SHADOW OF THE IMPALER-TEAM ROCKET BLASTS OFF!
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1969
The skyscraper had gargoyles placed at various places, marble floors and stairs, chandeliers in the lobby and some of the meeting rooms specially marked to impress, various sculptures hanging off the walls and greeting visitors in the hallway, the whole building amazingly gothic and "old school".
Perfect. If the dear reader will remember Van Helsing's slanderous novel, new buildings would kill me, especially the hideous ones that those younger fools began dumping all over the landscape. I prefer grand old buildings, buildings that are lovingly built, with great care to detail. In other words, I like things that remind me of the old days.
Using the gold I had gathered over the centuries, plus the various connections that had allowed the Order of the Dragon to gather even more wealth, I had created, in the thirties, a massive corporation I named the Draculesti Group, of which I was the Chairman. The Draculesti Group is generally a confederation of companies, working together, sharing resources to help each other produce items. Of course, much of the profits go to the Order's coffers. But now, on with the tale…
I was in my office that evening, at the top floor of the building. A large oak desk occupies the office, with a high-backed leather chair. On the desk is a short sword in front of my blotter, with a lamp on my right and a pen in it's holder. Most of these items are dark in color, as you can imagine.
The floor is marble, and is covered with a large rug showing a battle scene from my past.
Behind me, in gold plating, is the Order's symbol, for you see I also run the Order of the Dragon from here.
On one wall is a large, old-fashioned map, bordered by gold and the Dragon symbol in the lower-center.
I was looking over the designs for a new assault vehicle that was contending for a Canadian Army requirement when the intercom buzzed to life.
"Sir, Lord Ruthven and Mr. Bruno to see you."
My two closest advisers were not supposed to see me today. What did they want?
Lord Ruthven, dressed in a black single-breasted suit, and Bruno, wearing the same, walked in with agitated looks on their faces. Ruthven clutched a file in his hand.
"Vlad, we have a situation in Johto!"
I leaned back and calmly replied, "Where?"
"Near the Charicific Valley, sir, in one of our breeding centers!" Ruthven stepped forward and pressed a button on my desk, taking the initiative. The map slid upwards, revealing a large television screen.
I had earlier been reviewing a recent scheme concerning the former Belgian Congo, so it took a few more presses to get onto a news channel.
But it still tore me out of my seat.
A newswoman stood in front of what looked like a shattered building that had been built into the mountain. A glass dome at the top was smashed, and it appeared as if a monstrous concrete worm had emerged from the ground to bite at something with sharp, jagged teeth. A large deck that had earlier stretched out over a flowing river was now broken, the other half lay in the river in the form of large, broken stones. A playground that had been laid out over a stream under a waterfall was now twisted metal and splintered wood, with ripped-up tires and bits of rope scattered about. Black smoke poured out of the building itself. I could see people working around the site, police officers and firemen.
I listened to the woman speak, "…massive damage was inflicted on the Little Joys Pokemon Breeding Center today, after a mass attack by criminals using Pokemon to create confusion and to break open doors and walls. We have a confirmed five people dead or wounded and a number of pokemon stolen. The police…"
I clicked the mute button.
"How many?" I asked.
"About twenty-five, my Prince," Bruno answered, "Five Raichu, eight Grabbler, four Chikorita, two Cyndaquil, and two Hoot-Hoot."
I turned to them. My hand reached out, palm up, the fingers in a position ready to snap shut, and Ruthven slid the folder into my hand. I opened the folder and began reading. When I hit an interesting point on the list, my eyes turned inexorably upward.
"Fifteen million dollars?"
Ruthven cleared his throat and scratched his head nervously.
"Well, you see, Vlad, some of the Pokemon in question are rare and…"
"Really? Is there some gold type I am not aware of? Are these Pokemon made out of pearls or something? How much do they cost? Combined?"
Ruthven sighed and answered, "About $200,000,"
I blinked. "That's only $8000 apiece. What the other 14.8 million?"
"Well, Vlad, the attack destroyed some expensive equipment. Computers, special lights for the more nocturnal Pokemon, incubators, and refrigerators, not to mention our obviously useless security and defense system, that's one million right there.
"Now for the items that are to help keep the Pokemon busy; toys, plants, fruit, chow, exercise equipment, the playground, and the baths.
"Let's not forget everything needed to maintain those things; spare toys, fertilizer, pots and pans, tools, shampoos and soaps, special toothpaste, floss, and towels.
"Add that to the individual resting areas, with their beds, blankets and pillows.
"Those items, which were purchased in a five-year supply, all add up, Vlad, to another one million. Most of these items were destroyed in the attack. The rest of the money will go to construction crews and the surviving families or to paying medical bills."
I was angry, and I believe my eyes began glowing red.
"Who…committed this…this travesty?"
Bruno pursed his lips. "They called themselves 'Team Rocket'."
I looked at him in disbelief. "They actually told our men their name?"
"Yeah, in some freaky poem thing. 'Prepare for trouble' or something…"
Ruthven turned toward me grimly.
"Vlad, I have more bad news. Radu's been sighted again."
I could feel the red power radiating from my eyeballs.
"Where?" I thundered.
My two lieutenants slowly pulled back.
"In Veridian City, Vlad. He has a Breathing companion, some woman in a red suit with black hair. My men have identified her as a Pokemon Trainer called Madeline Ketchum."
I need some more reviews on this thing here!! And if you hadn't heard, Dragoness (the author of the original 'Ash/Mew' stories) is writing a new story called One Heart. Go check it out if you haven't seen it.