TWO YEARS LATER, INSTITUTION FOR REGIONAL DEFENCE.
"Doctor, you've already been disciplined over this twice already." The calm voice of their superior sounded out. "A third one would look very bad on your record."
Doctor Volya Valentin stumbled over his words as he tried to rephrase his proposal so as to get his boss to at least consider it. However, the woman sat at the desk before him had a pursed look on her face with an impatient expression, tinged with irritation. "Ma'am, all I'm saying is that we should really consider expanding our reconnaissance abilities. If you take a look at the report I've given you, you'll see that we could really benefit from better intelligence gathering. Our primary purpose of Pokemon control would be much more streamlined and even more out of the public eye if we could hit ever more precisely, as well as other threats-" The man's thickly accented voice was cut off then.
"And there we go, Doctor. The magic words I was waiting to hear." The woman interrupted with a sarcastic voice, before sighing. "Look, Doctor Valentin, I get your issues. As one of the few military experts on the planet in military equipment procurement and logistics among other things, you are merely doing your job. But the matter of fact is that I can't in good faith approve of most things you bring me. We are not at war, doctor. We haven't been in over a century. There is no need to go looking for 'other threats' when there is most likely no such things, for years to come." The woman paused as she then slid back the report the doctor had put on her desk back to him, not even having glanced at it. "I'm sorry, doctor. But the IRD is not an institution that seeks out threats when its primary goal is to merely preserve the peaceful status quo."
The doctor blinked as he looked very put out, picking up the clipboard before his face became determined as he spoke. "What if there are other threats out there that need to be dealt with? The 'status quo' does not take into account everything that could threaten the public, in which case the IRD would have failed the people it has sworn to protect!"
The woman merely let the irritation show on her face as she looked back up to the military expert. "Then such things wouldn't escape what we already have, doctor."
"That would be so if you hadn't been defunding such efforts since the creation of the institution." Valentin bit back. "You employ me as your expert to give you the information you need on these matters, but when you have it, you just cast it aside! What use am I here if you are not even willing to listen to what I have to say?"
The woman looked at him civilly then. "That may be a good point, doctor. As you'll find, the world has perhaps no need for such expertise anymore. If I were you, I'd consider picking up one of the career transfer forms in the human resources department." The woman spoke then in a level tone. "Good day, doctor. You may leave now."
Glaring at his superior furiously for a moment as her eyes were turned downwards, the doctor said nothing as he settled the file in his hands and spun on his heel. Walking smartly out of the room, Doctor Valentin moved right through to his own private office, past all of the other employees in the building who momentarily looked to the fuming doctor before averting their gazes. It was not the first time it had happened.
Opening the door hurriedly to his office before closing and locking it to ensure some privacy, Valentin sighed before slumping into the chair at his desk. Rubbing his temples with his fingers before brushing the bristles of his moustache, the man sighed as stress was prevalent on his face. It was as if he was being driven mad by the general non-compliance to his ideas and opinions that he had been hired to give.
It never occurred to the man that it was him who didn't fit into the trend of the workplace ethic, not that the others were treating him harshly for his ideas.
Trying to get his mind off of the maddening dispute he had just experienced with his superior, the man quickly logged into the computer at his desk. Slipping on the usual white coat he wore as he rubbed his bald scalp, Valentin opened up the document he was compiling on the explosive breeding rate of the Spearow evolutionary line in the woodlands south of Viridian City. Giving a sigh at the mundane work, the military expert got on with compiling the report he felt was woefully beneath someone of his expertise.
Or so he would have, if the office phone hadn't begun ringing then making the doctor's ire rise again as he was interrupted so soon into his work. Taking a moment to breathe out before looking to the phone, his interest was raised instead as the display panel on the office phone read out a number that neither he nor the phone recognised. Normally for anyone, that wouldn't have mattered - if it wasn't for the fact that Doctor Valentin was in a facility which only had its office phones linked to an internal system. Theoretically making outside calls inoperable.
Picking up the phone anyway despite the unknown quantity of it, Valentin listened to the low buzz that permeated into his ear, signalling the line was active. "Hello? Who is this?" The doctor spoke into the phone, his heavy accent only emphasized on the active phone line.
"Is this a doctor Valentin I am speaking to?" The voice on the other end spoke, making Volya take a moment to listen to it. Masculine with a slight deep tone reverberation, deliberately schooled to sound neutral and guarded, yet somehow was tinged with a natural apathetic tone anyway.
"It is." Valentin confirmed into the phone to continue the conversation as he hit the record button on the office phone. "Who is this? How do you have this number?"
The voice on the other end gave a mirthless chuckle. "Don't sound so inquisitive, doctor, it should be no surprise that people can gain access to the institution's systems for someone like you. You've been talking long enough about the state of funding to your superior, no?" The voice spoke, an amused tint entering it now. "Your security was terrible for someone like me."
Valentin was thinking quickly as he analysed the speech and its patterns, deciphering several factors. Whoever they were, they had inside knowledge of the institution, as well as hacking expertise to access at least a non-critical system in the institution. Probably a utilisation of the second factor to get the first. However, it appeared that his caller had also underestimated him as he dragged up the current details of the ongoing call onto his screen, having the sufficient credentials as a military expert to do so.
"If it was as terrible as you say, then how come the system has already tracked you to Petalburg City in Hoenn?" Valentin questioned back, his eyebrow raised at the seeming audacity of the mystery man. "Are you saying you hacked into the institution for defence and didn't even disguise your call?"
A louder laugh came down the line then, an actual tone of amusement behind it this time. "I meant the security was terrible for someone like me, doctor. I have no doubt that most people would face at least some difficulty getting into a place like your systems." The voice spoke then with mirth. "Perhaps you ought to check my location again, Mr Valentin."
Valentin did so as he flicked his eyes back to the monitor again, and raised his eyebrow once more as he saw it was actually him who had been the one underestimating his caller. For the screen now read that their location was in Lumiose City, within the Kalos region.
"Very well, I will give you more credit." Valentin commented, before his tone turned more serious. "But the question left to ask is why you would hack into this institution then, and more specifically contact me."
"A good question, doctor." The voice on the other end mused. "I would say your reputation proceeds you."
Valentin found his interest piquing again as the caller basically confirmed that the doctor was the focus of the conversation and not anything else. "Oh? Is that a good or bad thing? My reputation is unfortunately, rather imperfect."
Of course, the doctor didn't forget that he was dealing with someone so overtly breaching the law, but the authorities could deal with it all later and it would be out of his hands. For now, so long as he didn't reveal anything related to his work or such, he could let his interest guide him. He always had been more of an... individualistic person than any of his colleagues.
"It depends on who you ask, doctor. The colleagues in your workplace aren't too recommending of you, but to other people who would point me in the direction of someone who knows their stuff, you are apparently one of the few well-known people in such areas." The unknown person spoke, a little amusement still in their tone. It would seem that the caller was able to humour him, making them that bit more intriguing to the doctor.
"Well then, so you got my name from people who pointed you to me. The question still remains of why you would want me." Valentin spoke, his heavy accent prevalent as he stated his question.
"I have a proposal for you, doctor." The voice turned deadly serious in the blink of an eye, making Volya reflexively sit up a bit. "One that would require heavy use of your expertise. What would you say initially to such a thing?"
Doctor Valentin remained silent for a few moments, the person on the other end giving him all the time he needed to go over his thoughts - before the man then reached over and forcibly stopped the recording on the phone. "I would say you have my attention." The doctor spoke quietly then, as if afraid that someone outside the locked door would hear it. "Tell me more."
"Very good, doctor, very good - I assure you, this will be worth your time." The voice praised. "The reason you stand out to me so much is not just because of your expertise, but also your ideals. You have been disciplined twice primarily because you argued for an increase in intelligence capabilities for such things as threat detection, and against the defunding of more areas of the military. Rejected for the fact that those concepts would 'threaten the peace', no?"
Valentin leant forward onto the desk to lean on it as he grunted. "Those are the exact words on my employee record, down to the response my superior gave me. You've certainly done your homework."
The voice chuckled again. "Consider this among my area of expertise, Mr Valentin." The nameless person spoke, before they grew serious once more. "In all seriousness, however, Mr Valentin, I regret to inform you that such a threat has indeed come up."
Volya stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "That's what I've been afraid of all along, but you'll have to excuse me if I don't just jump to agree with every random stranger who calls me. Perhaps you could tell me more?"
"Not on an unsecured line like this, I can't, doctor." The voice denied. "Suffice to say, I'm putting together several plans to counteract this threat, and I want you to be a part of it. I can promise you good pay, resources and people who'll actually listen to you, doctor. Also, you can back out at any moment and pretend we never met, right up until we've finalised an agreement, if we come to one. I'll tell you right now, Mr Valentin, that I'm going to have to insist on when your in, you stay in. But, you would actually get to do what's been denied all along to you by the institution you work for, doctor. What do you say?"
Valentin pushed himself off the desk as he looked to the report on the monitor he had just started working on, before looking back to the phone. "You had my attention." Valentin spoke. "Now you have my interest."
"Excellent." The voice spoke with a satisfied edge to it. "Let us meet. I know you get off of work every day at roughly five p.m. on the dot, and pass along Kell Avenue on your way home. Take that as you will. But in a week's time, meet me at the Coffee Corner on the left side of the street. If you're still interested then, sit down opposite me at table eight. We can talk proper details then, and not over an unsecured phone. If you're not anymore for whatever reason, then simply don't show up, doctor."
A moment passed before the man on the other end began signing off. "This has been a wonderful conversation doctor, but I don't wish to take too much of your time. I wish to see you in a week."
"Wait!" The doctor snapped out to stop the person quitting the call, succeeding as the line stayed active. "Give me a bit of rope here. Who are you?"
"I daren't say such a thing over a phone like this, doctor." The voice spoke. "But you'll know when I see you in person in a week."
Valentin took the phone away from his ear and looked at it strangely, the end remark lodged in his brain - the way the man had said it, it was like they knew he would be coming for sure; despite their assurances that he could back out. Putting the phone back into its cradle gently, the doctor thought on it some more before plucking up a pocket notepad and jotting down the details upon it. As he finished and turned back to the report he was compiling, he found it would be at least an hour before his mind stopped buzzing enough for him to concentrate.
MOUNT SILVER, SAME TIME.
Mount Silver was a notoriously treacherous place, widely known across the Kanto and Johto regions not just for the fact that entrance to the mountain which sat on the border between the two regions was banned, but that rare Pokemon made their home there. It was such a dangerous place to visit, with steep, loose slopes, dark caves and more aggressive than normal Pokemon, that a trainer required all sixteen badges from Kanto and Johto and the authorisation from a Pokemon League official just to get in. As very few people got such authorisation from the League each year to get to the most dangerous location in both regions, it was as such a rare event for a trainer to reach the top of the mountain. A dream that millions of Pokemon trainers across the planet would like to achieve, but perhaps just a couple of people each year actually accomplished.
The dream to challenge Pokemon Master Red Ketchum on the peak of Mount Silver, for the chance to take the title.
Right now, however, Red was far from the official track normally used by the few trainers who did reach the top, instead now standing in the more isolated and private caves that he called his far-away home on the mountain. A place unmapped and unknown to everyone bar a few - just the way Red wanted it.
Flipping closed the Pokegear in his hand and disconnecting the wire from the device which led to his personal computer, Red lit up a cigarette as he stood up. Glancing about the furnished room that sat in the heart of the caves which sat atop the peak, Red took a moment to ponder. The room was not some damp, miserable place that had four walls of rock that would madden even the apathetic Red, but rather walls of planked wood which hid the rock from view and gave it a more homely feel. There was working electricity and water, the undertaking of which Red hadn't done as he threw open the door - revealing the corridor that was on the other side.
Glancing at the concrete walls as he strode down the structure, Red paid it no heed as he inserted a key card into a second metal door at the end of the short corridor, using his other hand to take another drag on the cigarette. Stepping through the opening door after it disengaged its locks, it then recognised his motion and slid smoothly shut behind him, Red rounded a corner and emerged into a more unfurnished space - but a large one.
It was a large rock cavern, naturally made at first but with evident signs of artificial expansion to it, which widened it to the extent that an entire Pokemon league stadium could fit in it. But, it was not being used for such entertainment purposes, as it was instead a hub of busy outfitting and equipment. A few helicopters lay in the heart of the cavern, having maintenance performed on them by several engineers, as quite a few other vehicles lay to the side of the cavern in storage. At least two hundred people were scattered about the cavern, performing maintenance, shifting supplies into other off-branching tunnels or even just standing guard.
"Ah, boss, you're back." A high-pitched masculine voice sounded out from behind him then, instantly recognisable to Red as he exhaled on his cigarette without any need to turn and look. He performed an aura check on the ex-criminal's mind like he always did to assure himself, but as always, it was a clean outlook - hence why Red allowed the scientist to keep his high ranking position.
"Charon." Red replied as he continued to gaze at the cavern. "Have you been behaving yourself?"
"Come now, boss, you know you can trust me. Just because I was once a criminal doesn't mean I'm not now dedicated to your cause." The named Charon answered as he bumbled over to join Red. The grey spiked hair of the scientist came into view for Red as he stood there, the brown eyes of the much shorter and pudgier man meeting the dark blue of Red. "Besides, how could I ever misbehave with all of these wonderful scientific discoveries and expeditions I undertake in this little outfit of yours?"
Red had the loyalty of the short scientist, and even Charon knew it. The laidback, relaxed attitude of the man meant he was rather uncaring for the ideals of his superior - to Charon, so long as the work he undertook involved some exciting science and a plentiful budget, he worked diligently. Cyrus had used that to his advantage, and so did Red - and that was combined with the fact that Red had actually saved the man's life.
The things that differed between Charon's previous and current employer was the fact that he was secretly scared by Red. At least if Cyrus found him after his defection from Galactic, he wouldn't be able to get in his head.
Red just hummed as he turned back to looking at the cavern. "Don't waste the budget now, Charon. It's not as big as Team Rockets' is."
Charon blinked as he looked up to his superior. "You really mean it, don't you? We're seriously planning to take on the world's largest and most heavily armed criminal group?"
Red only nodded. "Indeed. They have to be stopped."
"Fair enough, boss." Charon answered as he shrugged - it wasn't like he'd be involved in any fighting. He was just interested. "How are you planning to do that, though? There's no way we could grow within a few years to even start approaching their level of strength. We lack both the resources and manpower!"
"We can, and we will." Red spoke simply as he inhaled on his cigarette.
"But how?" Charon questioned.
"You leave that to me." Red replied as he looked seriously to the shorter man. "You know that there are multiple plans and projects going on within the faction, two of which will hopefully answer that question."
Charon just shrugged again. "Alright."
"How goes the faction, anyway?" Red questioned, wanting a summary of what had been going on. "How is the rate of armament going?"
"The faction itself as it is now is fine. We have enough incoming rate of supplies and such to maintain a good standard, the more refined details of which will be in the report I sent you just yesterday." Charon replied. "But procuring more equipment, men, and growing the faction - heck, getting hold of weapons? I'm seriously struggling, it just isn't my area of expertise, boss."
Red grunted as he flicked away the cigarette butt and looked to Charon. "Don't worry too much about that." Red answered. "Just keep up the rate we're going at now. Give it a month, and it'll soon be out of your hands."
Charon looked intrigued. "I take it Volya Valentin responded quite well to your proposal then?"
"Correct." Red stated. "I meet him in a week."
"But how can you be so sure the doctor will join us?" Charon questioned.
"You joined, didn't you?" Red replied with a question. "People like you will always join when the promised reward is too great for them."
Charon looked at Red, not knowing if he should feel insulted or somewhat complimented.
OAK'S LABORATORY.
Synergy's attention was quickly diverted from her processing state when the Pokegear on Ash's desk began to ring, distracting the boy from the studying he had been doing. Picking up the blue device and opening it, he saw that the caller was from an unknown number. Looking at Synergy once, Ash just grunted as he recognised the identity of the caller anyway.
Picking it up, Ash spoke. "Hey. How's the weather over there?"
The voice on the other end replied. "Good. It's looking particularly sunny among the rocks today."
The phone cut off in Ash's ear then, making the boy sigh as he then placed it back down on the desk. Drumming his fingers on it, Ash spoke. "That was my father."
"What would he have you be doing today?" Synergy asked immediately, crimson eyes looking to Ash.
"Aura." Ash replied, standing up and putting away the study materials. Every time his father called and didn't specify a time, it was the fact that they would be starting straight away, even if Ash was in the middle of something. There would be no point putting it off, his father always somehow knew when he was busy or not. Any attempt to find this 'contact' of his was met with failure.
Synergy grunted this time, a mechanical sound that signalled her pondering. "It was just yesterday that you went to the rocky enclosure. Poor Riolu is still trying to catch up with you."
"You know very well that my father couldn't care less about anyone else, Synergy." Ash replied then without even looking to her. "I see him every two weeks and he drives for nothing but results. I'll admit though, it works great."
Synergy only looked to the boy as he spoke, not responding. Ash had changed, there was no way around it. Oak thought it was the result of getting shot and having that experience scar him, and whilst that was partially correct - Lance was closer to the mark. She had seen the way the Champion was now poised to defend Ash, having overheard the topic of Red Ketchum come up numerous times between Oak and Lance. The dragon master knew that the Pokemon master had been involved in some aspect with his son, even if it was just a simple conversation.
The robotic Pokemon could only just imagine how much the man would shudder if he ever found out that Red wasn't threatening his son, but rather teaching him.
Red was having a marked influence on his own son. Ash had become more wary, guarded over the last two years - as if the man was passing down the knowledge that he had to spend life looking over his shoulder for threats. Synergy wouldn't have stood for such behaviour if it wasn't for the fact that such a threat had already come true once, and perhaps would do again, as well as this future threat if the man was to be truly believed.
All Synergy knew was that Ash would never be like his father. Not whilst she functioned, and that he had others like Oak, Lance and a few friends to rely on. Similar in some aspects, yes, but perhaps that was necessary - becoming an isolated mountain goat who only cared for a few things like results was not necessary.
Ash turned to look at Synergy, and questioned her. "So how's the teleporting coming along? Is it battle worthy yet?"
The robotic Pokemon only sent an unimpressed look to the boy before grabbing hold of his arm and suddenly teleporting. For Ash, the world instantly spiralled about like the entire horizon just spun on itself, before it snapped back in an instant as he momentarily stumbled forward. Catching himself quickly, the boy spun to face the armoured Pokemon - only to see her beginning to move off as she spoke. "Next time you try to be subtle in asking something, don't address the topic so directly. And yes, I'd say it's pretty battle ready."
Ash stayed silent at the Pokemon's remarks as he just sped up to catch up with her striding across the rocky plain. Only a minute of walking was required before they reached an elevated patch of rock - an outcrop that they began to walk up. Getting a few metres higher, Ash could see the beginning of the formation of a natural pit, a strangely shaped one that made it look almost like a crater with a lot of steep sides. The outcrop they were upon fortunately then descended on a more gentle slope - that Ash decided to take as Synergy just jumped forth into the pit.
The orange dragon lying in the centre of the pit looked up sharply at the loud metal noise that thus occurred, a large bodied orange lizard with a cream belly, long teal wings and stocky legs. The analysing visage on its face even appeared intimidating with the two visible fangs and two orange horns, a long snout that one could tell was home to a large array to sharp teeth. It gave a snort as it observed Synergy before looking over with an amused glint in its eyes as it watched Ash descending.
A glowing aura construct suddenly came down towards Ash's head, making the boy suddenly throw out both hands as he turned and create a shield from his own aura. As the weapon rebounded off of the translucent layer of solidified energy, Ash got a good look at his father who had hidden behind the rocks and awaited him. However, it wasn't over yet.
Red slammed a glowing blue fist into the shield, his better mastery of the art allowing him to cleanly break the shield - his aura construct swiping around again. Ash just managed to leap back, a blue rod emerging in his own hand as Red stepped forth. Slamming the two aura constructs together, the two began to trade blows - with Ash finding himself having to expend more energy and movement in dodging and holding against his father.
It ended as Red lashed out at Ash's left arm, making the boy tilt away from it as he then swiped his weapon at his father. It turned out to have been a feint on Red's part as his aura construct dissipated and instead used his hand to clamp down on Ash's arm which had performed the thrust. Transferring the momentum into throwing the lighter boy forth, Ash was sent to the ground a few metres away.
Looking up from his strewn position on the ground, Ash prepared to get up - only to pause as he saw his father pointing the barrel of a pistol in his face. The boy only blinked as the hammer slammed down on the weapon, letting out an empty click on the unloaded gun. He'd seen this too many times to be bothered by it now, just as his father intended to get over his phobia of it - as Red put it away. Striking up a cigarette, Red only spoke to Synergy then. "Time?" He simply stated.
"One minute, twelve seconds." Synergy intoned, facial plates twitching as she moved over and hauled Ash to his feet.
"Seventy-two seconds." Red spoke to himself, before giving a satisfied nod and looking to his son. "Very good, son. A new best time."
"Right." Ash stated as he dusted off his arm, only looking to his father with a serious look. It was a normal enough routine by now.
Red looked at his son with an examining gaze, before speaking. "How goes your aura training without me?"
Synergy just observed as Ash answered. "Well enough. Lucario says my aura shield is at a good enough state that we're beginning to work on aura sphere now. It'll take a few months at least though, because it's one of the most advanced offensive aura moves known, what with all the formation exercises and everything."
"Good, good. That'll help you." Red stated. "Once you have mastered aura sphere, it's like most things just start flowing easier. When you've done that, we'll move onto more exciting things. But for now, let's continue with trying to understand Charizard here without bonding through aura."
Ash turned to look at the orange dragon who just grumbled at him. "Got any tips?" He asked.
"Yeah. Don't think too hard on it." Red replied smartly.
Synergy just looked unimpressed at the smoking man before speaking to Ash. "Aura bonding is definitely something that allows a connection to be established between two organisms to allow better understanding of one another. I won't go into the biological theory of it, but basically you should try to emulate that connection without bonding." Synergy paused before speaking. "Though you should use aura. Try mediating on aura using the head and hand exercises, whilst also focusing on Charizard."
Both Red and the robotic Pokemon watched as Ash took a couple of paces forward before sitting cross-legged before the Charizard. Ash took on an expression of concentration as he focused his energy around the skull and in between his hands, before opening his eyes - to see Charizard looking right back.
Red just exhaled some smoke as he gestured to Synergy. "You know, how's the boy supposed to learn anything independently if you just tell him everything?"
Synergy just looked over with a neutral expression. "What's the point in rediscovering a technique already found out?"
"It's about reinforcement, to help apply your own skills through discovery and self-learning." Red answered. "It worked for me, didn't it?"
"Yes, you're the very definition of an expert, aren't you?" Synergy spoke.
Red said nothing in the face of the armoured Pokemon's sarcasm. He knew that if he replied, it'd just be inviting upon himself a speech of logical points of how much the situation was against him - he'd been down that road before.
"Besides, I don't trust that Charizard of yours." Synergy stated then.
Red just took another drag of his cigarette. "Please. Charizard wouldn't do anything to my son."
Synergy looked over to the man with an analysing look. "Does your Charizard not possess the same temperament the rest of its species is notorious for?" The Pokemon questioned. "If so, how did you achieve that?"
"Oh no, Charizard does have that." Red clarified, chuckling as he took the cigarette from his mouth. "It's the fact that Ash is my son, and that he'd have to answer to me if he even growls at him. Now that, he doesn't want."
"Besides, I just fed him before you got here."
JOHTO, GOLDENROD CITY.
"Now, as you probably know, I'm not the type of person who would collaborate with criminals." Lance started as he stepped round and sat at his desk, placing his hands together as he stared at the woman sat in front of him. "But I need information."
"Then please speak, sir." The black-haired woman spoke as she gazed right back professionally. "And please, refrain from commenting about my employer's business dealings in an accusatory or unsavoury manner. Unless you are going to bring charges or legal proceedings, this will go much smoother should such commentary be kept to a minimum."
Lance just shook his head. "In this case, I'm afraid I have much bigger fish to fry than an information broker." Lance spoke as he drummed his fingers on the desk. "I need the information I requested on Red Ketchum."
The woman across from him in his private office only raised an eyebrow. "Where would you like to start, sir?"
Lance tapped a file on his desk. "I know about his official doings, that's easy enough for someone like me to access. What I want to know is his more underground activities."
The woman got his meaning as he nodded, before going to the bag at the feet of her chair and taking out a specific set of papers from the numerous files in her bag, before passing it over. "My employers said that your payment has already been processed. You'll find all we know about such activities contained within these papers."
Lance accepted the papers he was handed and just began to skim through them, before looking back up with an unimpressed expression on his face. "So not a lot, then?" He asked. "You assured me good information with the amount I had to pay."
"Oh, but that is considered good information for someone of the calibre of Red Ketchum, sir." The woman responded in a placating tone. "You must understand that we can confirm that the man you've asked for information on is a notorious figure in the wider criminal circles, not least for the fact that rumours abound of many differing illegal activities performed by him or at his command. But, he is very good at covering his tracks. The only definite activities we have on Red of his underground activities is his black market dealings, because he has to consort with other criminals rather than those he can rely on." The woman clarified to Lance, who merely stared at her as he took in the information acceptingly. "Why, getting hold of those financial spending on the last page I handed to you was the best information we could get, and that was very tricky to get."
Lance flicked to the last document in the stack of papers, and his eyes somewhat bulged. "Two billion Pokedollars? I knew he was up to something, but this scale..." Lance muttered to himself, before looking up sharply and speaking with a demanding tone. "Is this truly all you have?"
"Yes sir." The woman spoke with a completely serious face. "You should know that we don't really have any more information on Red Ketchum's black market dealings due to the fact that the only successful operative we had covering such factors disappeared."
Lance just closed his mouth as he sensed the truth, and didn't pry - it was obvious to determine that something had gone down with the 'disappearance'. Instead, he merely sighed as he ran his hand through his hair, seeking now to close up the short meeting with this criminal associate now that he had the information he paid for. Just a few more questions, and he'd start investigating those questions which hadn't been answered by this meeting.
OAK'S LABORATORY, TRAINING FIELD.
"Great work, Ash. You certainly have come far with your Pokemon." Professor Oak congratulated as he patted Ash's shoulder, Ash only nodding at him as he petted Dragonair's scales. Dragonair gave a trill in content before Ash recalled her into her Pokeball, putting away the capture device as he shrunk it down.
"Thanks, Mr Oak." Ash simply stated as he began walking back to the laboratory building with the aged researcher.
"No problem, Ash." Oak responded as he walked besides him, the two slipping into silence as they walked across the fields back to the building.
"Mr Oak." Ash suddenly broke the silence as they walked, startling the Professor somewhat as he turned to his adoptive son.
"Hmm? Yes, my boy?" Oak asked as he looked down at the boy, who was wearing one of his favourite hoodies as usual.
"I've been meaning to ask." Ash spoke in response, as he thought over what he was going to say. "How do you truly make a Pokemon strong?"
Oak looked surprised at the nature of the question, before smiling slightly. "You've been learning all sorts on how to make a Pokemon strong in all sorts of categories like physical strength, strategizing and others by me, Synergy and Lance." Oak stated as he put his hands his hands behind his back as he only gave a simple answer to the seemingly lengthy question, finding it better that way. "But true strength comes from simply getting to know your Pokemon, Ash. It's a bit like your education in aura, I suppose. Merely get to know your Pokemon as best as you can, bond with them and have complete trust in them - and they will be there for you unquestioningly to do all they can for you when you need them."
"At least, that's true strength to me." Oak spoke as he lapsed a bit again. "It worked for me, I became champion, didn't I?"
Ash looked up at the Professor and couldn't help but smile. "Thanks, Mr Oak." He spoke simply, before looking back down in thought.
It was certainly a different mantra of learning to his fathers'. And whilst he fully respected his father for his strength and his teachings, there was just something about Oak's ramblings that made him listen in that bit more.
MOUNT SILVER.
Charon walked into across the main cavern area of the base of operations, past quite a few engineers and guards before stopping outside of a particular door. Checking to see if he was at the right place - and finding it was so, given the big 'no entry' sign on the secured metal door. Swiping his laminated plastic key card into the reader beside the door, the green light flashed before the sound of hydraulic locks in the door's frame retracted, the door swinging open slightly before Charon pushed it open more and stepped through. Shutting it and watching it automatically lock itself again, the head scientist just turned and began walking to a specific room in the corridor, taking the file out from under his arm.
Knocking on the door, he waited.
The raven-haired man within halted in his work at the duel set of monitors on the desk, only lifting his head a fraction to flicker his eyes at the door. Popping open the notification that had come up, Red gazed at the live feed of Charon twitching impatiently outside his door. Hitting the green checkbox and unlocking the door remotely, Red only spoke a simple word. "Enter."
The door pushed open as soon as he said that, Red's apathetic expression not breaking as he fully expected the lively scientist to burst into his office - as soon as he was given permission. Not even Charon would dare step out of line with him.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of a personal visit, Charon?" Red spoke, his somewhat deadened tone masking the sarcasm in his voice as his head scientist looked to him.
"Something pretty big has come up, boss." Charon clarified as he put the file down on the desk in front of the monitors which were facing away from the grey-haired spectacled man. Red just glanced to the man for a moment before reaching forth and plucking up the folder, leaning back slightly as he opened it and began to read.
Things were silent for a minute as Red continued to scan through the contents of the folder, with Charon just fidgeting at the inactivity but nonetheless remained quiet. He actually jumped slightly as his superior lowered the folder sharply and sent a piercing gaze his way, the expression still neutral - but Charon had been around the man long enough to see the anger within his eyes. Fortunately not directed at him from the looks of it, as Red only uttered another word in the same deadened tone. "Explain."
"It's exactly what it looks like in the folder, boss." Charon stated as he pressed his hands together. "The Champion Lance has begun a quiet investigation around your activities, with more attention paid to your... more unofficial, endeavours. It really is being kept on the down low between him and only a few G-men agents - we only found out about it due to the fact that our most prominent contact in the black market let us in on the Johto information broker's inquiries. It was then simply following the thread back across the information broker's network to the source of the inquiry, which was pretty surprising when it came up to be Lance."
Red just nodded as he withdrew a document from the folder and scanning it, before looking to Charon and waggling the slip of paper at him. "Sum up how much of our operation has been exposed, Charon."
"From what we can tell?" Charon replied as he answered. "Fortunately, we estimate not much, boss. It's still pretty early on in the information broker's dealing, and the worst thing we could find that had been exposed was the total amount of money you spent in the Johto black market. Whilst a possible marker in the scale of our Johto operations, nothing else was gleaned fortunately according to our contacts. But I must advise, boss, should we let this continue..."
"Then who knows what will turn up. We can't clean up everything to stay hidden as we have, ironically enough." Red murmured as he finished Charon's speech, more to himself as he thought. Looking sharply up back to his head scientist, Red spoke as he began to form a plan. "But we can stop the people who would pick up the dirty trail the police couldn't." Red only smirked slightly to himself as the irony struck him again, given how they couldn't touch the police if they wished to stay hidden.
Charon just rubbed his hands together as he awaited his orders from his superior who looked like he had finished forming his plan of action. "What will it be then, boss?"
Red grunted. "Squad 4 has experience with cleaning up operations, do they not?"
The grey-haired scientist just nodded in affirmation. "Yes, they're the most experienced squad with those sorts of things."
"Good." Red let out. "Have them travel to Goldenrod City immediately then."
"What will they do there, boss?" Charon inquired.
Red continued to read through the document he was perusing as he spoke without looking up. "Equip them with the silenced pistols. This won't be a standard silencing job, either." Red instructed as he turned the page, only pausing to look to Charon and made sure to convey how serious he was. "This will be a total elimination of the Johto information broker based in Goldenrod City. The location and details of such nature should be on file. I want you to tell squad 4 that I want no chance of recovery for the information broker network in Goldenrod City, you hear? If Lance wants to start using criminal alleyways to find out more about me, I'll just have to show him whose the more adept of us in basking in the underground."
Red then paused as he thought, before then waving his hand. "Add all of Lance's contacts in the city into the picture too. They should also be on file."
Charon frowned as he thought over that, before speaking his mind. "But wouldn't that make him suspect you further, boss?"
"That's the point, Charon." Red calmly replied. "If we shut down most avenues of inquiry for the man, he'll eventually just confront me, it's in his nature. It's a nice warning to him, one he won't stop at - thus he will eventually confront me, as I can shut down his contacts faster than he can make them pop up. And when he does, then I can put a stop to this."
Charon continued to frown but nonetheless inclined his head. "You're the boss. Was there anything you wanted me to do?"
Red gave a hum to himself, before nodding. "Yes, actually. Two more things, whilst I think about it really. First of all, how goes the building schedule of the third facility?"
Charon thought on that before replying. "Still a while to go yet, boss. We may have started construction four years ago, but the matter of fact is that something this big with the sheer nature of the facility - it'll take another year, I reckon. Then there's the matter of supplies..."
"Don't worry about supplies. I have our good friend Mr Valentin on the hooks now, and it'll be just another week before he joins us." Red interrupted with a smoothly flowing answer. "But I expected it to take longer, actually, given its nature like you said. You have impressed me, Charon. Good work."
Charon just calmly nodded his head as all his nervousness disappeared then. "Thanks boss."
Red looked the man fully in the eyes as he gestured to him then. "Good. Now, the second thing was that it is finally time we expand our own operations. With Rocket's plans still to take at least another six years, should we finish up our own expansion in a year, we have five years to start beginning our operations seriously."
Charon looked seriously at his superior. "What would you have me do, sir?"
"All this talk of information brokers has given me an idea, Charon." Red replied as he put down the file. "To that end, have squads 2, 5 and 6 mobilise and go to Viridian City. They have two months to take over the major Kanto information broker network. Give them access to our own system of contacts to help them in this regard."
Charon nodded again. "If that's the case, boss, what will they-"
"No offence, Charon, but I do not pay everyone here a good wage just to inspire loyalty. I also employ squad leaders for their good skills and experience. Tell them to come up with it for themselves this time." Red interrupted, before leaning back again and giving his head scientist a dismissive gesture. "That will be all, Charon. I will take care of any other matters that may arise."
"At once, boss." Charon responded, before turning around and quickly striding out the door, Red's eyes on him all the while as the door automatically closed on the scientist.
JOHTO, GOLDENROD CITY. THREE DAYS LATER.
"What?!" Lance snapped out as he stood up then, his cape flying out slightly as he strode around the desk to snatch the paper from his fellow trainer's hands. "Are you sure about that?"
"Positive, Lance. Koga went himself to check it out, and there was just nothing there." Karen replied to the anxious dragon master. A blue-haired woman in her usual yellow dress, the woman before Lance was the fourth and strongest member of his Johto elite four, and a fellow member of the government task force that Lance headed - the G-men.
Lance skimmed over the document Karen had handed him, and sure enough it spelt out in much more detail just what his strongest elite four member had told him. The building in which the Johto information broker had contacted him from had been completely emptied out, not a single sign of anyone having habited the place. Minimal furniture was left behind, all documentation and personal effects just gone from the place. It was as if it had been put on the property market.
Lance just clicked his fingers together in thought before he merely came up with a small order. "Well, they were useful to me, but criminals are still criminals. Get in contact with two of our contacts in the city, tell them to find out where they've obviously moved to-"
He was interrupted as Karen shook her head at him. "No can do, Lance. This is the second thing I wanted to tell you about." Karen spoke. "I'm afraid all of our contacts in Goldenrod City have stopped communicating."
Lance certainly stopped then as he looked round to face Karen seriously. "All of them?" He asked for definite clarification, his tone urgent.
"All of them." Karen confirmed to the man, who merely strode back round to the desk, the elite four member discerning the anger in the strides as the dragon master moved. "I'm afraid we have no idea what happened to them. One, or maybe even two contacts not communicating to our responses wouldn't be too alarming, but it's all of them across the entire city."
Lance knew how serious that made the situation, as he joined the dots in his head. This was Johto's capital city, and thus the place where most of his contacts and agents frequented. For all of them to 'disappear' was very alarming to him, and concerning as it put a serious damper on his own intelligence gathering. He couldn't rely on the IRD for such things and had to take matters into his own hands - which had seemingly now been removed from his hands.
The connections between these incidents and his own investigation involving the information broker was too clear to ignore. Things like this didn't just happen coincidentally - not revolving around figures like Red Ketchum. He had inquired about Red very discreetly one day, and just a few days later his entire city-wide contact network gets knocked out along with the biggest information dealer in the country? It may have been done silently and out of the public eye, but Lance knew that someone like Red had left the connection behind for him to pick up on.
"Lance, do you have any idea what's happening?" Karen asked, finding herself at a loss with the situation.
"Yes." Lance spoke out, surprising his fellow trainer. "As a matter of fact, I have a very clear idea of who was behind this." He answered in a grave tone.
Red Ketchum had given him a clear warning. Dangled in front of him, to tell him to go no further into this.
Lance merely narrowed his eyes as he picked up the Pokegear and dialled Oak's number. He had to establish a few facts first, ensure the safety of a few things. All before he challenged Red in whatever he was up to.
VIRIDIAN CITY GYM.
The hand that emerged from the wealthy and comfortable suit sleeve petted the cat Pokemon's head that purred at the touch, the pale tan cat leaning into the hand with a content smile. The brown haired man looked down at the feline's content noises, a smirking smile making its way onto his face, the black eyes sharing the smirking emotion with a glint in his orbs.
This was Giovanni Sakaki, the criminal leader of Team Rocket, petting the mainstay Pokemon that everyone officially or otherwise knew to be part of his iconic image - Persian.
Perusing the report in his other hand, the business suited man just widened his smirk at the seemingly glorious, to him, contents of the paper. Putting down the slip of paper and instead picking up the phone, Giovanni just leant back as the phone began to connect to another device.
"Ah, my fellow doctor." Giovanni greeted into the phone, pausing as the person on the other end of the phone recognised his voice and quickly slipped into paying proper respects. "Mr Fuji, we have known each other too longer to remain so formal with one another! Please, this is merely a short call as I ask for some details to complete the formation of some plans I had in mind."
The telephone conversation was indeed short, lasting less than four minutes as Giovanni quickly got the details he wanted. Mr Fuji had earned his position back into Giovanni's good books after the disastrous incident five years ago that almost uncovered a part of his operations; now that the highly knowledgeable doctor had performed well on his assigned project.
"So, just on a curious note doctor, how goes both projects?" Giovanni asked with a slightly amused tone of voice as he listened in. "Oh no, I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist on a scheduled timeline of when they'll be complete. They are sucking up more than half of Team Rocket's total revenue, of course."
Transferring the phone to his other ear and settling more comfortably into his armchair before giving off a barking laugh. "Excellent news, doctor. I am very glad to hear that everything is on schedule." Giovanni spoke then. "Yes, goodbye now, Mr Fuji."
Putting down the phone and resuming his motions of petting the feline Pokemon, Giovanni looked to his Persian with a wide smirk. "Six years, my sweet. Six years, and we can begin proper operations." Giovanni mused out loud, seemingly basking in his euphoric contemplations. "I have waited a couple of decades for these plans to come to fruition, and I can wait several more. Why, given just seven years, and the world will begin to be in the palm of my hands."
The receptionist outside of the door quickly noted that her boss was not to be disturbed as she heard the laughter through the door. He did not like to be bothered when he was in such moods.
Calming down, Giovanni looked back down as his Pokemon mewed at him. "Oh, do not worry." Giovanni answered as he rubbed a sensitive area behind the ears for Persian. "I know better than to allow myself to be unprepared in any regard. No doubt that infernal Ketchum is up to something, but I don't think he has much idea of Rocket's upgrades over the past decade as he sits on that mountain of his. I shall assign an admin to plan for countering threats, but I don't think we need to worry too much."
"After all, my sweet, the world has indeed gone soft. We shall see how submissive it is when I threaten to burn it down."