side of his laoat. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Levi standing behinim. She looked a vision in her white and grey Sci-Core uniform. Her lonlue hair trailed out behind her and she smiled with those crystal bluyes of hers.

p"How's it going," she asked.

p"Well, with my lab assistant here giving me a hand, I think we coulinish well ahead of schedule."

p"That's wonderful," said the water trainer, "have you told our employeet?"

p"I was just about to do that very same thing," said Sidney cheerfully.
Levi had that kind of effect on him.

pAt that moment the screen behind him darkened. He and Levi jumped tttention. The figure on the screen cocked his head slightly.

p"Not disturbing anything am I?" he asked dryly.

p"Oh no sir, nothing at all sir, everything's running just fine sir."

p"In fact were ahead of schedule sir," chipped in Levi.

p"Wonderfull. May I be the first to congratulate you on another job welone," said the figure dourly. Although the screen was almost pitch blachere were highlights picking out the seated figure. The only thing Sidneould determine from the image were the glasses his master wore, and thae wore a Nehru suit with a matching shirt. It was impossible to senything through the filter but Sidney would bet heavily that the colours
Black and Red would be involved somewhere.

pHis vision was mainly obscured by the gigantic black leather chair whiclmost seemed almost to swallow the figure. The screen was also crowded bhe other occupants of the room, who seemed to be hovering round him like roup of young children, eager to please their master.

pAn Umbreon and Espeon were positioned one on either side of him, Sidneelt that even though their eyes were half closed, they gave the impressiof alertness, as if they were poised, ready to attack at the first sighn orouble.

pHovering directly above the figures head was a large Gastly, and perchen his shoulder a Murkrow, both of whom were eyeing Sidney in a ratheisconcerting way, somewhat like a crocodile eyes its dinner.

p"Thank you very much sir," said Sidney sweating under the joint gaze.
"Do you want me to initiate Operation Viral Strain?"

p"Are Team Arial Strike in position," asked the young man languidly.

p"Ready and Waiting sir," said Sidney.

pA Black and Grey uniformed figure leaned over and wispered somethinnto the Figures ear.

p"What? Oh yes. One more thing. I will be sending you five of my best
Pokemon, just to make sure that everything runs smoothly."

p"Good idea sir," said Levi loyally.

p"Imagine my relife at having your support," he said slowly. "Proceed. Ond Sidney?"

p"Yes sir?"

p"I will be watching you."

p"Yes sir, and may I say thank you once again," he trailed off.

p"Well you heard the guy," said Levi, "Lets get on with it".

pSidney pressed the button, and a long way away, a little red light begao wink.

ppThe figure smiled quietly to himself. He leaned over and scratchehe Espeons head distractedly. His assistant hesitated for a moment anhen spoke.

p"Do think that was wise sir?" he asked in a liting irish brouge. Helped in terror as the chair swiveled to face him of its own accord.

p"Wise my dear fellow? Can it be that you find some flaw in measoning," said the figure grinning, his voice taking on a child likluting quality which was really creeping Damien out. "Perhaps you feehat you would do a better job if our positions were reversed hmm?"

p"I would never challenge you sir," he stuttered.

p"Very wise too," said the figure. "You must learn Damien that I alwaynow what I am doing. You must trust in me." He said this with somuthority, like a parent scolding an errent child.

p"What about Team Arial Strike sir. They are known for stealing off otheeams."

p"Do you actually think they would be stupid enough to steal from me,"
said the figure slowly, all trace of humor gone.

p"Good point," thought Damien.

p"Even so," the figure mused, "I cant allow them to take any libertieith my property." He thought for a moment. "Send Rose," he decided.

p"Sir, isnt that a little overkill?"

p"No, I think thats just enough kill," he said. Then he began to laugh,
and Damien wished he had never joined up with this guy. The figure smileo himself. Things were beginning to finally go according to plan.

p