"Huh, that's interesting. Looks like Sheer Force has more use than we thought."
"Nidoking?"
"Yeah, and you just happen to learn a lot of moves under the effect of Sheer Force. Too bad that many of these, you can't learn naturally. Oh well, we'll manage somehow."
Logging off from the public computer in Celadon Department Store, I then recall Nidoking back to his pokeball.
Following the event of our encounter with Leaf, Nidoking and I decided that it would be a great idea to do some more research about this ability. And oh boy, did we learn something new today.
Apparently, Sheer Force is not only just an ability that boosts the power of certain moves, but it is also a very overpowered ability when paired up with Life Orb.
Further research let me discover that Life Orb is an item that a pokemon can hold during battle. It is a battle item that has the property of boosting pokemon's offensive power, with some minor drawbacks being recoil damage.
However, an exception is made when Life orb is held by a pokemon with an ability, Sheer Fore. Instead of having recoil damage, Sheer Force completely negates all of the drawbacks, resulting in a boost of power from both Sheer Force and Life Orb. Now that is what I called broken.
*BEEP BEEP* A sound of vibrating can be heard from my pocket.
"Huh? Oh right, I forgot I bought a Porygon phone. Whoops!"
*CLICK*
"Gade? Didn't expect you to pick up so soon. I thought you'd struggle at figuring out how to use your phone." A familiar voice can be heard from the device. And sure do I recognize the voice of that snarky comment.
"What do you want, Proton?"
"I'll cut to the chase. The boss is calling you to his office."
"Again? What did I do this time?"
"Nothing really. He just has a mission for you."
"Ah, got it. I'll be there in 10 minutes."
"Good. Be sure to heal your pokemon. From what I heard, you're going to get yourself in some nasty battle here." *CLICK*
...Huh. Well, ain't that relieving.
"Wow, I'm surprised! You actually made it on time!" Proton states smugly
"Fuck off, will ya?" I lightly jab his shoulder. "What does the boss want anyway?"
"Dunno. We'll about to find out once all of the executives are in the office."
"Wait- ...All of them?!" Just exactly what kind of mission is this!
"Heh, you sound amazed. Think you couldn't handle the job?"
"Whatever! Let's just get this over with!" I then increase my pacing, quickly making my way toward the boss's office.
After Proton and I enter the room, we were met with 3 familiar faces. Archer, Ariana, and a guy with a short purple goatee who wears the same uniform as Proton, with a slight alteration of yellow stripes from collars, all the way to the bottom.
"So they called you too huh, Petrel?" Proton asks him.
"I could ask you the same question, Proton. Who's the new guy?" Petrel points his finger toward me.
Also, am I allowed to be offended by his mole? I don't like the way he has a mole under his left eye.
"Did you forget already? This is Gade, the guy I told you about?" Proton places his hand on my shoulder.
"Ooh! Now I remember. You're the guy that throws sand at Proton's Golbat. Way to go, buddy!" Come on! This again?!
"It was a one-time thing, really. I doubt I could even pull that stunt again."
"Don't belittle yourself, Growlithe" Um... Growlithe? "You're gonna go far, I can tell from the way you look." Gee thanks. That's actually the first compliment I receive here.
"Ahem! If I may, we're not here for chit-chat." Archer reminds the rest of us.
"Right, sorry."
"Anyway, now that all of the executives are here, we can finally begin our meeting. If you may, Ariana?"
"Of course, Archer. If you all would please pay attention to the hologram." A 3D image then appeared in the middle of a table. It looks like some kind of cruise ship. "What you're seeing here is S.S. Anne, a well-known luxury cruise liner that sails around the world. The ship has a schedule to stopping annually in Vermilion City Port, which is today." Oh... so that's what the mission is about. "And you, Gade, will be the one to infiltrate it."
...Huh?
"Good luck, Growlithe."
Huh?!
"I believe in you."
HUH?!
"WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT!" I wave my hand wildly. "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!"
"Watch your language!" Archer warns me.
"Sorry! But seriously, I need an explanation!"
"Right, I'm supposed dropping that bomb would be too overwhelming for you anyway." Proton scoffs.
"Is there ever going to be a time where you would stop taunting me?"
"Nope!"
"Ugh... just explain."
"Nuh-uh. What's the magic word?"
"Proton!" Archer glares at the turquoise executive, giving him his last warning.
"Alright, fine. I'll explain it to him."
After the explanation, I finally understand why is it that I have to be the one to infiltrate the ship.
According to Proton, I am the one who's low profile enough to infiltrate the ship without raising any suspicions. I also happened to be the only one who can hold a battle on my own, unlike any of my associates whom Proton quoted "Is useless, according to my word." Damn that man and his guilt-tripping.
"So you got everything? Or do I have to write it down for you?"
"Shut it, will ya? I got it. I ain't deaf, y'know."
"Oh really? You could've fooled me."
"You!"
"Enough! We're not having a fight. Seriously, both of you are grown-up. Starting acting like one already!" Archer raises his voice, making the whole room go silent. "Now that you two are done, Gade! You will follow Petrel to pick up your supplies for this mission. Only take what is necessary, got it?"
"Got it."
"Alright, you may all dismiss." After Archer concludes this meeting, Petrel then leaves the room, followed by me as we make our way toward the supply's storage.
"Proton wasn't kidding when he said you are interesting," Petrel states casually.
"You weren't the first to say it. People usually tell me that I'm an interesting character." And yet I have never scored a girl in my entire life.
"Still, I can't help but be curious. Why did you join Team Rocket anyway? Not that I complain."
Actually... that's an interesting question. Why did I join Team Rocket anyway?
"Honestly... I don't know. When I first started my journey, I don't exactly have a plan on where else to go. So you could say that I was kind of lost or something. Team Rocket just happened to be there, so I take it."
"Mhm." Petrel nods in acknowledgment. Eventually, we arrive at the supply's storage.
"Alright, just stay here while I go pick up your stuff. You can look around if you want, but don't touch anything." Petrel then goes off to go get my stuff for the mission.
I decide to waste my time by looking around the storage as Petrel suggest. As I'm still looking around, my eyes catch on the item that's sitting on the shelf.
"Hey, what's this?" I ask Petrel while he was still rummaging through some stuff.
"What's what? I can't look from where I'm at right now. Describe to me what it is."
"Well... it looks like some kind of boomerang shape gadgets. Instead, it has a lever attached to the middle of it."
"Ah, you must be talking about a gun."
"A... gun?"
"Yeah, I doubt you would know about it. Nobody really uses a gun anymore when you have a pokemon that can blow itself up."
"Okay...? But what does this "gun" do anyway?"
"Basically, it shoots a mini-rocket."
"What? That's so cool!"
"It truly is, too bad they stop manufacturing it. What you see there is probably the last of its kind."
"Oh..." Shame.
"...say, even if someone were to steal that gun away, I don't think anyone ever going to remember it in the first place."
"Really?"
"Yeah. In fact, why don't I teach you how to use it."
"You sure about this?"
"Why not, it's super easy. First, all you gotta do is..."
Once we finished preparing supplies for the mission, Petrel and I use Alakazam to Teleport to Vermillion City.
"Here it is, Growlithe. Vermillion City. Good luck on your mission." Alakazam then Teleport Petrel back to the base.
Welp, here it is. My first solo mission. Better not mess this up.
Making my way toward the ship, I stop to flash a forged ticket to the guard before he let me enter. Once inside, I begin to scan the area, looking for a room that's void of people. Eventually, I stumble upon a janitorial closet, which is good enough for me to move on to the next step.
Entering the room, I'm met with many of the cleaning utilities. Taking out my backpack, I pull the zipper and open the bag to bring out a big circular pad and a yellow tool.
A warp pad and a silence drill.
Placing a warp pad down, I use the drill to set up the device before activating it and do a test run by warping the drill away, which is a signal for the other team that the warp pad is ready.
After a while, one of the Rocket grunts warps into the ship. "So... this is SS. Anne? I'm expecting something fancier." The grunt looks around.
"It's a janitorial closet. Don't expect much, even from a cruise ship. Anyway, I'm gonna go distracted the crew while you take over the ship."
"Will do."
Stepping out of the closet, I make my way toward the deck. Thanks to the party that they have, It is where most of the passengers are at right now. All I have to do is distract them, use any means to keep them from entering the cabin and wait until the operation is done.
That is... until we have some unexpected character present at the deck.
"And I said, I'm not just cool, I am Tenta-cool. Ahahahaha!" Of all people that could've been there, it has to be Lance of Elite Four. Fuck. My. Life.
"Anyway, ladies. I have to get back to my cabin soon, so if you will all excuse me."
"Aw! Lance!"
"Come on! Stay for a bit!"
"We love you, Lance!"
"I know I know. But the Elite Four has his duty to attend to."
Ok, this is not what I sign in for. Blue? I could deal with him. Lance, fuck no!
Still... if Proton was here, he's probably going to say something like "Aw? Are you whismuring out? I thought you were braver than this. Oh well."
Ugh screw this, here goes nothing. It is do or die!
"Um... Mr. Lance sir?"
"Yes?" Lance's attention quickly shifts toward me. Boy, when you see him in person, it really gives off a different pressure than his magazine cover.
"I was wondering... that if we could have a pokemon battle?"
Silence.
And quickly follow up with a burst of laughter from Lance.
"Buddy, do you know who I am? I'm Lance of the Elite Four. You can't just have a battle with me." Lance smiles, patting my shoulder.
"Huh, I guess you aren't that tough after all." Immediately, Lance's smile dropped. His grips on my shoulder tighten, almost hurt.
Lance then scoots a little closer, almost whispering into my ears. "Listen, are you sure you want to do this. People are going to see you get humiliated by me."
"Are you sure you aren't the one afraid of getting humiliated?" Heh, now I have his attention.
"...fine. Have it your way." Lance is no longer in his cheery mode. Instead, it was placed with a pure fire of determination in his eyes. "Ladies and gentlemen! Today, we have a challenger!" That earns a few gasps and attention from the crowd. "May he please announce his name."
"The name is Gade! And I'm going to be the one who takes you down!"
"Such bravery! But can his skill live up to his courage? Let's find out. Go! Dragonite!"
"Dragon...NITE!"
"Let's do this! Go! Nidoking!"
"Nido... KING!"
The battle has finally begun.
Nidoking (Male)
Nature: Rash
Type: Poison/Ground
Ability: Sheer Force
Move set
- Chip Away
- Sand-Attack
- Horn Attack
- Fury Attack