Diary of a Rocket Grunt

By Cari Wood

Prologue

My reasons for joining Team Rocket was simple- I was sick of being teased, sick of being looked down upon, sick of being made fun of because my parents wouldn't let me have a Pokemon. I had nothing to lose.

I got involved with the group during its early stages. From what I've heard from the executives, it started out as a simple street gang in Viridian City, where its goal was simply to attain the most powerful Pokemon in the area. It grew from there, spreading to the surrounding cities and eventually other regions entirely, especially after Viridian's gym leader took the head of the operation.

I left home to join Team Rocket at the age of fifteen, leaving a note to my parents that I was to become a Pokemon trainer. I was technically eligible for the role when I was ten, but as I mentioned, my parents wouldn't have of it.

I grew up in Pewter City, just north of Viridian, through the woods. I could have easily caught myself a bug-type Pokemon in the forest, but I'm not particularly fond of them. Brock, our city's gym leader, was in charge of distributing entry-level Pokemon to starting trainers at the time. I'm unsure of this holds true to this day, but it matters little. When I left home early that morning, I went to the Gym to receive the Pokemon of my choice. Brock is a master of the rock-type, so I was offered the choice of either Geodude or Onix to begin with, but because of my age difference compared to most rookie trainers, he also offered me a recently-evolved Graveler.

I took the Graveler.

I headed down south through Viridian Forest, and caught myself a Pikachu. It's uncommon in the area, even more so now, so I figured I may be able to trade it or sell it when I reached Viridian. I'm not big into the cutesy Pokemon; I like mine to be able to trample over any competition.

After getting word from a little birdie that it was to be Rocket headquarters from then on, I went to the Viridian City gym. Giovanni had only taken over Team Rocket mere days before my arrival, apparently. When I got there, I was registered as a Rocket Grunt and issued the now-standard uniform: white gloves, boots, and belt, and black pants, cap, and the shirt with the infamous red "R" on it. Nobody will forget that image.

The receptionist also asked for my Pokemon. I set the Pokeballs containing the Graveler and Pikachu before her, and she said I could only keep one of them. The other would be transferred to the boss for experimentations. I gave her the Pikachu, and in exchange for my first "good deed" as a Rocket member, I received a Rattata.

Now, I'm not big on Rattata… very little stamina, very little attack power, vulnerable to several different types. I told this to the receptionist, and asked for something with a bit more kick in it. She said she understood how I felt, but couldn't afford to give me anything better. There was a surplus of Rattata at the base because it was common to the area. The executive I was assigned to came out from the conference room and greeted me at that point, telling me he'd help me train after I changed into my uniform. That Rattata was a Raticate in no time.

My boss told me I was to report everything Rocket-related to him, and he'd tell Giovanni of anything important. For then, though, I was to simply recruit other members. I stayed in the general Viridian area, never straying too far north for fear of my parents. After a few weeks, the squad I was in was assigned to take over the Mt. Moon area. We had attained enough members to start our mission.

My name was left behind at that point. From then on, I was Rocket Grunt #27. Don't listen to what you heard on the local daily news. I'm here to tell you what really went down behind the scenes.