Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon or any of its parent companies. I am merely a humble storyteller. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
Note: I am English, so some of the wording, spellings, and expressions will be those commonly used in England.
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Rocket Reviews and Rock Tunnel
The Pokémon world was such a strange place, and Giovanni had born witness to a great many events, but the creatures before him were something unprecedented. Granted, Pokémon came in all shapes and sizes, but these metallic things sure did surprise him. It did not help that there were a great deal of them, and what did not help even further was the fact they all emerged from a box that should not, in any way, have housed them all.
"You said you found them yesterday, is that right?" Giovanni asked the Team Rocket Grunt, the one whose Raticate fell to Red's Beedrill.
"That's right, sir," she said. "As is in the report, we found it at the Power Plant and brought it over as quickly as possible using the Fearow of an ally we managed to get into contact with."
"I see," Giovanni said, slowly. "I have not yet read the report. So, what exactly are these creatures?"
The Rocket Grunt swallowed. "Um… well, we're not… we're not exactly sure, sir –"
"Ridiculous," someone else said. A man with teal hair, not unlike Proton, marched forward. His white Team Rocket uniform with its purple 'R' contrasted nicely with the Grunt's. A large feline Pokémon with light, cream-coloured fur, a red, circular jewel in the centre of its forehead, three whiskers either side of its muzzle, and red, slit-like pupils slunk forward too. "Why would you capture them if you don't know what they are? What if they're useless?"
The Rocket Grunt tried to splutter out a response.
"No, it's fine, Archer" Giovanni said. "I've never seen or heard of any creatures like them before, so they must obviously be quite rare. And we can tell just by looking at them they're at least part Steel-type. Even if we don't know much about them as of this moment, we will soon enough. Maybe they have untold potential, or maybe they'll be less useful than a Magikarp in the desert, but I believe they can fetch a high price in the black market." He held the Rocket Grunt under his strong gaze, a gaze that was said to dwarf the capabilities of moves like Glare and Mean Look. "How long were you staking out the – what was it called again? – the Mystery Box I believe was engraved on it?"
The Grunt's eyes drifted to her boots. "We… we weren't staking out anything. We just happened upon it and thought you would appreciate it. We didn't expect it to contain Pokémon, much less one hundred of them."
Archer frowned. "One hundred? I could've sworn I overheard you mention that we have ninety-nine here. Did you miscount?"
"We had one hundred of these things," the Grunt said. "But one got away."
Archer snorted derisively. "One of these things got away from you? How is that conceivable? Look at them! There's no way that's possible! Or is it just incompetence and –"
Giovanni's hand silenced him. "It's all in the report, isn't it?"
"It is, sir."
"Summarise it."
"Sir?"
"I wish for you to summarise the report for me right now. This conversation has piqued my curiosity. After all, it's not every day we encounter Pokémon we've never seen before, is it? Now, I want you to start by telling me where exactly in the Power Plant you found this Mystery Box."
The poor Grunt. She had already filled in and submitted her report, but now had to repeat everything directly to the head honcho. It was like that stupid practice where you send in your curriculum vitae for a job and then have to fill in a form with the exact same information. All she wanted was to head home and watch television. C'est la vie.
"We found it quite deep into the Power Plant," the Grunt recounted. "Not as deep as we could go but quite far, nonetheless. It was underneath some sheet metal, you know."
Giovanni gestured for her to carry on.
"Well, it looked very heavy, and it was, but not as heavy as we were expecting, Yeah, it did take all four of us to carry it out, but considering what it contained, I'm stunned we could budge it all. It didn't and doesn't make sense."
"And then you opened it," Giovanni said. "However, what I want to know first is why would you remove it from its location if you didn't already know what was inside? And why not open it where you found it?"
Archer nodded zealously, absentmindedly giving the feline Pokémon a scratch behind the ears.
"We wanted to, sir," the Grunt said. "But the Electric-type Pokémon weren't looking too happy, so we thought we'd better get out of there asap. And why we took it in the first place, sir? Well, we heard movement from inside it. With that and the fact it looked ancient, how could we not take it?"
"Understandable," Giovanni said.
"Understandable," Archer repeated.
"And… then we opened it," the Grunt continued. "And out came a couple of these things," she gestured around at them, "but we never imagined there would be this many. But one managed to escape when we ushered the others back in. And by the time we caught up with it," her face darkened, "he arrived."
"He?" Giovanni said. "Who is he?"
"Answer," Archer said. "Stop trying to be dramatic."
"The boy with the Pikachu: Red."
Words became extinct temporarily. The Grunt, upon realising what she said, found great interest in her twiddling fingers. Archer had a face like thunder. Giovanni, however, did not appear too troubled.
"Red?" he said. "The same boy at Mt. Moon and in Cerulean?"
"The one and the same, sir."
"And he defeated you all, did he?" Giovanni's voice would have frozen lava.
"N-No, sir," the Grunt squeaked. "He only defeated me. The others were beaten by Lorelei of the Elite Four."
The atmosphere, which had become more solid than a brick wall, softened slightly. "And would you all have defeated him if he remained without assistance?" Giovanni asked.
"Soundly, sir."
"I see." Giovanni smirked. "So, he's just a child. He got one over Proton, with help. He defeated another one of us in Cerulean, someone who had one Pokémon I should mention. And he got away with another one by hiding under the apron of an Elite Four member. Yes, it was wise to keep an eye on him and that girl – Ms. Leaf B. Green, I believe – but I don't imagine they can do much to us. Granted, if we encounter them again it is our duty to destroy them for interfering in our plans, but I am not worried about them at all."
Giovanni tented his fingers together. "Yes, they have beaten us several times already, but Team Rocket is too mighty to fall by the hands of children. Now," he said to the Grunt, "you and the others have done well. I'm sure missing out on the other creature means nothing, and you have brought us ninety-nine of them anyway. Go home and rest. Tell the others in your squad too."
The Grunt saluted Giovanni and backed out of his office, an expansive room that could have hosted a Pokémon battle if it so wanted.
"Are you truly not concerned, sir," Archer asked once the sliding doors had closed after the Grunt.
"No," Giovanni said, his impassive face hiding the miniscule amount of apprehension in his stomach. "They've only defeated the peons and Proton. They have yet to take on you, the other Executives, and myself. They've barely scratched the surface of who we are. However…"
"We're to continue keeping an eye on them?" Archer surmised.
Giovanni nodded. "Just as a precaution. And they do intrigue me."
"Very well, sir."
"Now that's sorted," Giovanni said, "on to other matters. I see that Ariana has arrived on Five Island. I'm sure she'll see to the smooth running of operations there. She'll help Biruritchi and the Sevii Islands branch tremendously."
"She didn't seem very happy, sir," Archer said.
Giovanni chuckled. "I wouldn't think she would be. But it's only temporary. Honestly, I would rather her here, but she was needed there."
"And Petrel has made contact from Lavender Town too," Archer said, reading off an electronic pad.
"Good news I hope."
"I believe so. He mentions that they have acquired a substantial amount of Cubone skulls and will only increase the load. However, and I don't know how to put this, there seems to be funny 'goings-on' at the Pokémon Tower. Petrel seems to imply it's of a ghostly nature."
If it was not unbecoming of a leader to do so, Giovanni would have rolled his eyes. "There he goes with his overactive imagination. Just tell him to continue the good work."
Giovanni's black eyes used Iron Defence. "And what about it?"
"Still no hide nor hair of it to be seen, unfortunately, sir," Archer said. "We're working under three theories. One: it expired. Two: it fled the region. Three: it is hiding in an area that blocks its psychic energy from detection."
"I doubt it has died," Giovanni said. "Not something like it. Fleeing Kanto is possible but very unlikely; it would want to stay in familiar territory, whether it knows it or not. I, too, believe it is hiding in an area our readings can't get through. I thought Mt. Moon might have been one such area when we were excavating for Fossils, but it was not to be. I'm absolutely certain that old fool knows where it is. But that involves finding him as well, and I abhor playing Hide-and-Seek."
Giovanni sighed. "Please tell me our other endeavours are doing well."
Archer confirmed that they were. "And we've got good news from our moles in Silph Co."
"Ah, please elaborate."
"They confirm Silph Co.'s technicians and scientists are close to finishing work on a prototype, thus validating the prior information we received."
Inwardly, Giovanni whooped and did a jig on his desk. Outwardly, he nodded solemnly. "I see. This is great news. Should it be completed and we get our hands on it, then everything else should fall into place."
Giovanni dismissed Archer and sat at his desk, staring at his reflection in the black screen of his computer. All they needed was for a few more things to go their way.
And Team Rocket would leave the atmosphere and stand above everyone else.
o~o~o~o~o
Clefairy twirled out the way of the Water Gun, the aquatic jet harmlessly blasting the stone wall behind her.
"Darn it!" the young man dressed as a Slowpoke and who introduced himself as Ashton said. Funnily enough, the Pokémon he was using who missed its Water Gun was indeed a Slowpoke, a plump, pink quadruped with curled ears, a long tail tipped with white, and a dopey expression on its face.
"End it with Magical Leaf," Red said calmly. Charmander watched on, claws on his feet scratching into the earthy terrain.
The glowing green leaves decimated Slowpoke, who did not seem to notice the attack. It was only when Ashton ordered it to use Confusion did it roll over and faint.
"Nice job, Clefairy," Red said, giving her a hug. Pikachu have her a curt nod of approval.
But this Trainer battle was not over. Ashton produced another Pokémon, another Water-type, one which Red would not need his Pokédex to recognise but used it anyway:
Poliwhirl, a Water-type Pokémon, and the evolved form of Poliwag. When under attack, it uses its belly spiral to put the foe to sleep. It then makes its escape.
It was quite easy to tell it was an evolution of a Poliwag, being the same colour and having a swirl on its tummy like its pre-evolution. It just did not have a tail, exchanging that for legs, arms, and eyes that jutted out from the top of its head. It appeared to be donning white gloves on its hands, although that was most certainly how its hands naturally were.
Okay, Red had seen Ashton's second Pokémon. Clefairy to continue? Or how about Pikachu this time? Or how about…?
Red threw out Lo's Poké Ball. Well, it's not like it was a Gym Battle, was it?
Charmander's head lowered.
"Wow!" Ashton gasped, completely giddy. "What kind of Pokémon is that? I've never seen one before! Is it rare? Hey, hey, do you want to trade?"
"No, thanks," Red said, grimacing. "Lo stays with me." He should have expected that from a self-proclaimed Poké Maniac.
"Aw man," Ashton said, snapping his fingers in dismay. "Okay, let's get this battle back on, then. Poliwhirl's got to knock out two of your Pokémon for me to win, right? It was a two-on-two bout we agreed upon, wasn't it?"
"Yep," Red said. "And if you don't mind, I'm going to start now. Lo, use Thunder Shock!"
Lo's head glowed yellow and it discharged a weak jolt of electricity at Poliwhirl, hitting it directly.
But super-effective or not, it was nowhere near to taking out the Water-type in a single blow, and Poliwhirl responded with a Water Gun. Unlike with Clefairy, this one struck Lo, knocking it down.
"Get up, Lo," Red said. "Use Thunder Shock again."
Lo rose to its… well, not feet. It rose to something, most certainly. However, before it could even hope to charge up another Thunder Shock, Poliwhirl soaked it with a second Water Gun.
"Too easy!" Ashton cried. "Now, use Double Slap!"
"Counter it with Acid Armour!"
Now, Ashton was not to know that Lo was a Steel-type, was he? Even though its appearance surely should have hinted towards it, he asked his Poliwhirl to use the not very effective Double Slap. Not the best move choice in the world, right? And the defence-boosting Acid Armour did not make it any easier. Lo melted its body and Poliwhirl's slaps got caught in the stickiness that was Lo, its strikes powerless to cause physical harm to the odd organism.
"What the…?" Ashton murmured.
"Headbutt."
The gooey Lo rammed Poliwhirl in the stomach with its metallic head, sending it tripping over the legs evolution gifted it with.
"Nice one, Lo," Red said, giving Lo a thumbs-up.
It was safe to assume Lo tried to give Red one back.
Poliwhirl was susceptible to another attack. A Thunder Shock would do the trick. Unless Poliwhirl pulled off a quick Water Gun or –
"Hypnosis, Poliwhirl."
Oh. Oh no.
Lo gazed at Poliwhirl's swirl, as much as anything without a discernible face could gaze, Poliwhirl's waving arms adding to the mesmerising effect. Lo's head drooped as it began to be transported to la-la land.
"No, not this attack again," Red said through gritted teeth. "Lo, use Thunder Wave!"
Before sleep fully claimed Lo in its comforting embrace, its nut-head shone blue and a feeble electrical discharge of the same colour danced towards Poliwhirl, and fiddly little sparks clambered onto the Water-type, skipping and hopping across its body. Poliwhirl dropped to one knee. But as it did, Lo fully succumbed to Hypnosis.
A status for a status. If Poliwhirl stayed paralysed, then Lo could wake up and end the battle with a Thunder Shock.
Another day that might have happened. Unfortunately, today was not that day. Poliwhirl broke through its paralysis and a third Water Gun was more than enough to condemn Lo to defeat.
Red spared Lo a smile as he returned it to its Poké Ball. It was disappointing for it to lose, but didn't Pikachu and Clefairy lose their debut battles too? Granted, those were Gym Battles, but the point remained. And considering he knew next to nothing about Lo aside from its type (and even then it was not guaranteed Steel was its only one) and its moveset, putting up an admirable effort against Ashton's Poliwhirl was commendable. They would build from here.
Clefairy mopped the floor with Poliwhirl, getting revenge for Lo with Magical Leaf.
Thus, another victory was achieved, and Red's wallet became a little fuller. Yes, Rock Tunnel had proven to be quite a fruitful location to explore, although he was not sure he would have explored it had it not proven the only way he could get to Celadon without passing through Saffron.
Wild Pokémon as far as the eye could see, Trainers galore, a constant ambience of adventure, it was such an amazing place. Although being chased by a wild Rhyhorn undoubtedly took some of the shine away; you would think so too if you were chased by a rhino-like beast covered in grey, stone plates, and whose horn seemed destined to skewer its prey like a shish kebab. Red and his party were fortunate the thing forgot what it was chasing after a while and turned back.
Oh, you might be wondering how they were able to see in Rock Tunnel. Was it like Mt. Moon where the jewel-like Moon Stones embedded in the walls and ground lit up the entire mountain? Or were there torches attached to sconces, inexplicably always lit? Or maybe Rock Tunnel was but a single path, where even if one was to traverse it in pitch-black they would still find their way?
Well, Rock Tunnel was far bigger than a mere single path. Red had to ascend and descend ladders that he would swear were older than the universe to advance through the cave. For hours and hours, he and his team wandered through Rock Tunnel, hitting dead ends and stepping on a few Geodude too.
But what about lighting? Unfortunately, Rock Tunnel had no sign of illumination. It was constantly plunged into darkness! The Trainers Red came across were using torches and Pokémon who could use the move Flash. There was even a person whose body was glowing, claiming it was a technique called 'Light Up', but Red thought they were a demon in disguise and ran away.
And who needed Light Up anyway? Red had a Clefairy with Flash herself and a Charmander with a flaming tail. They guided the way through Rock Tunnel superbly, although Red had to keep their contributions to battling minimal so he would not lose either of their radiant skills. Well, more so Charmander than Clefairy; the latter was still his best option of dealing with the Hikers' Rock-type Pokémon.
"Don't worry, buddy," Red said to Charmander. "We're going to have a lot of battles soon, okay? It just sucks they've been a lot of Rock and Ground-types since we left Cerulean. I know you've got Metal Claw and Dig but fighting ALL of them would have done a number on you."
Charmander stayed silent, simply keeping pace with his Trainer.
At long last, there it was. The exit.
Red whooped and ran out the giant cleft. His whoops turned to screams of pain as he doubled over, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," Red said to Charmander and Clefairy (Pikachu was laughing at him). "I shouldn't have stared into the sun. Anyway, we're out! Lavender Town should just be over those hills. I think. Let's go, guys."
And the party did indeed go, running into nothing along the way apart from a couple of Hikers and a girl who mentioned something about wishing to see a pink Pokémon with floral patterns.
Yes, to the quiet, tranquil Lavender Town.
Nothing bad was going to happen there.
Wait a minute…
