Forces of Darkness

Chapter 13: All Too Calm

Day 3, 1100 hours.

(Scene: Team Rocket Base, Sicily, Italy.)

It was near lunchtime at the Sicilian Rocket base when General stopped by the closed door the temporarily housed the seven sleeping Rockets. This was General's fifth trip to the room, hoping that this time he could wake them up (after skipping breakfast, they should be ashamed of themselves! Tsk, tsk...). He knocked three times before saying, "C'mon, you can't be asleep all day."

"Who can't be asleep all day?" someone behind him asked.

General turned around almost suddenly and nearly smacked Daisuke in the face with his fist. "D-Daisuke!" he said. "Where are the others?"

"They're still inside, holding their grudges... hopefully."

"And that jetlag trick?"

"It worked for everyone (though we acted a little silly halfway through)! Everyone fell asleep at 2000 hours and we all woke up at eight!"

General nodded. "I'm glad to hear that you all got a good night's sleep, because today is going to be rather busy!"

The locked door Daisuke and General stood before flew open and the six Rockets peered out with their stunned faces.

"Oh, no..." Mondo whimpered.

"It's just what we feared, isn't it?" Cassidy asked.

"Kuroi's coming!" James asked.

The female grunt glared at James's question. "I'm right here!" she said.

"No, he meant to say Chloe." Butch corrected.

"Thanks again, Botch!" James said before the force of the squeaky mallet hit his head.

"I saved ya the trouble..." Meowth said to Bot- ...I mean, Butch as he stood on the shoulders of Kuroi and Jessie, holding the mallet.

"No, no..." General said, calming the tense team. "We haven't heard from Noir ever since the raid at the South Korean base two days ago."

"It's good to hear that, sir." Kuroi commented. "But, I don't think that we're out of the water just yet..."

"That's true. That's why I had a talk with the one who is second in charge at this base about the feats that you've all accomplished so far."

"Second in charge?" Jessie asked. "What about the head of the base?"

"He's on a business trip in New York. But, by his wishes, he wanted to have his grandchild be in charge while he's away."

"Wait," Daisuke said. "his grandchild?"

(Scene: Team Rocket Executive's office.)

Daisuke was expecting to see a young child seated at the executive's desk with an attitude equivalent to that of Domino -- another Rocket elite that is best known as the "Black Tulip."

Instead, the young lady seated was a fair, lavender-haired woman, dressed in a gown in shades of purple.

"Allow me to introduce..." General said to the team of seven. "the temporary head of the Team Rocket Base of Sicily. The Intoccabile: Silvana Greone."

"Quite a pleasure to meet you." Silvana replied.

"The same for us..." Daisuke said as he and the rest of the team bowed politely.

"To think that you've all been chased down by Noir for the past three days and to make it this far shows me that you have potential."

"With all do respect," Daisuke said. "I do not think that our skill plays a role here, but rather luck."

The rest of the team nodded to Daisuke's remark.

"Well, whatever it may be," Silvana noted. "I believe that you may be able to slip past the deadline that Noir has for you."

Kuroi's eyes widened, but under the shadow of the beret's visor, her stunned action was invisible to the others.

"You mean he'll go free?" Mondo asked.

"Yes, I truly believe that." Silvana replied before looking at Daisuke with her purple eyes. "If you keep Tadlos close to you, this week will not end in a fatal manner."

Daisuke was stunned. "Wait, how did you know that I was carrying that sword?" he asked.

"You're carrying it on your back." the rest of his team replied in embarrassment.

"(sweatdrop) ...Oh, yeah... That's right..."

"I have been told that the Manor is a very dangerous place to enter into." Silvana informed. "I advise you to take extreme caution once you are able to see it. My best choice is to attack at night, when they least expect it."

"Will do, M'lady." Daisuke said as he saluted.

"How do know that we've found the Manor and not some cabin out in the middle of nowhere?" James asked Silvana.

"I am not one to answer that. However, if you ask the one you call Otaku, he will know."

(Scene: Writer's house, Minnesota.)

The young writer from Minnesota sat at the uncomfortable office chair placed in the bedroom, typing away at another story that had to be brushed from the nagging mind and be placed on the screen.

The writer jumped from the seat as soon as the loud phone next to the computer, rang in a clever tone.

(Scene: Otaku's house, Unknown.)

On the other end, Otaku waited as he hoped to get answer from his friend.

"Hello...?" the voice over the phone asked.

"Hey, Writer." Otaku replied. "It's Otaku, as usual..."

"I figured... So what'cha calling me for?"

"I was wondering of you could help me."

"Yeah, with what?"

"I have a limerick here that I wrote up on a whim, but I can't get the last line. I was wondering if you could help me."

"Sure, let's hear it."

"The year is two-thousand and ten.

"And all was too calm in Japan.

"'Til the day that Noir came.

"To make Team Rocket insane.

"And... that's it..."

The writer paused. "...And two shall end up dead."

"...Oh... Kaaay..."

"It's kinda prophetic if you think about it..."

"Yeah, guess so..."

"They're on their... what? Third day?"

"Yeah."

"Wait until they reach the Manor... They'll lose it, without a doubt."

"And the two that end up dead?"

"I can't tell you that. You already know! You should be the one who knows about this whole 'Forces of Darkness' trial."

"Yeah, yeah... 'Those that follow the Thief of Tadlos and the Thief himself are considered to be the Forces of Darkness.

"'When the Thief has been unmasked and the first maiden of Noir to complete all trials, save one, the candidate for Noir will go one her final trial to eclipse the rising sun and corner the thief. Before the week passes, Noir, the Thief and others that follow in pursuit will travel the world over, and the Forces of Darkness will meet at the Manor for the final battle before the search for the True Noir begins...'"

"All right, I get it! You gotta stop quoting from that book."

"Sorry, can't help it..."

To be continued...

A little too calm, huh? Sorry, I'll make the next chapter more lively... :)