The Elusive Latios
I completely freaked out. I jumped out of my seat with such a force that I knocked it clear of time. I flung myself into Maple's desk, and I shoved all his papers into every direction. I then proceeded to hop onto his furniture and scream, banging my chest like a Primeape. Maple's darling Nidoran was so terrified, she pounced right out of his lap and through the window I aforementioned.
Just kidding.
That's probably how I should have reacted. Instead I just sat there looking at the man. I looked at him for a long time. I looked at him so long, his poor pet Pokemon got bored and decided its attention was needed elsewhere. When it jumped out of Maple's lap, and I heard the click of its claws hit the floor, I snapped out of my trance.
"You want me to steal a Pokemon? Professor, I don't mean to challenge your intelligence, but I have this overwhelming feeling that something's gone awry in that head of yours." I was going again. My engines were revved up. Maple buried his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair. Slowly, he reclined into his chair again and caught my eyes.
"Allow me to explain, Tony. You'll understand soon enough." He spoke softly as he pushed out of his chair and walked over to the window he was at when I came in. I quickly pushed out of mine and went to stand by him. Looking through the window I saw a vast, cluster of trees. Through the trees in the far distance I could see a sparkling lake, but only vaguely. Still looking through the window with sad eyes, Maple spoke. "You remember me telling you about my older brother, correct?" I looked up at him and nodded swiftly. "Well, I was at a family gathering this past weekend, and I had a chance to speak with him again."
"I thought you hated your older brother." I interrupted. The last time Maple spoke to me about his older brother, Wallis, he spoke of him with such disdain that I thought the man had raped and killed somebody. The truth was, Wallis didn't mind rolling in dirt if it got him gold, diamonds, and various other riches, and that's what bothered Maple so much. Not to mention Wallis stole a lot of "girlfriends" from him in the past. It must have really left a mark on the poor guy, but anybody who'd leave Maple for somebody like Wallis is a slut in my opinion. Wait, did I just compliment Maple? Anyway, Maple understood my confusion and quickly explained the situation.
"My mother practically begged me to talk to him. In return, I practically begged her to let me be free and mind my own business." Maple chuckled. I smiled. His laugh was special in the sense that I could really feel it resonate in my heart, mind, and maybe even soul. His cheer was short-lived though as his smile faded when he resumed the tale of him and his brother. "Eventually I caved. I sat down next to my brother really hoping he had changed. Deep down I knew that would never occur." He looked more disturbed than sad. He took a moment before he continued. "We made small talk for a while; things were going pretty well. That was until he felt the need to boast about himself as usual. This time was different though. Much different. This time he had dug himself into a hole that would collapse on him one day." Maple clenched his teeth and his fists with them. Something wasn't right. Maple never got this angry. Not around me at least. I was curious to learn what could cause him such discomfort. Feeling the need to do something, I gently placed my hand on his arm. His tense body slowly relaxed. It was strange at first, but reassuring. I knew that the Maple I came to adore was still in there. Calmly, he continued with his story. "Wallis explained to me how he had found himself in the Pokemon auctioning business, and he drowned me in useless knowledge of its profitability. I was utterly disgusted. More sickened with him then than I had ever been before." I understood his fury in that moment. Pokemon were everything to Maple. He'd give his own life to save just one. I removed my hand from his shoulder and looked out his window once more. As the sun was rising, I saw a Caterpie sucking up the succulent dew drops that had accumulated on the lawn below. Maple shook his head slowly with his eyes closed. "Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, he hit the nail on the head."
I quickly looked at Maple. What did that mean?
"Wait- What does that mean? 'He hit the nail on the head', but what does that mean?" I had to know. What did Wallis say? Maple turned to look at me. His face was very stern. I feared for my life.
"He trapped a Latios. He trapped a hot-damn Latios." There it was. The hammer on the nail's head. Maple had fantasized about the legendary Pokemon Latios since he was five years old. Even to this day he had always wanted to find one and befriend it. Hearing about his older brother beating him to the catch once again must have crushed him. Especially considering the way Wallis caught the Pokemon. Maple looked down at his floor, glared, and snarled. "He bragged about the way he- about the way he caught the poor thing. He laughed when he spoke of the Pokemon's blood he spilt. He-" Maple choked on his sentence. His face was red now. I felt inclined to do something, so...
I hugged him.
I hugged Professor Maple.
He looked as if he really needed it. I had never seen someone so distressed in a long time. Maple must have been extremely surprised. That was the closest we had ever been since the day he found me. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around me. He looked at me, and I could see the tears welling in his hazel eyes begging to be free. I released him after a brief period and turned to look out the window once more. The Caterpie was nowhere to be seen. Maple cleared his throat loudly ready to begin again.
"I think it's obvious what I need you to do, Tony... Wallis said he was leaving out tonight at 11pm. I have all the coordinates you need to find him and the Latios. Stealth is a necessity on this mission, but you're very accustomed to the nightlife, so I'm sure it will be no problem for you." Maple definitely made it crystal clear what he wanted me to do. Some how, I still didn't understand.
"You want me to steal a Pokemon from an experienced Pokemon poacher? I may have roamed the streets back in the day, but that doesn't mean I was in the fighting business. Maple, I don't think I'm cut out for this job. Couldn't you get Mason to do it or something?" My engines roared inside me. There was no stopping me now. Mason is an experienced Pokemon researcher who works at the facility with me. He is smarter than me, stronger than me, and even has more Pokemon than me (I don't have any). Maple put both of his hands firmly on my shoulders as I faced him.
"You're the only one I want, Tony." I had a strange feeling that his statement was in reference to something completely unrelated to my mission. Carefully, I moved myself out of Maple's sticky grasp. Doesn't he have a girlfriend or something? No, I would have heard. I turned and looked out the window again. A Pokemon that looked like a Pidgeot was flying over the lake. The sun was shining much brighter.
"What happens if I'm not stealthy enough? What if I get caught? What am I to do; I'm not very strong." The mission was beginning to terrify me more and more with each passing moment. Maple was quick to calm my fears though as he walked over to his desk and opened a drawer. He dug around for a moment, and the loud noise of clutter rang in my ears.
"Ah." Maple cried as he pulled out a shining Ultra Ball from his drawer and walked over to me. I probably looked really baffled in that moment. That's because I was. Did he want me to catch a Pokemon? How strong would the Pokemon be that I'd need an Ultra Ball for the occasion? Did he want me to catch Latios? With one ball? Maple reached out to me with the Ultra Ball, and I slowly took it into my hands. I held it briefly, turning it to and fro, observing it carefully. "There is a Pokemon in this here Ultra Ball. I received it in a trade a long time ago, but it would never listen to me. I worked with this Pokemon for days, but it just didn't seem to like me. I've had it captive in this ball for years." Maple spoke to me very relaxed. I looked at the ball quizzically, then up at Maple.
"Sir, what kind of Pokemon is this? Are you positive I can handle it?" My engines were burning so hot I was getting a fever. Maple smiled in response.
"Tony, you've done your research on all the known Pokemon species, haven't you? I think you'll find out should the right opportunity arise." I hated it when he was being mysterious.
"DEE-DEE-DEE BEEP. DEE-DEE-DEE BEEP." Maple's hot-damn alarm went off suddenly, and it scared everybody in the room. Maple jumped up. I jumped and smashed into the window, and that poor Nidoran fired a poison sting in the direction of the damned clock only missing it by a hair. Maple rushed towards the cursed tech, but his Nidoran beat him to the punch. She fired off yet another poison sting. This time it hit the mark. The needle pierced straight through the box, and the incessant beep faded with an eerie pitch. My hand was on my face, and I slowly dragged it off when all was done. Maple slowly took a seat in his chair and exhaled deeply.
"...The others will be here soon. Tony, it'd be best if you pretend you are on your regular shift today. Don't give any of the others word on what's to go down tonight." As he spoke, I pushed myself off of the window and slowly placed the Ultra Ball in my right, coat pocket. I walked over to him calmly and stared down at him.
"When do I start, Professor?"