Nemesis
By Trish.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon. I do own the storyline and the character of Neil Ketchum.
Chapter Four
"Giovanni Castoni. None other than the Viridian City Gym Leader and leader of Team Rocket."
Gary watched Ash's face drain of all colour at his father's words. He was pretty sure that he looked just as shocked. Giovanni, that impeccably suited Viridian Gym Leader, was the leader of the notorious Team Rocket?
"That…that can't be right," Ash stammered. "I've fought Team Rocket nearly all my training days and I never saw him even once. It was always Jessie, James, Meowth, Butch, Cassidy, Annie and Oakley."
"Crime bosses never do the dirty work, they get their thugs and minions to do that," Mr Ketchum said with a wry smile. "Cliché, I know, but true."
"No offence, Mr K," Gary began. "But you have to be wrong. The League would never allow someone with connections to a crime organisation to become a gym leader. That would go against everything the League stands for."
"None taken, Gary," Neil smiled. He chuckled inwardly. For all their supposed worldliness achieved through their travels, the boys were still remarkably naïve, especially when it came to the beloved and revered Pokémon League. Neil knew better, but he reminded himself that he had been in the police, with almost daily contact with the criminal mind.
"Giovanni has done such a good job of concealing his identity as Team Rocket head honcho that no one in the League hierarchy even suspects," he explained to the two wide-eyed boys and Pokémon. "Remember, my main focus during my career was battling Team Rocket and all its works, and I was working undercover in Team Rocket when I was killed. Giovanni ordered and witnessed my execution."
Ash was silent for a moment. Then, "So why did you wait until now to tell me this?"
"Because you wouldn't have understood had I told you this before," Neil said gently. "And because you would not have been ready to take up the battle where I left off."
"You mean…you want me to confront Team Rocket?" Ash gulped.
The ghost nodded. "You and Gary."
Gary's eyes widened. "Me!"
"Team Rocket are still intending to carry out their plan. Should they succeed, it would mean the end of the world as we know it. It would be the end of the Pokémon League as we know it." If that didn't persuade the boys, he didn't know what would.
"How about you think about it, and let me know," he suggested when they didn't answer.
ooo
Gary called into the Ketchum's the next day, and found his friend in his bedroom. "You okay from last night?"
"Yeah," Ash answered distractedly as he hugged his old Snorlax plushie to his chest.
Gary dropped down next to him. "What's wrong, Ashy boy."
The dark-haired trainer sighed. "Just the whole thing. About how my dad died and who he said was responsible."
"Yeah, it was more than a little overwhelming," his friend agreed.
"And…I'm just so confused," Ash admitted. "Should I believe my dad or not? It's a major crime that he's accused Giovanni of, and I don't know if he's telling the truth. Mom and the rest of the family have always said that Dad was a good person and would always do what was right, but…"
"But what?" Gary felt awkward at asking the question. It was a tough situation the two were dealing with.
"But I don't know that for myself," Ash pointed to his chest. "I was four when Dad died, I never really knew him. What little I remember is that he was nice and fun to play with." He shrugged. "Which doesn't mean that Dad was a good person. How many times do you read about these psychopaths who are kind to their own children but not to others?"
"Ash, why would your dad lie?" the chestnut haired researcher looked at him. "He's dead. It's not like he could gain anything by lying."
"I dunno…maybe revenge…or satisfaction?" Ash offered.
Gary was lost in thought for a moment. "Maybe…maybe you should speak to someone who knew both your dad and Giovanni. Then they can tell you who the better person was." He suddenly looked smug and sure, "Someone like Gramps."
ooo
The two young men made their way to the large, imposing laboratory that stood on the hill above Pallet.
Ash had lost count of how many times he had made his way to Professor Oak's over the years. First as a little boy and Gary's playmate, then as a fully fledged Pokémon trainer, and finally as the Pokémon Grand Master, the premier trainer in the entire League.
As a small boy, he looked in awe on this place, exclaiming to his mother that this must be a Pokémon Paradise. Delia had laughed and passed on his comment to the professor who enjoyed it hugely.
Now in his late teens, he had not changed his first opinion. The Pokémon in the reserves had the best of care and wide open spaces. Certainly, his Pokémon never minded when they were under the professor's care.
Gary used his key to unlock the front door, and the two friends stepped inside. "Gramps?"
Ash was about to join in calling for the professor when a large purple blob came around the corner and threw itself on him.
'MUUUUUUUUUK!' The Pokémon gurgled, happy to see his trainer once again.
"Muk," Ash wheezed from under the sludge. "I'm happy to see you, but will you please get offa me!"
"Muuuuuuuuk'.
Gary smirked. "Seems Muk misses you, Ashy Boy." But the smirk was short-lived as the Pokémon then spotted him, and Muk threw himself upon the chestnut-haired researcher with glee.
Ash laughed as he watched his friend struggle to free himself from the giant blob. "Looks like he misses you too, Gaz."
"I don't see why," Gary grunted as he finally managed to pull himself from under the Pokémon. "He sees me every day."
"That's because he's a people Pokémon," a new voice came. The two boys looked up to see Professor Oak standing there, a grin on his face. "Muk just loves being with people."
Muk smiled and hugged the professor.
"Now what can I do for you two boys?"
Gary nudged Ash when he didn't respond. The Grand Master cleared his throat. "Uh…I was just wondering if you had time to talk about my dad…"
"Sure, I'm not busy at the moment." The elderly researcher led them into his living room and asked Tracey to put the kettle on for tea.
"So, what do you want to know about your father, Ash?"
"What was he like as a person? I don't remember much about him at all."
Professor Oak sat back against the sofa. "Your father was a very good, very brave man, Ash. One of the best, make no mistake about it."
"That's what Mom always says."
"Well she's right. Those two were soul mates, which is why your mother has never remarried."
"Was Dad as honest as everyone says he was?"
"I'd say he was," Professor Oak scratched his chin. "Especially when it came to matters of injustice. He would always try to do what was right."
Ash was silent.
Gary decided to help out his friend by asking the next question that he wanted the answers too. Gary figured it would also serve to quell any suspicions his grandfather may have over the line of questioning. "Gramps, what's Giovanni like?"
Professor Oak blinked. "Well…I don't know him all that well, just the occasional acquaintance through the League. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, just that I heard some passing rumours, that's all," Gary said casually. Pikachu leapt onto his lap and he scratched her in her favourite place behind her ears.
"Hmm, well there's no doubt that he's a fine Pokémon trainer, obviously, he is the Viridian City Gym Leader after all. But there's something about him that just doesn't seem right," his grandfather mused.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"Not sure what it is, exactly," Professor Oak admitted. "but I just don't feel that I can completely trust him. It's as if there's something that he doesn't want you to know…"
Both boys exchanged a look. Could there be some truth in what Ash's dad had told them?
ooo
"So what now?" Gary asked his best friend after they had returned to the Ketchum's.
"I don't really know," Ash admitted as he sat down on his bed. "If there was only a way we could prove a little bit of what Dad said was true. Then we'd be in a better position to decide what we're gonna do."
Both boys were silent for a moment as they pondered their next move. "What about your dad's old colleagues?" Gary asked. "Maybe they can tell you."
"Good idea."
ooo
As luck would have it, the boys found out that Delia had kept in touch with many of Neil's former colleagues over the years. One of whom was the former Viridian City police commissioner, who had been his boss.
On the pretext of finding out more about his father, Ash phoned the now retired commissioner and set up a meeting at the man's house over coffee.
ooo
Edward Braddon lived in a small cottage on the outskirts of Viridian, so the two boys flew there on two Pidgeot. Recalling the giant avians into their poké balls, Ash and Gary walked up the neat stone pathway to the house and knocked on the door.
The elderly man opened the door, and smiled broadly at the two young men. "Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak? Please come on in."
They were led into a small but comfortable living room, tastefully decorated in cream and blue tones. An elderly woman, who the boys guessed to be Mrs Braddon, came in with a tray laden with cups and cake, and placed it on the coffee table. The boys thanked her and she smiled as she left the room.
"Well, it was certainly a surprise to get your phone call, Ash," Edward sat back with his coffee. "Last time I saw you, you were only a little tyke. How long has it been?"
"Fourteen years, sir," Ash answered.
The man chuckled. "No need to call me sir. I've long been retired from any position of importance. Please, just call me Edward."
Ash took a deep breath. "Well, Edward…I was hoping that you could tell me more about my dad's work. I've heard stories from different people about what he did and I was hoping you could confirm them."
"Depends on what you've been told."
"I was told that he was an undercover police officer and he took part in operations against Team Rocket."
The former police commissioner put his cup and saucer down on the table. "I suppose I can tell you all about the operations now since they were shut down by the police after your father died." He looked the boys in the eyes.
"Your father, Ash, was an undercover police operative. One of the best Viridian has ever seen. He helped plan, lead and execute so many successful police stings that he had quite a reputation in the force. He was involved in a major police sting on Team Rocket Headquarters when he was killed."
"Did you ever follow up that operation?" Gary asked.
"No, Neil had said that he had put all the information we needed to close out the operation and the name of the turn-coat in a safe location. He said there was a key to a safety deposit box, but try as we might – we could never find it."
"Do you think that key could still be found?" Ash leaned forward eagerly.
Edward shrugged. "I guess it could, but if we didn't have any luck back then, I don't think you would be able to find it." He looked keenly at Ash. "What did you want with it, son?"
"Oh nothing much," the Grand Master reassured the man. "I just want to learn as much as I can about what my father did. I've heard all these stories about him and it would be great if I could find out the truth in his own words."
"That's okay then," the former police commissioner visibly relaxed. "Believe me, you don't want to mess with those thugs from the Rockets. They're very dangerous, look what they did to your father."
Ash had almost retorted that he had tangled with Team Rocket ever since he started training but the remark about his dad stopped him. Jessie, James, Butch, Cassidy, Annie and Oakley were only small fry agents within the crime organisation, and incompetent ones at that. Surely the senior agents had to be more skilled and aggressive, and that made them more dangerous. "I assure you that I won't do anything to add further distress to my mom."
He meant that sincerely. He loved his mother dearly, and heaven knows that he had already caused her enough angst since he began his Pokémon journey to last a lifetime. He knew that he meant the whole world to her and that she would be completely gutted if she lost him. Ash would rather gouge his eyes out than hurt his mom.
ooo
The boys made their departure soon after, thanking Edward and his wife for their kind hospitality, and flew back to Pallet.
Delia, Pikachu (who had decided to stay behind with Delia as she was getting thoroughly pampered and spoilt) and Mimey greeted them at the door. "How did it go? Did you find out what you wanted?"
"Yeah, we did, Mom." Ash hugged the older woman. "Just one question. Where did you put Dad's stuff after he died?"
Delia thought for a moment. "Most of his things were given away, but I did keep two boxes of stuff up in the attic."
"Thanks, Mom." And the two boys made their way upstairs to the attic, Pikachu close on their heels.
"You're for that key, aren't you," Gary stated to his friend as they rummaged amongst the piles of boxes. "If it even exists."
"If I can just get hold of that information, then that proves what my dad said," Ash answered as he pulled a box off a pile. "Then I can decide what we're gonna do."
Gary sighed at the pile of boxes, "Why hasn't anyone just used a Pokémon to open the deposit box?"
"I…I don't know," Ash stuttered, "You just can't."
"Why not?"
"Because…you can't just break into a safety deposit box. That would destroy it. And it's just…not right."
The chestnut-haired researcher sighed and began to help. His friend was always a stickler for doing what was right. "I think you've already made up your mind more or less."
The Grand Master peered inside one box before putting it aside. "You're right. I just want some concrete evidence to back up what my dad said before I make the final decision." He looked at his friend. "I just can't stand the possibility that Giovanni has got away with torture and murder. Not just my dad, but all the others, both human and Pokémon."
"Yeah me neither."
"I thought you were gonna say I was a sap or something."
Gary flashed a cheeky grin. "You are a sap, Ashy Boy. I didn't think it really needed to be said, that's all."
Ash rolled his eyes as he grabbed another box. The two boys were silent as they opened boxes one after the other. Ten minutes later, they had found them, and each boy was rummaging through the contents. From time to time they would stop to admire and examine some of the things, such as an police award.
"Your dad must have been a top cop," Gary said as he polished one with the hem of his shirt.
"Mom always said he was one of the best. As did Grandma and Grampa," Ash said with a hint of pride in his voice. "So did Edward."
The two rustled around some more before Gary let out a whoop. "Here's some keys!" He held up a tarnished key ring with several keys on it. Pikachu cheered.
Ash stared at them. "Do...do you suppose one of them could be it?"
The researcher shrugged. "Dunno, we'll see if there are any other keys first, then I suppose we'll have to try them out. They could be just the keys to the front door."
As it turned out, there were no more keys to be found. Ash pocketed the keys and the two friends made their way downstairs.
"Did you boys find the boxes?" Delia enquired as she set the table for dinner. There were answering nods and she smiled. "Gary, would you like to stay for dinner? It's one of your favourites…lasagne."
Gary's mouth visibly watered. "With extra cheese?" he asked with hope in his eyes.
"With extra cheese," Delia confirmed. "And for dessert, I've made a lemon cheesecake."
"Count me in, Mrs K!" Gary grinned. "I'll just go and ring Mom to let her know."
When he had left the room, Ash took the keys out and showed it to his mom. "Do you know what these keys are? They were in Dad's stuff."
Delia took the keys and fingered them gently. "They wouldn't be work keys…" she said after a while. "I gave those back to the police when I was going through his things."
"House keys?"
His mother shook her head. "I don't think so, I'm sure I would have tried them out before I put them away." She looked her son in the eye. "Why are you so interested in your dad's past all of a sudden? You never were before."
Ash tried to think of a plausible explanation. He knew if his mother found out that he and Gary were going after Team Rocket to finish what his father had started…she would never let them go. She would lock both of them in his room and throw away the key until they had ditched such nonsense. He knew that his mother's greatest fear was to lose him forever; just like she had lost her beloved husband. Delia had already lost the love of her life, it was understandable that she did not wish to lose her only child as well.
"Er well…I've grown up now, you see. I'm at the age where I want to know who I am and where I came from. I want to know everything I can about my dad, so I can perhaps understand myself a bit better. I never really got a chance to know him before he was taken from us. And the only way I can get a complete picture of Dad is by talking to everyone that knew him."
Delia just nodded and left for the kitchen to start bringing out the food. Her son slumped down in a chair in relief. He wasn't sure if she really bought that story he'd just given her, or if she knew it was bull. The problem with moms was that they seemed to have an uncanny knack of sensing when their child was fibbing. Not all of it was bull, he did want to find out as much as he could about his father. He just didn't want his mom to know what he was going to do with that information. He knew it would only hurt her.
ooo
The boys waited again for Neil's ghost at midnight on the pretence that Gary was there for a sleepover. Ash had all been for rushing off and trying those keys; until Gary had reminded him that not only did they not know where the safety deposit box was, they didn't know the number either.
Gary was flopped on the spare bed in Ash's room, tossing and catching a small stone. "Brings back memories of the good ol' days, hey?"
"We were staying at each other's houses practically every week," Ash reminisced. "Remember that time we told each other ghost stories until we were too scared to go to sleep?"
"Yeah, I remember. You nearly had a heart attack when the curtains moved," the chestnut-haired researcher laughed.
"You can't talk," Ash retorted. "You dived under the bed when you thought you heard something in the roof."
Gary was about to reply when a ghostly shimmer of light appeared in the room; growing in size until it shaped into the now familiar form of Neil Ketchum.
"Hey Dad," Ash greeted easily.
"Hi boys. I believe you've been doing some checking on what I told you," the ghost grinned.
"How..how did you know?" Gary asked.
"Just pure logic. It's what I would do if I was told something like that," Neil shrugged.
Ash held up the bunch of keys. "We found these in a box Mom kept of your stuff. Is one of them the keys to the safety deposit box you talked about?"
The ghost shook his head. "No, the key to the safety deposit box was buried in a iron box under a beech tree in the woods just outside Pallet. The tree was marked by a metal band."
"Where's the box kept?" Gary asked.
"The Viridian Vault," Neil said. "You need to know the password to access it as well."
"Man I hate remembering passwords," Ash groaned. "What is it?"
"Scruffy."
Ash's face softened at the memory of their first pet Growlithe; now been gone many years. "Good ol' Scruffy. He was the best."
"Scruffy is with me now, you know," Neil grinned.
"Really?"
Neil whistled and a small Growlithe materialised by his side. Scruffy barked happily and bounded over to Ash and began to lick him before giving Gary the same treatment.
Ash sighed happily. "Oh that's good to know…I've always wondered what happens to animals and Pokémon after they die."
"Me too," Gary nodded. "After all the love and loyalty they've given us, it would suck to think they didn't get to Heaven. I hope my first puppy, Chico is up there."
"I'm sure he is," Neil reassured him.
"Dad, could you give us a bit more time to check things about before we give you a decision?" Ash pleaded.
"Take all the time you want," his father smiled. "It doesn't make any difference to me. I've been waiting for fourteen years, another week or so won't be anything major."
ooo
"I don't know my trees," Gary stated. "Do you?"
It was mid morning and the two boys had made their way to the woods outside their home town in a bid to find that box.
Ash shook his head. "They're all the same to me, tall pieces of wood with leaves on them." At their feet, both Umbreon and Pikachu sighed.
"Your dad said it had a metal band around it?"
"Yeah."
"That's what we're looking for then." A pause. "What if it's been chopped down after all this time?"
"I don't want to even think of that."
"Just musing, Ashy Boy."
"Then stop musing, Gaz."
There was no further talk between them for a while as they spread out and went from tree to tree, the Pokémon helping as well.
An excited bark from Umbreon brought them running. The Moonlight Pokémon pointed one tapered paw at the tree he was at. Ash brushed aside the foliage to reveal a rusted metal band around the base of the tree.
"Great job, Umbreon! This must be it!" he scratched the Pokémon behind the ears as he liked best.
Gary then unhooked a Poké Ball from his belt and released a Sandshrew. The Pokémon chittered happily as he began digging into the ground, soil flying every which way.
A few minutes passed before a triumphant 'Shrew!' came from the ever deepening hole. The Ground Pokémon popped up with a rusted tin box in its paws.
"Good work, Sandshrew" Gary praised the little critter. Sandshrew revelled in the praise.
Ash took the box gently from the Pokémon and after a few attempts managed to prise it open. Inside lay a single key, with a metal tag inscribed with '374' on it. He lifted it out and both boys gazed at the key in silence.
"So Dad was right," Ash said softly.
"Yeah, which means he might be right about everything else he told us," Gary finally said.
"We'll soon find out."
ooo
Armed with his birth certificate and any other ID that they could think of; Ash and Gary were waiting at the doors of the Viridian Vault when it opened for business.
The security guard glanced up from the front desk and his eyes widened. "Mr Ketchum, Mr Oak! What can I do for you?"
"I'm here to get some stuff out of a safe deposit box that belonged to my father, Neil Ketchum," Ash explained, showing him the key.
"Ah, well, let me just bring the information up on my screen," the man said as he tapped on the keyboard. "Neil Ketchum, did you say?"
"Yes. He's deceased."
"Do you have any proof of your relationship to him?" He looked apologetic. "Sorry but it's a security requirement."
"Sure have," Ash showed him a copy of his birth certificate. The man nodded and entered the details into the computer.
"One last thing, do you know the password?"
"It's Scruffy."
"You may go through."
The two boys entered and the security doors slid shut behind them, found themselves gazing at row upon row of steel boxes, three deep. Plaques on the end of each row, gave the range of numbers.
Footsteps echoing on the concrete floor, they reached the row 300 – 400. Scanning the numbers along the row, they stopped when they reached 374. Ash took a deep breath. "Well…this is it."
"The moment of truth," Gary agreed before looking at his friend. "Well, aren't ya gonna open it!"
"I am!" Ash retorted. "I'm just a bit nervous about it, that's all…"
"Why?"
"Because…" Ash struggled to find the right words. He was never very good at expressing himself properly. "Because…depending on what I find in there...it's gonna change my life. There will be no turning back."
"I think we've already gone past that point," Gary smirked. "But I do understand what you're saying."
"We…you mean you're in this with me?"
"All the way, Ashy Boy," the chestnut-haired researcher slapped him on the back. "Why do you think I've stuck around all this time? If I wasn't gonna be in, I would have bailed ages ago!"
"True," the Grand Master looked sheepish. "I wasn't thinking clearly."
"You don't think, full stop."
"Shut up," Ash mock growled as he inserted the key and turned. The tumblers in the lock fell in succession and the steel door swung open. Inside lay a thick sheaf of papers bound with staples and covered with a light film of dust.
He carefully pulled it out and brushed off the dust, causing both to sneeze for a few minutes.
"Watch where you brushing that dust," Gary scowled as he blew his nose.
"Sorry, but can't be helped," Ash shrugged as he dug into his pocket for a tissue.
"Sure."
The pages were typed, the paper slightly yellow with ageing. Gary looked over Ash's shoulder as he quickly flipped the pages. "This is it?"
"Yeah," the dark-haired Trainer nodded and tucked the booklet under his arm. "Let's get back to Pallet so we can read through it."
ooo
Back in Ash's room, the two boys divided the papers between them and went through them carefully, making notes on writing pads. When they had finished, Gary logged onto Ash's laptop and began to google the names. Ash sat beside him and made notes on any information that came up.
They came to one particular name that Gary had asterisked; the name of the turncoat in the police force. The chestnut-haired researcher entered the name and hit 'search.'
The results came up and Gary clicked on the first link. There was a collective intake of breath as the website flashed up on the screen.
"That bastard…" he breathed. "He's now high up in the ranks."
Ash gritted his teeth. "He's moved up at the expense of the lives of so many good police officers, whom he betrayed to Team Rocket, including my dad."
"That totally stinks," Gary shook his head. "I can't believe that someone could get away with such evil for so long. We have to make him pay for what he did."
"We do," the Grand Master said firmly. "We're both in?"
"Yep," his friend pushed his chair back. "You gonna tell Red about this?"
"Misty? No way," Ash shook his head.
"Why not? She is your girlfriend."
"A girlfriend who will mallet me into the next century if I told her," Ash reminded his friend. "Hey Mist, my dad's ghost appeared to me and Gary and we've decided to go after Team Rocket because of what he said happened fourteen years ago. She'd think that was really stupid."
Gary thought about it and nodded. "You're right. Telling her would be detrimental to our health."
The Grand Master raised an eyebrow. "You only just worked that out?"
"Hey, I haven't known Red as long or as well as you do," Gary retorted. "And for a while there she was all prickles until we managed to convince her we were friends again."
"I remember that; she was threatening to pulverise you if you were lying."
"She was threatening to kill you."
"Let's not tell her."
"Wise move Ashy Boy."
ooo
Two days later, the boys waited for the ghost to come.
Neil shimmered into existence. "Did you find the key?"
"Exactly where you said it would be," Ash confirmed. "And we got the papers."
"Good," his father nodded. "So what is your decision?"
"We're in," Ash motioned to Gary and himself. "Just tell us where to start…"
ooo
To be continued…
Author's Note: The plot thickens! It may seem a bit like Hamlet, but I assure you that Ash will not be faking madness or that Misty will go mad and drown herself. Please read and review 'Broken Wings' if you have not already.