Mission 2: Eevee the Trainee! (part 1)
"Guys? Can I trust you to look after the base while I go pick up a few things at the Pokemart?" Ash asked the Rescue Force as he mounted Swellow.
"Of course, I've set the phone on standby; so if we do get any calls while you're out, the caller can leave a message." Mudkip smiled as she switched on the the TV, where the song "On our Way" was playing in the background as Gary took a flying leap on a stage, clad in a blue top hat and tails.
"All right, I'll be back in a little while." With that, Ash and Swellow disappeared out the exit tunnel.
Treecko took a glance at what Mudkip was watching and gasped. "Is dat 'The Gary and Umbreon Show', by any chance?"
"Sure is!" Mudkip replied as Gary, now in his normal clothes, ran out on the stage to greet the studio audience. "It just got started."
"I'll go make some popcorn!" and Pikachu hurried into the kitchen, nearly knocking Torchic over in the process.
On the screen, Gary addressed the audience. "Thank you! Today we want to pay tribute to the Gym Leaders of the world...and we'll start with the flower of Celadon, the lovely Erika!" Applause filled the air as Erika appeared on the stage, shook hands with Gary, then began conversing with him.
"She's beautiful..." Treecko started, hearts forming in his eyes as he admired Erika on the screen. In fact, just looking at her was a lot more interesting than the interview she was having with Gary at that moment. He was suddenly jarred out of his daydream when the TV announced."'The Gary and Umbreon Show' will be right back after these messages."
"What'cha watching?" Pikachu asked as he sat down between Treecko and Mudkip with a large bowl of popcorn.
"It's just 'The Gary and Umbreon Show'. Torchic explained. "Today's guest is Erika, and Treecko's in love with her!" she laughed as she turned her attention back to the TV. Some happy music started to play as some Meowths and Skitties appeared on a stage.
If you're hungry
And you're not a
cow - Meow!
Then try some delicious PokéChow! they
sang as the spotlight came up on a yellow box with arms, legs, and a
smiling Vulpix on its front.
The PokeChow box danced with some of the Meowths as they continued:
It's a delicious
treat
That sure can't be beat!
Then try some PokéChow -
Meow! The box struck a pose as the commercial finished.
"Now that was a weird commercial..." Mudkip commented.
"You're telling me..." Pikachu sighed as a Pidgeot Airlines commercial came on.
Just then, the door slammed. "Guys, I'm home!" Ash called as he strolled into the living room, an Eevee trailing along behind him.
If you're hungry
And you're not a cow
- Meow!
Then try some delicious PokéChow! Torchic sang
as she skipped across the floor with the PokeChow box in one
wing.
Ash was puzzled. "What's with Torchic?"
"They played that annoying PokeChow commercial with the Meowths and the dancing box just now." Pikachu explained as he changed the channel.
"Oh really?" Ash laughed. "Anyway, I'd like you guys to meet our newest addition!" he announced as he set Eevee on the floor.
"Thank you for accepting me into the Rescue Force, Ash..." Eevee began as she smoothed out her fur. "I'm sure I can be of service to you somehow."
"Well, in order to be a full member, you've got to be trained first, which I'm sure Pikachu and the others will gladly do..." Ash assured Eevee as he disappeared into his office. "so pay attention to what Pikachu and the others have to tell you."
"Oh, I will!" Eevee replied as she followed Pikachu and Treecko down the hall and into a screening room...
---------
"All right..." Treecko began as he prepped the projector in the screening room. "First part of the training explains how the Pokemon Rescue Force came to be...so you know a little bit about us and what you're getting into."
"LIGHTS!" Pikachu called. At that moment, the lights in the room dimmed and the projector began to whir.
3...
2...
1...
The Pokemon Rescue Force--serving the citizens of Pallet Town and the world since 1998! an announcer began as a picture of a Rescue Force badge flashed on the screen.
"That's the official Rescue Force badge." Treecko explained. "Wear it when you go out on missions so people and Pokemon know who you are." Eevee nodded and turned her attention back to the screen, which depected Ash walking on a road.
The origins of the Rescue Force began with Ash's own journey. the announcer explained. As he traveled to the various towns and cities of the world, he met up with many people and Pokemon that needed help with troubles large and small--it was from this attitude of helpfulness the Rescue Force emerged.
Many Pokemon and humans have served on the Force in the past... the announcer continued as profiles of past Rescue Force members, human and Pokemon, flashed on the screen. Some former members start squadrons of their own. At this, the screen showed a shot of May taking a call.
"That's May, the leader of the Houen squadron of the Force." Treecko explained, but he noticed Eevee was getting drowsy eyed. "Guys? Is this enough video?"
"I guess." Torchic replied as she shut off the projector, making the lights come up. "Come on, Eevee...let's show you to your room..."
---------
Feathers and laughter filled the air as Eevee bounced around the bed, pillows and blankets in her room. 'This is so much fun!"
"Yeah, but we're the ones that have to clean up your mess..." Pikachu grumbled as he swept up more feathers.
"Hey..." Eevee glanced up, startled by Ash's sudden appearance in the doorway. "No jumping on the beds...it just makes a big mess." Eevee sighed and slumped on the bed, bored...
Mudkip climbed on the bed next to Eevee. "Ash doesn't like it when we jump on the beds like that...he just wants to keep the rooms clean." she began.
"What's the lights on the corners for?" Eevee interrupted, pointing out two red lights in the corners.
"Those are alert lights..." Mudkip explained. "When Ash sounds the alarm, they'll flash...so if you're asleep, they'll wake you up!"
"I'd hate to be woken up at two in the morning!" Eevee grumbled as she glanced outside.
"Sometimes a call comes at two in the morning." Treecko called. "So we always have to be ready for occassions like that. That's why we sometimes have drills."
"Drills?" Eevee was interested. "Like fire drills?"
"Something like that." Pikachu explained. "Ash doesn't give us any warning as to when he'll sound the alarm for a drill, so we always have to be ready...they usually occur every three or four days."
"Here's how a drill works..." Torchic explained. "Ash sounds the alarm, just like a real mission; and we have to rush down to the base's entrance, where Swellow is, as quickly as we can."
"Our last drill was two days ago, so we may have one today." Treecko added. "So don't panic when the alarm goes off, although it might startle you at first."
"If we do have a drill today, just follow me, and I'll show you the quickest route." Pikachu assured Eevee as he finished tidying up the room.
"But what does the alarm--" Eevee started, only to be cut off by a bell ringing. She shielded her eyes and ears as the two lights began to flash and a siren began to wail.
"That's the alarm! Come on!" Pikachu dragged Eevee out the door and carried her down the hallway to the rescue pole, where they slid down into the living room. After rounding a corner into the base's entryway, they stood by Swellow, where Ash was waiting with a stopwatch.
After disabling the alarm, Ash checked the time on the watch. "Not bad, but you're usually faster than this!" he noted as he displayed the time: 1'20"54.
"Eevee was afraid of the alarm, so I had to carry her down." Pikachu grumbled, gesturing to the shuddering Eevee.
Ash knelt down to Eevee's eye level and stroked her fur. "I know the alarm is scary at first, but you'll get used to it." he started...
"The alarm's not scary, it's just loud!" Eevee explained. "It just surprised me when it went off!"
"I will tell you this much: When I sound the alarm for real, I usually call 'Let's go, Rescue Force!' before pushing the button, so that's how you'll know when it's a real mission." Ash explained as he carried Eevee into the kitchen for lunch.
After lunch...
"Here's Ash's office, where he handles all our calls, analyzes any data we find, and sounds the alarm." Torchic explained as she watched Ash settle in his chair and slip on his headset.
"Before I show you around here, here's a present for you..." and Ash handed Eevee a communicator. "This communicator watch will allow you to talk to us while you're out on a mission. Your codename is Diamond." With that, he slipped the communicator on Eevee.
"I'm Topaz..." Pikachu explained.
"Treecko's Emerald..." Mudkip continued, "Torchic's Ruby, and I'm Sapphire."
"Jewels...that'll be easy to remember!" Eevee smiled. "So what's Ash's code? Pearl?"
"Nope, Ash is Master Jewel." Pikachu explained. "To call us, press the red button that says 'CALL' and say 'Diamond calling...whoever you need to talk to.' When you're done talking, just say 'Diamond out'.
"Okay..." and Eevee nervously pressed the button. "Diamond calling Ruby..."
"This is Ruby..." Torchic replied. "Do you read me?"
"I do.." Eevee stammered. "Diamond out."
Ash smiled. "You must be a natural!" he began, before inviting Eevee on his desk. "This is all my stuff I need to work." he explained, gesturing to a large red button with a white loudspeaker on it in between the videophone and laptop. "This is the button that triggers the alarm...the videophone's how I take calls..."
'So those headphones you're wearing aren't for music, then?" Eevee was curious.
"They can play music, but I mainly use them to listen to whoever's calling on the phone, or if you guys need to tell me something." Ash xplained as he brought up a fresh data log on the laptop. "The laptop's how I keep track of any data you guys find...it also helps to tap into enemy computers and analyze physical evidence."
'Ring Ring! Rescue Force!" announced the phone, startling Eevee to the point of tumbling to the floor!
"Good afternoon, Pokemon Rescue Force..." Ash started as he helped Eevee back on the desk. "Mm-hmm...yes...what did this dog Pokemon look like?...I see...all right, we'll be right there." With that, he hung up the phone.
"Who was it?" Eevee asked.
"We've got a mission...your first." Ash replied. "Let's go, Rescue Force!" With that, Eevee hurried out of the office and joined her new comrades as the alarm began to ring...
To Be Continued...