Feb 12

What a different place Vermillion is compared to Saffron! The people here are much more welcoming to visitors, from the tourist agency I mentioned in my last article to the many specialized shops lining the waterfront. Just the other day I met a kindly old man fishing off the pier and after a pleasant conversation, he offered me his rod! Apparently, he runs a bait-and-tackle shop at the north end of town and he passed out older models to attract customers. He told me that I could get a newer version of the rod at his shop, but I politely declined. I don't plan on doing any serious fishing with it, so this rod suits me fine.

The Vermillion gym is an imposing, militaristic building crouching on the end of the pier like a krabby, within easy reach of the docks. As I pushed open the heavy metal doors, a barrage of shouting filled the air. I halted in the doorway and waited for my eyes to adjust to the gloom. A man with spiky yellow hair and army fatigues, who I took to be Lt. Surge, was bellowing at a Super Nerd who was crouching over a waste basket. In fact, the whole room was filled with trash cans. The Super Nerd was fiddling with something on the inside of the basket and failing to apologize over Surge's tirade.

Gym Leader Lt. Surge: Why can't you fix these so they don't break down every other day, soldier?! Move faster! An enemy could appear any time now, and every minute is a minute we're exposed!

Cool Trainer Allen: Excuse me, Lt. Surge?

GLLS: An opponent! Looks like you lucked out, catching me with my defenses down. Let's battle!

CTA: No, wait! I'm not a trainer! I'm a reporter doing interviews for the Fleet Dodrio. I thought I had sent you a letter…

GLLS: I'm not much one for paperwork. Are you sure you don't want to battle?

CTA: No, just an interview.

GLLS: Hrmph…all right then. Come on back to my command center. And you! Get this back up and running before I'm finished or I'm shipping you off to Victory Road! I won't have any possible enemies sneaking in through the barracks!

CTA: What are all these trash cans doing here anyway?

GLLS: All part of my security system. There's a button on the bottom of each of those cans and only those soldiers who know the code and input it in the correct order can access my command center. And if a spy puts in the wrong order, they'll get a paralyzing shock! That's if those damn Nerds can ever get the things to work properly.

CTA: But what about trainers who want to challenge you?

GLLS: Well if they're worth their salt, they'll figure it out. Or they can enlist in the army or navy, we give all military personnel the code. Now, what do you want to ask me?

CTA: Well, I'm doing up a history of Kanto and a major part of it is meeting with all eight of the gym leaders.

GLLS: You want to know about how I rose this high in the ranks? Sheer determination and willpower. Not to mention actual power! As soon as I was of age, I acquired my license and joined the victory army. I served six years in the frontlines, and was on the fast track towards general too, before a wild ryhorn broke my leg. I was sent here to recuperate, and during that time I challenged and earned the leadership of this gym.

CTA: You still a part of the army as well, aren't you? How do you find the time?

GLLS: The higher-ups know how valuable I am, so they appointed me captain of the Vermillion navy base. The first official order I gave was to shut down the Cinnabar and Fuchsia bases and transfer the entire fleet here. Easier to keep an eye on them without having to abandon HQ.

CTA: Isn't it ironic that the captain of the navy would use electric types?

GLLS: Of course not. It's sound, tactical strategy! Lightning is fast, powerful, and when it hits you, you stay down! Besides, with most of my Sailors preferring water or flying types, I can keep insubordination at a minimum.

CTA: I notice that your gym is made of metal, though, and the area you're on has a rubber floor…

GLLS: As I said, tactical strategy. Everything's fair in war!

CTA: Um…right. Let's see, do you remember Red?

GLLS: He was a fine lad, very eager and brimming with confidence when he came through my doors. Kind of reminded me of myself when I was his age. Took me out in no time flat, and let me tell you how impressive a feat that is! Don't know how he managed to get though my security, though. The shock trap was down that day, but the codes were still working. And only my soldiers and higher-ups like Professor Oak and his aides know the code…Still, I hear the boy has made quite a name for himself. General of the victory army! It's a good time for the military, with him leading the troops against the untamed wilds!

CTA: I know. I wanted to interview him in person, but I don't think I want to go out into the battlefields… is there anything else you can tell me about the army's latest advancements?

GLLS: Well, Indigo Plateau is still based northwest of Pewter. Mostly earth and rock pokemon up there and those are always hard to clear out of an area, but the army's named Victory for a reason! I'm told that we'll be getting ready to push west within a years' time. In fact, we are already preparing for the attack.

CTA: Really? What kinds of things are you doing?

GLLS: I'm not one for the little details…tell you what. Take this ticket here. I'll have one of my ships take you down to Fuchsia. I've got a man there, real wiz, who's working on several projects for me. I'll send him an order to inform you of all our little advances.

It was at this moment that the lights went out.

GLLS: WHAT! What has that damned Nerd done this time? I have to take care of this; if you can find your own way out, you are dismissed. Super Nerd Tory! Report immediately to my office, on the double!

As Lt. Surge stormed back into the main room to barrage his unfortunate lackey, I slipped out the main doors and made my way back to my rooms. One last thing to mention before I end this week, haunter returned later that day with some surprising photographs. It had travelled down Diglett's Cave to the point where it curves west and had continued on through the wall. Amazingly, the tunnel continues straight northward a little ways past the bend! The ceiling must have collapsed at that point before the cave had been completely explored, cutting off the second branch. Perhaps the tunnel goes all the way to Mt. Moon! I will be dropping a set of these photos with the tourist agency after I've made copies for myself.