000
The Team Rocket executives were very tense. They silently sat around the long, circular table, each one awkward and nervous.
Proton was scowling around the table, his hands clenched in fists.
Ariana fingered her red hair nervously, biting her lip. She was drumming her fingers along the table.
Petrel grinned, as though he was enjoying the tension between them.
Archer looked lost in thought, as though he was mulling something over. He kept looking like he wanted to say something, but quickly changed his mind.
Only Blaine seemed at ease. He was writing down notes as he stared at the specimen in front of him.
The specimen in front of him, in the cage at the center of the table, was Mew.
Mew had a very petite body. The creature represented a pink cat, which had very wide innocent blue eyes and a long tail, which swished and flew in different directions as though it had a mind of its own.
The poor Pokemon looked to be in pain, but no one in the room cared.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by the door slamming open. Malcolm stormed into the room, all of the rocket executive's eyes following him as he sat down.
"What?" the man snapped.
Malcolm did not look too good. His teeth were yellow and his eyes were sunken. He looked as though his smooth black hair had turned gray. His stubble had grown into an unruly beard, and he didn't smell very good.
"Nothing sir." Archer coughed, desperately trying not to induce the second in command's wrath.
Suddenly, Proton stood up, growling. Marching over to Malcolm, he shook his fist.
"What's up this time? Did you fail to beat a kid again!?"
Malcolm sneered. "When did you get balls, executive? Why'd ya stop trembling like a jumpy Joltic and start acting like an Ursaring? I thought you were afraid of me."
Proton said through gritted teeth. "That was before you failed! You threaten me, but when you fail TWICE and get no repercussions I get pissed."
There was gasping around the room, except for Petrel, who simply grinned wider. Malcolm's eyes darkened.
"You'll refer to me as sir. And you'll apologize for your disrespect."
Proton stood up. "Make me."
Malcolm reached into his pocket, grabbing a single pokeball. Proton grabbed two, holding them out too show to the other.
"I have you outnumbered."
"You think my prized Pokemon cannot beat two mediocre ones? Perhaps you shouldn't be executive after all."
"That is enough."
A man had just entered the room.
Unlike the others in the room, this man was dressed in normal attire. He wore a black suit with a red tie that was very neat. He was clean shaven, which showed a thin line of a mouth that was neither a smile nor a frown, and a hooked nose. His face was smooth, and he had clever eyes that pierced through those it was set upon. His hair was neatly combed, which covered a small bald spot on the back of his head.
This was Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket.
All of the executives were silent as Giovanni strode into the room with an air of importance and superiority. He sat in his chair and turned to the arguing men. He spoke softly, but with a commanding voice.
"Take your seats."
Malcolm immediately bowed his head and sat down. Proton hesitated, but soon followed his superior's example with a low growl.
Giovanni closed and opened his eyes. "Report."
Malcolm stood up straight and began to speak. "Red has just won his third gym match. But Surge did not comply to our warnings. He sent the boy away to warn Misty. Sir, I have a squad in Vermilion ready to apprehend him if-"
Giovanni held up a finger. Malcolm trailed off, sputtering. He turned to Blaine, who immediately began to shuffle his notes. "And what of our project?"
Blaine adjusted his glasses. "Thanks to the capture of Mew", he gestured to the creature in the cage. "Our experiment is going swimmingly. If our projects continue as well as before, it will be twice as strong as…well you know. Our failed experiment."
Giovanni brought his hands together. "Excellent. Now, is there anyone else who has new to report?"
Silence around the table.
Giovanni nodded slowly, before clearing his throat. "Our problem with Red, it needs to be appeased. I am beginning to believe that my men are unable to stop him. Perhaps I need…someone else."
Malcolm's face paled, and Proton grinned nastily to him. "We can stop him, sir. We just need-"
The boss of team Rocket cut him off once more. "Twice. Twice you have failed. Do not speak out of turn, Malcolm, you are in hot water. The only reason you are still with us is because of your actions in the past. It is about time you gave up with the Ketchums. I have already have someone else to take care of him.
"But-"
"No buts. Erika will apprehend him easily."
"Are you sure we can trust Erika?" Archer interjected carefully. "She works for herself, not for Team Rocket.
"Very sure. I am paying handsomely for her victory. And she knows the consequences of failure."
Malcolm blurted out. "But sir, I already have a plan. Lead Red into our hideout, and then we can-"
The boss of team rocket's voice cut through Malcolm's like butter. "You TOLD him of our hideout!?"
He looked terrified. "Well, yes. But he already knew because Bill-"
Giovanni began to chuckle. "I suppose this is for the best. I was done with the base anyway. Blaine, can you move our experiments away?"
Ariana's eyes bulged and she spoke in disbelief. "You-You're just letting him take it?"
Giovanni nodded. "Oh yes. We give him the base, and I will face him myself. Afterwards, Erika will assassinate him while he is off guard and tired."
Blaine stroked his moustache. "You want to face him yourself? Isn't that a bit…dangerous for your sake. What if you are captured?"
"Do not worry, he will not face me directly. Petrel! Come with me, there is some matters we must discuss. The rest of you are dismissed."
Petrel, looking surprised, got up and walked after his leader. The others left in different directions.
Only Malcolm remained.
Cursing under his breath, he banged his head on the table.
000
"Geez, I'm tired Ash. We might have to camp overnight."
"Pikachu!"
Red had left Vermilion city two hours ago. It was getting darker, almost sunset. Ash was sitting on Red's shoulder, his ears twitching.
"Squirtle!"
A tiny blue turtle jumped out of nowhere and yanked Red's hat off of his hat. Red cried out in surprise, but Ash leapt forward and performed a quick attack on the turtle, knocking it down, dropping the hat.
As Red stuffed the hat on his head, a mob of angry civilians burst out from the trees.
"Punish the Squirtle!"
"Give us back our stuff!"
Red glanced in confusion. They seemed to be angry at the Squirtle, who had leapt to its feet, grinning.
The Squirtle grinned at Red, flashing his teeth. His eyes were covered by sunglasses, which also flashed in the sunlight.
The civilians looked as though they were going to stampede, and Red didn't want to cause a mass breakout.
"Don't worry. We'll capture the Squirtle and get your stuff back."
A man spoke, skepticism clear in his tone. "Don't you think we've tried that? That troublemaker is a tough fighter.
Red, ignoring them turned to his Pikachu. "Ready buddy?"
"Pika!"
Ash leapt off of Red's shoulder, cheeks sparking. The two Pokemon stared at each other. Squirtle grinning, Ash determined.
"So, are you guys gonna fi-?"
"Ash, thunderbolt!"
Ash's powerful bolt surged forward, but the Squirtle merely grinned wider. Tucking its hands and feet into its shell, the blue Pokemon spun its shelled body forward, easily dodging the bolt.
"Keep using thunderbolt!"
But the Squirtle dodged them all, spinning from side to side. Finally, using its tail as a springboard, the Squirtle launched itself in the air, uncurling its body. Its arms aimed and scratched the Pikachu, who tumbled in the air.
But Red stayed calm. "Land on your tail and spring backwards, and use another thunderbolt.
Ash, landing on his tail, leapt backwards, gaining distance from his opponents. Shouting, the pikachu fired another bolt that the Squirtle immediately dodged, once again spinning into the shell. Jumping out for another strike, he aimed his claws for another scratch attack.
"Flash!"
Ash's body glowed, and he sent a blast normally blinded his opponents. But the Squirtle was wearing sunglasses! The tiny turtle, immune to the blast, slammed his tail into the Pikachu. Ash fell on his back, panting. The Squirtle beckoned him to rise and fight. But Ash was merely feigning fatigue!
Red tipped his hat. "Use slam on the Squirtle's head!"
Ash leapt to his feet, slamming his tail hard on the Squirtle's head. The turtle groaned and stumbled backwards, no longer smiling. Gritting his teeth, he blasted a jet of water from his mouth, that the Pikachu had to roll away to avoid.
Red was getting more and more excited. This Squirtle was tough! He wanted to catch it, but he didn't see a way to defeat it. Unless….
Idea fully formed in his brain, he shouted "Use thunderbolt!"
Once again, The Squirtle spun and his shell and shot forwards. He came closer and closer to the Pikachu, until…
"Ash, jump on top!"
The mouse jumped in the air, landing on top of the shell. At first Ash struggled to gain balance, but soon he had complete control of the shell.
Red grinned, victory in sight. "Aim for the tree!"
The Pikachu and Squirtle spun towards the nearest tree. It was getting closer and closer, until…
The Squirtle tucked out his head and arms to stop the impact. At the same time, Ash leapt off his back, and
SLAM!
Ash propelled the Squirtle forward by hitting him with his tail, and it crashed into the tree head first.
Dizzy, the Squirtle stumbled, until a thunderbolt hit him. Writhing in pain on the ground, Red threw a pokeball and…
000
The Squirtle cried as all of his treasures were thrown away. All he'd been able to keep were his glasses. The crowd soon left, grumbling about annoying turtles, leaving himself, the Pikachu and Red alone.
Red crouched down. "If you want to join us, you need to promise to behave yourself, okay?"
The Squirtle thought for a moment. If he joined the trainer, he could get REALLY strong. At least as strong as that Pikachu was. Free room and board wasn't something to laugh at either.
Finally making a decision, the Squirtle smiled and nodded. "Why not?"
The trainer seemed to contemplate something, wondering in his head. He made his own decision.
"I'll call you…Will!"
000
Pokemon: 8
Badges: 3
Deaths: 0
Team:
Ash: lv 27
Hawkeye: lv 25
Tyrone: lv 28
Sydney: lv 30
Dillan: lv 32
Will (Squirtle) lv 10
In Rotation:
Luca: lv 30
Lucina: lv 26
000
PAY ATTENTION TO THIS CHAPTER!
I drop off a few hints, see if you can figure anything out.