Chapter 2: Preliminary Members
Growlithe, Vulpix, Flareon and friends had all awoken full of excitement to proceed with their declaration of joining the Red Rescue Team. Growlithe used the neck handkerchief that Sandshrew had given them the night before and began to draw the logo on the ground.
"That's a fancy logo, what do you suppose it means?" Flareon inquired.
"I guess we'll find out soon enough" Growlithe said as he finished drawing.
"How long is this suppose to take?" Vulpix asked annoyed. "I think you drew it wrong."
"No I didn't! It looks fine to me."
"Just look, your edges are not sharp enough, you really need to work on your pawmenship."
Just as Vulpix spoke a Diglett appeared from the ground where the logo was and they all screamed surprised at this sudden appearance!
"Hello there neighbors. I am Diglett number 004. How may I assist you?
"Neighbors? I'm sorry have we met before?" Misdreavus asked confused.
"Diglett refers to everyone as neighbors. We are neighbors of Sinnoh, neighbors of the world. Have you interest in joining the Red Rescue Team?"
"Does anyone else find this pokemon hilarious?" Vulpix said.
"Huh?"
"Never mind her. Yes we all are interested in joining."
"Well then, let Diglett ask you this, are you prepared to make choices for the benefit of Pokemon everywhere."
"Yes," they all replied.
"Are you prepared to join the frontlines in the struggle for peace?"
"Yes!" they all replied in unison.
"Are you prepared, to entrust yourself under the care of the organization, and respect the fact that your lives will be run on the basis of faith, kindness and rationality!?"
"Yeah!"
"Very Well. You may proceed with initiation. I, Diglett, hereby pronounce you official preliminary members of the Red Rescue Team."
"Preliminary member's? What's that mean?" the older of the Murkrow brothers asked.
"Preliminary members are members who have not yet received an official rank. Based on your performance on and off the field of duty, you will be ascribed one of two ranks, normal or bronze."
"What's the difference between those two?" Flareon asked.
"Bronze rank members are allowed to go on official missions. Official missions include rescue and diplomatic type missions. Normal rank members are not allowed to go on official missions, and are only allowed to complete small but essential tasks, including berry gathering, assisting recruitment and more."
"That doesn't sound very promising, we want to have the full Red Rescue Team experience and go on official missions!" Growlithe exclaimed.
"Yeah, that other stuff sounds boring." Vulpix said, and they all agreed.
"That is not for Diglett to decided, your rank will be given to you by your sector captain after your evaluation. The next step for you now is to choose which sector you will belong to. You may switch sectors at any time, you may even go to sectors in other regions. As it stands now, your are currently located in Sinnoh's Main Sector, also referred to as Sector Zero. So far, the Red Rescue Team has four sectors in each of the corresponding regions, Sinnoh, Hoenn, Kanto and Johto. Which will you choose?"
"Well what do the rest of you think?" Growlithe asked his friends. "Sounds to me like we should stay where we are now. After all we do know this land better than any other."
"Yeah just imagine how lost we get now, and double that. We wouldn't survive anywhere else with Mr. I know where we are's instincts." Vulpix teased.
"Yeah, this place has been our home our whole life. If we are going to start protecting others we might as well start here." Flareon added.
"True. But traveling all over the other regions seems like something we should consider in the future," the older of the Murkrow brother's suggested.
"Then it's settled, we'll join the Main Sector of the Sinnoh region. Did you get that Diglet?" the younger of the Murkrow brothers said.
"Understood. Please follow me to Sector Zero's Home Base."
They showed Diglett out, and all began following him as they set out for Home Base in Sector Zero. Leaving their old life behind, they had high hopes of proving themselves in this new organization.
MEANWHILE
"Well I must say it's about time the Red Rescue Team has found me!" Mawile said excited. "Of course we will join no need to beg Diglett number 567 or whatever number it was, what did you say your number was again?"
"Number 008."
"I shall not forget! This is my chance to show what I'm worth and join the fight against those nasty Zangoose. I will be the best Rescue Team Member there ever was, sign us up!"
"Mawile don't you think you could at least ask us what we think?" Lairon said.
"Oh of course you can join me Lairon, Skarmory too! Together we will be an unstoppable force, the best team in history!"
"Let's face it Lairon, she can't hear us at this point," Skarmory said.
"Well then, um, are you prepared to-"
"Spare me the formalities we haven't the time! Just take me to headquarters or whatever it's called our rise to greatness awaits!"
"Um ok, well the next step for you now is to choose which sector you will belong to. You may switch sectors at any time, you may even go to sectors in other regions. As it stands now, your are currently located in Sinnoh's Main sector, also referred to as Sector Zero. So far, the Red Rescue Team has four sectors in each of the corresponding regions, Sinnoh, Hoenn, Kanto and Johto. Which will you choose?"
"We will take Sector One of this region by storm! The other members will never see it coming, all will know our name hurry Diglett take us there!" She said as her eyes went from blue to red and back again.
"Very well. Follow me."
Lairon and Skarmory both sighed, as they followed Mawile.
It seems three new teams will be joining the Red Rescue Team today, and with each new team a new chance for Pokemon everywhere to be saved.
MEANWHILE
"Here we are. Location: Main Sector entrance." Diglett number 004 said as he halted in front of a large stone that had the mark of the Red Rescue Team.
"Diglett number 004 along with six preliminary members."
"You may enter." a mysterious voice said as they were all teleported! They found themselves at the bottom of a large mountainous valley that stretched on for miles. The walls were high with large thick trees surrounding them making it almost impossible to enter.
"Whoa how did we get here!" Flareon asked.
"Standard teleportation. The Red Rescue Team has it's various psychic allies to teleport our members in and out of the valley. The trees make it near impossible to enter by most means, naturally protecting our members."
"Wow that's amazing! I wish we had a chance to greet them." Misdreavus said.
"They are an example of some of our normal rank members. Diglett including, although Diglett likes to refer to us as specialized members. Our jobs are just as important as anyone else's, without us the Red Rescue Team would not flow as smoothly."
"So cool!" the younger of the Murkrow brothers said.
"Let us proceed. Right now we are going to meet the captain. Right this way."
They followed Diglett through the Main Sector. The place was huge, and there was as not nearly as much Pokemon inside to fill the space. They arrived at an elevated area, with natural steps made from the ground. They climbed up and standing at the center was a prominent Charmander wearing a helmet with the mark of the Red Rescue Team.
"Diglett introduces to you, Captain Charmander."
"Welcome to the Main Sector. I trust that Diglett has briefed you on some of our customs here. Don't worry I assure you after today it only gets easier. First order of business, as you know each team consist of at most three members. If I could see which teams you will be choosing that would be helpful."
"I'm Growlithe and my team members are going to be Flareon and Vulpix. The Murkrow brothers and Misdreavus are all one team as well."
"I see you all know each other, that makes this easier. As you know, I am responsible on deciding your rank. First I will be sending you on the most basic official missions. Based on your performance I will assess whether or not you are capable of continuing official missions. Keep in mind, at the end each mission, I will ask you for a full report on what happened. As it stands now you will be reporting to me after every mission." As Charmander finished his sentence some Starly flew by dropping six red neck handkerchiefs.
"These are a sign of your association to the Red Rescue Team. You can use them as communicators and for navigation. I took the liberty of assigning your first missions already encoded in them. Their descriptions and coordinates are available for you."
"We have to go save a Wurmple from a tree it seems. Wait how do I know that!?" Flareon said confused.
"I won't get into that technical stuff, but they allow for clairvoyance, and also automatically informs you of your mission. Using my helmet I can assign missions and coordinates instantly."
"That's amazing!" the older of the Murkrow brothers exclaimed.
"Indeed it is. Using this system I can also pick up potential missions as well, which are posted on the electronic bulletin boards all around. Some missions rank higher than others, so if your rank isn't sufficient it won't allow you to know the coordinates or description. Your handkerchiefs also work as a radio, you can reach me at frequency 000. As you move up in the ranks, you will be assigned your own frequency.
"This place is pretty high tech," Vulpix said sounding unimpressed.
"Diglett will show you how to exit by teleporting closest to where you need to go. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask him, you may leave when you are ready."
They all walked away and began walking towards the nearest bulletin board as Diglett led them.
"So what did you think of Captain Charmander?"
"He seems a little, you know, strict." Misdreavus announced as they all agreed.
"He's just trying to show you that he means business, he can be pretty easygoing once you get to know him. Now, teleporting is easy. Using your navigator you should have an idea of which direction you should be going. By standing next to any bulletin board and declaring either north, south, east or west, the Psychic types listening in will teleport you accordingly."
"Wow they really are helpful." Growlithe said.
"Yep. A helpful piece of advice: be sure to announce yourselves as Red Rescue Team members, many pokemon seem to respond to it. We have preliminaries announce themselves as such, to avoid any misunderstandings as to the amount to which you can help them. Well this is where we part ways. Diglett will be seeing you around, can't wait to hear about all of you and how you've become big shot rescue teams."
"No promises," Vulpix said playfully.
"Of course we will!" Growlithe said.
"Farewell." Diglett said as he burrowed underground.
"Well our mission is to the south," Flareon said.
"Ours is to the north," Murkrow said.
"Coordinates confirmed, commencing teleportation," a mysterious voice said.
"No wait!-" and they were teleported their separate way before Flareon could finish.
Now in their new location after being teleported, Flareon said, "Those lousy Psychic Pokemon prematurely teleporting us before we could even say goodbye!"
"I have to say that was quite enjoyable. I give those Psychic Pokemon my respect they work fast!" Vulpix said in spite of Flareon's frustration.
"I'm not worried. It doesn't matter anyway. This definitely isn't goodbye. We will see them again, we are all on the same team after all."
"No we aren't, teams can only have three members."
"Yeah, but we still operate under the same organization, the Red Rescue Team! Now what do you say we finish this mission and get back before they do!"
"I'm game, not like I got anything else to do. Might as well make this a competition," Vulpix said tiredly.
"You're right Growlithe, let's begin!" Flareon said, and they all began walking towards their mission, with hopes of achieving bronze rank to continue official missions, and to help Pokemon everywhere.
MEANWHILE
"So let me get this straight, this thing just automatically provides us with coordinates and allows for communication? That is so cool!" Mawile exclaimed.
"Yes it is quite essential to-"
"Never mind that how do we get out of here?" Mawile said as she cut off Captain Geodude, who was very upset at the interruption.
"Hey you can't just cut me off! I am you Captain you must respect-"
"Hey Diglett could you help us out of here?"
"Um yeah I suppose, but you know you really shouldn't-"
"Well what are you waiting for? I'm fired up lets get to it!" she said as she walked away unknowing of where she should go. Lairon and Skarmory just sighed. They apologized to Captain Geodude and followed.
Diglett showed them to the bulletin board and instructed them on how they should exit.
"Alright this is awesome! We'll be number one in no time!"