Gold stayed inside inside deposit 3 feet on the counter as he watched Major General Sakaki win over another sad corporal working with him. Giovani transferred a better half of fort Goldenrod to fort Nimbasa before giving the other half to the direct subordination of Brigadier General Ariana DelFox, from the old Fort Castelia. It was extremely unconventional as well as probably illegal. By decreasing the population of an army base you risk leaving it open to attacks. Fort Goldenrod was in a very important place since it was the only medical and naval base. It had Fort Cinnabar under direct subordination and looked over both it and the surrounding lagoons. It was such an important defense point, Gold can't understand why its general would just abandon it like that.
What was even more frustrating was that this guy kept on talking with so many lowranks, he has 85% of Fort Nimbasa eating out of his palm. Yes most are low ranks, but he swears he saw a colonel get a drink with the respected general behind the messhall one. It was weird and Gold didn't like it one bit.
"Et toi, Hanamura?" asked Giovani.
"Huh? Uh- what?"
"I asked how was your day son? I'm sure having to deal with all of those pesky higher ups must have been quite tiring...I know that Lieutenant Colonel Rogers is quite strict when it comes to sergeants."
"Ah, uh...No not really, Lack-two was fine. I mean he's a bit too busy with paperwork and realizing his feelings for Whi-Two to pay attention to me goofing off."
"Ah I understand...It seems he listened to my advice then."
"Advice?"
"Yes, I had talked to him to take it easy on you. It must be hard, being split up from all of your colleagues from Fort Viridian."
"Not really...I mean...after Fort Sandgem I kept in contact with Black and White so I'm not completely friendless. But still, sir, I thank you nonetheless for the kindness." Now if only you'd tell me why you're being so generous.
"Of course, I always keep an eye on my subordinates. I only wish to make it easier for you."
Internally, Gold snorted. Right, no ulterior motive...and Silver isn't a simp for Lyra...Externally he smiled and shook the older man's hand.
...
The next day Giovani visited them again, what a surprise, and boldly declared that he's taking all of them out for drinks. In the middle of the shift...during a war...Now don't take Gold wrong. He's a slacker and takes any opportunity to run away from having to fill ammunition in boxes. However, as he already mentioned, the general rubs him the wrong way. But, because everyone else agreed, Gold also had to go, to not appear suspicious. General Sakaki was planning something and he was gonna get to the bottom of it.
He, Giovanni and 6 more officers from the department all piled up in the nice big SUV and drove to a nearby town. There the general led them to a small dinky bar entitled Tsareena's stomp. The bar was old, had creaky floorboards and old chairs. The counter looked like it had seen better days as it was covered from head to toe in scratches and burn marks from cigarettes. Behind it was a woman in what looked like white flashy kimono, her hair was light purple almost white and kept in 4 horn looking buns, next to her was a brute looking man, with short black hair, a strong chin biker jacket. The woman looked at them before smiling, what Gold would call, a demonic smile and taking a puff from her pipe.
"Giovanni! What a surprise...Bringing in new blood already?"
"Sird. A pleasure as always to see you." said Giovanni. "Me and these boys have come here for some drinks, think you can help?"
"Well, that is my job, isn't it..." The woman took another smoke from her pipe before turning to the other man. "Oi Orm! Fix these guys some drinks, the general's waiting!"
Orm asked all of them for their order before going in the back to prepare their drinks, a bit unconventional but oh well. Giovanni talked with the woman a bit more before she left to coldly greet the next customer.
"How do you know her, sir?" asked Gold.
"Ah, Sird? The two of us have been friends for a few years. I know this bar doesn't look that great, but the drinks are good, I assure you."
"We thank you for it nonetheless, sir!" said one of the officers as Orm brought him his drink. Gold slowly drank his whiskey on ice as he observed the night.
...
Two weeks later, while getting some sacks of potatoes to one of the mess halls, Gold heard two voices talking hear the supply crates. He slowly put his sack down and listened to them.
"...are you sure sir?"
"Of course I'm sure, I have been with them for the past months." He recognized that voice as being Giovanni's, although he couldn't identify the other person.
"But-"
"No 'buts' Carr, these idiots have been eating from my palm and taking everything I say at face value. If you drop my name I'm sure they'll agree."
"Very well I'll ask them today."
Gold picked up his potato sack and went to the mess hall. Whatever that was, Giovanni was planning something and it was not good.
...
Later that day, a short Second Lieutenant by the name of Carr Verrat came to talk to him about 2 hours after lunch. He asked Gold what his opinion on Giovanni was, as well of what he thought of their government system. Gold played the naive sergeant card and answered about how he like Giovanni and how wonderful he was and blah blah blah, just tell me what you want Carr.
Eventually Carr revealed himself to be part of team rocket, a terrorist organization seeking to overthrow the government, kill president Alder Lowe and instal absolute monarchy. His offer was for Gold to join. Now Gold wasn't dumb, he knew that if he refused Carr will undoubtedly kill him without a second thought. So he did the only thing he could, he accepted.
The short man excitedly told him how someone will contact him in a few days and congratulated him on his good choice. However Gold wasn't listening to him...what he just did...that counts as high treason...He could get killed for this...What on earth did I get myself into... He didn't want this...he didn't- what would Crys say if she saw him now. He had no choice but-
"Gold I want you to listen to me. If you ever find yourself in trouble, go to Major General Elesa Kuroy. She's a good person, you can trust her to listen to you." said Crystal.
That's right, he can get help, he doesn't have time to pity himself, he can do something about this. And so he did, at 11pm, in the dark of the night when he was sure nobody would see him, Gold went and knocked at Elesa's door. The Major General general opened the door looking tired and wearing a zebstrika themed pajama and a yellow bathrobe. Gold quickly explained that he needed to tell her something confidential and the general let him in.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" asked Elesa.
"Earlier this day I was approached by Second Lieutenant Carr Verrat with a proposition. He asked me to join team rocket, the terrorist organization we have been dealing with. I had to agree because I knew that if I didn't I will be killed. I wanted to tell you because-"
"Because you want help with this mess you've gotten yourself into, is that right Hanamura?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well I do have a proposition for you. Since you have already agreed to working for them, how do you feel about being a double agent? You will report to me once every 2 months on your discoveries on this organization and in return I'll give you information that won't affect us as greatly if discovered."
"..."
"Now I know this is very risky, but we all have personal stakes in this war. My girlfriend Valerie is a prime target of these criminals and I only wish to keep her safe. I'm sure you have someone to protect as well."
A flash of his mother as well as Crystal's smiling face flashed through Gold's mind. "Valerie...Wait. Do you mean vice-president Yosei? Why would you tell me that?"
"Yes, we have been secretly together for 6 years. The reason I'm telling you this is because I want you to trust me. Now you have a failsafe that I won't betray you."
"Mutually agreed destruction, eh?"
Elesa smiled. "Yes. Of course if you don't agree I have someone that can make you a fake identity and-"
"I'll do it. I'll go spy on team rocket."
"Alright...here's what you'll do once you're in..."