Okay. I know lately I haven't been updating as often as I should. But things should speed up now. And just for the record I still don't own Pokémon.
Chapter 9: Viridian City Gym Infiltration
Viridian City was a busy city a few miles north of Pallet Town. For the most part the citizens there were a friendly bunch. No one could have suspected that the headquarters for one of the most powerful criminal organizations, Team Rocket, was located in the last place anyone would have thought of looking. The Viridian City Gym. Making sure they stayed out of sight, Chad and Neo approached the large building.
Neo: Are you sure it's there?
Chad: Positive. There's a secret entrance somewhere around here.
Neo: Where?
Chad searched around some nearby bushes for a while.
Chad: It should be somewhere around…ah ha! Here it is!
Neo watched as he pulled some of the bushes apart, revealing a hidden door in the ground. He opened the door, revealing stairs leading downward.
Chad: It's down there.
Neo: Alright. From here on I go alone.
Chad: I wish I could help, but you've made up your mind.
Neo: I know you would, but I need you to help protect Sasha until I get back.
Chad: Well just know that Professor Oak contacted all the Pokémon Centers. Every Nurse Joy is willing to help you in any way they can.
Neo: Good. Tell him thanks for me.
Chad: I will. Good luck, Neo.
Chad headed towards the Pokémon Center, leaving Neo to his task of infiltrating Team Rocket's Viridian City Headquarters.
Neo: Alright. Time to go to work.
Neo descended into the darkness, unaware that he was being watched.
A few minutes after he entered, Neo found himself in a well-lit hallway. He had a feeling that none of this was part of the Gym's original design. This was something Team Rocket had a hand in.
Neo: I can't believe no one noticed this. But then again, Giovanni is the Gym Leader here and no one would want to question him.
Neo continued on down the hallway, searching for anything that would tell him where the antidote for Sasha was located. However, he was becoming more and more concerned with the lack of Rocket Grunts.
Neo: For one of their headquarters this place sure seems abandoned.
Then, as if to respond to his comment, Neo heard voices up ahead.
Neo: Shoot! Spoke too soon! I've got o to hide!
Neo quickly ducked behind a corner just at two Rocket Grunts walked by, talking about their recent mission.
Grunt 1: Man, that was almost too easy.
Grunt 2: I know. We snatched up those Pokémon without any resistance.
Grunt 1: Yeah. Too bad about Zack though.
Grunt 2: Hey, it was his fault that he got killed. More praise for us in the end.
Grunt 1: I wonder what the boss is going to use them for? I mean a Pidgeotto, a Linoone and a Beedrill are some pretty strong Pokémon already.
Grunt 2: Who knows. Whatever it is I bet it's going to be something wicked.
As the grunts moved on, Neo gritted his teeth in anger. The Pokémon they were talking about were obviously Skye, Bandit and Buzz.
Neo: Damn them! Damn them all! I swear that I'll take them down myself once this is over!
Neo realized that getting upset would only hinder his progress and quickly regained his composure. He made sure the grunts were gone before heading in the direction they came from. The hallway ended at a door that Neo hoped lead to where he hoped he would find what he was looking for. Opening the door he found that he located their computer room.
Neo: Not exactly what I was looking for, but it could help.
He jumped onto one of the consoles and looked at the screen.
Neo: I wish I knew what to do with this.
Being a wild Pokémon Neo had no idea how to use computers or any other man-made equipment. Because of that it looked as if he wouldn't be able to find out what he needed to know. But that wasn't going to stop him.
Neo: I have to try. For Sasha and the others.
Neo started pressing random buttons, hoping that he would eventually find what he was looking for.
Neo: No… nope… not that… that's something I didn't need to see… what the?… just what do these guys do here?… Ah ha!
After much persistence Neo found a list of all the Pokémon recently captured by Team Rocket. On it were Skye, Buzz and Bandit as well as where they were transferred.
Neo: Okay. It says here that they're in a place called Blackthorn City. I wonder where that is.
He thought about searching the way he had before, but didn't want to risk damaging the computer in his search. That's when Neo realized what he should do.
Neo: Why don't I get in contact with Professor Oak. He should know where Blackthorn City is.
Neo jumped off the computer and, after making sure the coast was clear, made his way back down the hallway. It didn't take him long to get back to the secret entrance Chad had shown him.
Neo: Good. Now to get to the…
He was stopped mid-sentence by a tingling sensation coursing through his body. Being an electric type Neo knew just what had happened. He had just become the victim of a Thunder Wave attack.
Neo: No… I… can't move…
Unknown Voice: Go Magneton! Use Tackle!
Neo looked up just in time to receive a Tackle attack. He flew back into the wall. He looked up at his attacker. A Rocket Grunt was standing between him and the door with a Magneton floating by his side. Then, the grunt took out a Poké ball.
Grunt: Time to catch you.
Neo: No…
The last thing Neo saw was the ball flying towards him.
Giovanni was in his office at the main Team Rocket Headquarters. He had been awaiting the results of a new process that was being tested in one of the many bases Team Rocket had all over the world when his secretary contacted him.
Secretary: Sir, you have a call from Viridian City.
Giovanni: Put it through.
Secretary: Yes sir.
A few seconds later the call was put through to his office.
Grunt: Sir, I have good news.
Giovanni: What is it?
Grunt: I captured a Pikachu trying to escape from the base.
Giovanni: A Pikachu? I wonder if it's him. Good work. Send him to the Blackthorn Base.
Grunt: Yes sir.
Giovanni: Also, have them send the Pidgeotto, Linoone and Beedrill that were recently captured here.
Grunt: But sir, last I heard the process wasn't completed yet.
Giovanni: We'll complete it here. Just have them send those three.
Grunt: Yes sir.
Giovanni hung up and turned his attention to his Persian. He smiled as he pet the Pokémon.
Giovanni: Nice try, Neo. But you'll have to try harder than that if you want to save your friends.
He laughed as he awaited the arrival of the three Pokémon he requested.
The unthinkable has happened. Neo has been captured by Team Rocket. Will he escape? And how will this affect his quest to rescue his friends? Find out in the next installment of Battle for Life and Love!
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