THE MYSTERY OF BABA YEGA-CHAPTER 2
By Red Star
NOTE: I do not own Pokemon. Thanks once again to Dragoness for allowing me to twist her story a little.
Tiny Pallet was unprepared for Misty barging into the Police Station and shouting "Ash was kidnapped!!"
A few hours later, Officer Jennys arrived from Veridian, Cerulean, Gringy, and whatever other cities that had an Officer Jenny that owed Ash a favor. Richie led one out to the spot of the kidnapping while one questioned Misty and the others.
"…and when it lifted off, I saw the Russian flag on the tail…thing." Jenny nodded as she jotted down notes quickly. A knock on the door and another her sister-in-law entered.
"I went down to the library and checked out a book of Military Aircraft. Try to identify the helicopter from it." After a few minutes of rapidly flipping pages, Misty stopped at one section. "This one!" she cried. "I'm sure of it!" Jenny#2 turned it over so she could read it. "The Kamov-29 Assault Transport Helicopter, specifically designed to provide fire-support to the Russian Naval Infantry in times of Marine operations."
Misty blinked and turned to Jenny#1. "She was always the strange one," the Officer shrugged.
MINSK, VICEROYALTY OF BELARUS, RUSSIAN EMPIRE,WESTERN THEATER OF MILITARY OPERATIONS CENTRAL COMMAND, AFTER "SWORDPOINT" EXERCISES.
"The result of these exercises show that the Russian Imperial Army, Navy, and Air Force are capable of cooperation in their defense of the Motherland. I am proud that my Boys have reclaimed the honor lost under the Federation's administration. But," the Emperor of All the Russias and Supreme Commander in Chief of the Imperial Armed Forces paused for effect, "The United States and our fellow Powers should have no fear. Unless they plan to attack Russia any time soon, then they should start wetting their pants and screaming like women." Laughter came from the reporters gathered before the WESTCOM building. Perfect, he decided, they're all mine. "And now, enough flowery crap, any questions?" More laughter. All the more good, as the reporters would write him as a good natured man, increasing his prestige overseas. Cries of "Your Imperial Majesty" or "Sir" rang out. These reporters were disciplined. He chose one such reporter.
"Your Imperial Majesty, Christian Amonpour: CNN. What have you to say about allegations that your country's Navy participated in the kidnapping of a Pokemon trainer near Pallet in the Indigo Region?" The Emperor's friendly smile faded, and he seemed to grow pale. The CINCWEST noticed this and quickly moved in. "Sorry gentlemen, His Imperial Majesty is quite tired now. I will answer your questions now…"
The Emperor's Ilyushin-96 was quiet all the way back to Moscow.
THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW
Grand Admiral Victor Kolsov met his army counterpart, Marshal of the Russian Empire Vladimir Lakov, in the hallway outside the Defense Council. The two were the Commander in Chiefs of their respective Armed services. "Do you know what this is about, Victor Alexievitch?" "No, Vladimir Sergeyevitch, I'm as much in the dark as you are." Lakov flipped through his hastily put-together folder. "His adjutant didn't sound very pleased over the phone, stuttering, gulping, very nervous." The doors threw open to reveal an Army Captain. "The Emperor is ready to see you, gentlemen."
"A funny thing happened today," the Emperor began as he walked around the room behind the chairs of the gathered Defense Council. The Ministers of Defense and State Security, the Commanders in Chief of the Imperial Army, Air Force, and Navy, and finally the Prime Minister glanced at each other nervously.
"Mrs. Amonpour...you all know her, one of the most prestigious reporters to ever pop out of a woman…asked me a fascinating question. 'What did I think of allegations that the Imperial Navy helped kidnap a Pokemon trainer near Pallet?'" He turned and gave the group a sarcastic smile. "Unfortunately, I could not answer Mrs. Amonpour's question because I did not KNOW ABOUT IT!!!" he screamed at the Council. The members winced. "Of course, since CNN knew about it before I did, that means most of America knew about it before I did! Do you hear me?!?" He gripped the chair of the CINCARMY in anger. "SOME BEER-SUCKING REDNECK VET WITH A TV THAT TAKES UP HALF OF HIS FRICKIN' TRAILER KNEW ABOUT THIS BEFORE I DID!!!! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!?!"
The group just sat there uncomfortably. There was silence for a full 2 minutes. Finally Primakov stood up shakily. "Sire, forgive me. Intelligence is the responsibility of the Ministry of State Security. If you wish it, I shall submit my resignation within the hour." "No, Primakov." The Emperor sat down wearily. He put his right hand to his face and sighed. "If we deny it, the world will become suspicious. If we don't, they'll file protests until doomsday. We must show that we are as concerned about this as that kid's family."
He looked at his aide.
"Connect me with this…Pallet Town. Immediately!"
PALLET TOWN.
Misty fumbled with the cup of water she held in her hands. Jenny#1 had gone to a phone to call her mother, the Attorney General, to get some leverage on their side. Reporters had swarmed the small town, flooding it's hotels and inflating it's economy. Brock and the others had returned to Ash's home, where Mrs. Ketchum quietly wrangled over whether to call her husband…
She was driven away from her private thoughts when Jenny emerged from the next room. She had a pale and shocked look on her face.
"Mom says that the Russian Emperor wants to talk to us."
15 minutes later, Misty and Jenny had rounded up the witnesses and were on their way to Professor Oak's ranch. "Why are we taking the call there anyway?" "The Professor's dish is the only one in town that's powerful enough to receive a call from Moscow," was the officer's answer.
The Professor greeted Mrs. Ketchum with a tight squeeze and showed the group to his largest screen. Jenny looked at her watch anxiously. "The Emperor should be calling in about 5…" The screen snapped to life. "…Minutes." Dane I appeared on the screen, wearing a black business suit with a red tie and white shirt. Three gold stars hanging from three vertical mini-Russian flags minus the Imperial Eagle. He looked down at the assembled group. "Officer Jenny?" he murmured. Jenny nodded. "Primakov was right; you do look like your mother." Jenny reddened a little and stepped back.
Mrs. Ketchum narrowed her eyes at Dane. The Emperor's digitized eyes turned toward her. "And you are?" "Delia Ketchum. Ash's mother." The Emperor nodded. "I offer the condolences of the Russian People in your son's abduction and…" The Emperor stopped. "Ash Ketchum?" "Yes." The Emperor's eyes briefly turned toward something on his desk and then moved back. He appeared troubled. "Now, you say that a Russian helicopter kidnapped Ash Ketchum?" "Yes we do!" snarled Misty. "Your men took Ash in front of our eyes!" The Emperor glared at the girl. "That is a very serious charge, Miss. One that, I assure you, won't be taken lightly by my government." Jenny stepped forward. "What are you doing about these charges? There hasn't been anything from you or your government." "I have already taken action, Officer. I have instructed the Imperial Navy to began searching for this helicopter. If Russian Naval officers were involved, I will award them the punishment that all officers guilty of kidnapping receive."
"And what is that?"
The Emperor's eyes turned once again toward Misty. "Death."
He continued. "I am sending you a group of Military Officers to investigate the attack. And Mrs. Ketchum?" She looked at the Emperor on the screen. "I will see to it that your son is returned safely. Until then, goodbye."
And the screen went blank.
THE KREMLIN
The Emperor let out a sigh and sat back against his chair. It was a more stressful day than he had expected. Suddenly, he heard the sound of liquid splashing into glass. Dane looked up to see a glass of tea floating toward him from the samovar. The glass landed before him, and he then felt invisible hands grip his shoulders and move up and down. The Emperor sighed and looked at the clock. 8:30.
"You shouldn't get so agitated, Papa," said a young voice across the Office, "Our children will want to meet the man who saved us." The Emperor smiled and signaled him forward. "Don't worry, I've still got quite a few years left." The Emperor took a little sip from his glass. "I want you to go with those Officers and help them." The figure nodded.
"Make me proud, my child."