Ch 5: Sir's Office

There was a breaking story on the news about a scuffle that had occurred in the northern region of the Gord Woods, near Peltagrow City. Details were little to non existent, with the only solid facts being three dead pokemon, a fair amount of human blood scattered throughout the crime scene, and a severed ear. The Pokemon had been identified as a Togepi, a Spearow, and an Arbok. The Arbok had clearly been the antagonist in the story, as the Togepi and Spearow were clearly killed by the Arbok, but someone or something had killed the Arbok, impaling it with a sharp piece of wood. The reporter was interviewing a young Pokemon trainer, who was looking excited to be on TV and holding his Poliwag. The boy only recalled seeing a young man kneeling over the Spearow and a man dressed in all black (the gang colors associated with Team Anonymous, a Pokemon crime syndicate) rolling around on the floor in pain. The boy had heroically ran to the Peltigrow Police Center to alert the authorities but by the time the police had arrived at the scene, both suspects had disappeared.

"So, do tell me, what is your name?"

The man asking this question was seated behind a large mahogany desk, very expensive looking, with a computer monitor being the centerpiece on top of it, playing the news clip of the reporter interviewing the young boy, but it was muted. The desk happened to be in front of a window that had the curtains pulled over it, darkening the room which had the signs of being an office, with bookshelves and file cabinets stacked against the wall, an Ursaring-skinned carpet stretched along the floor, and two uncomfortable chairs facing the desk. The man was wearing a red bathrobe, as if he had just stepped out of a sauna, and did not seem to fit in at all with the formal setting of the office.

"People call me Snake," came a reply. The man answering was wearing all black, and was missing his left ear.

"Because you have a tendency toward Arboks, I presume?" the man in the red robe asked, smiling politely despite Snake looking like he just came out of a warzone and was giving off body language saying he did not want to be here.

"Pretty much."

"And do you happen to know what people call me?" the man in red asked, despite knowing that Snake knew exactly who he was.

"Sir."

"Correct. Very good. And, Mr. Snake, do you also happen to know why I called you down here to my humble abode?" Sir grabbed the mouse of his computer and enlarged the clip. He then turned the computer screen in a 90 degree angle so that it was now facing Snake and the answer was practically screaming in his face, yet Sir remained completely calm and relaxed.

Snake looked at the clip, and was instantly reminded of the pain of losing his ear, and how loud the pain had seemed, if that makes any sense. The cameraman was zooming in on the puddle of blood that belonged to Snake, and Snake's loins curled with rage.

"You're a smart man, Mr. Snake. I think you know." Sir exited out of the clip, much to Snake's relief. "Mistakes were made. You agree with this?"

Snake nodded.

"Good, you agree, so we won't have to waste time with the whole blame game," Sir laughed, though his laughter sounded fake and forced, like a car salesman. It gave Snake the chills, and Snake was not an easily intimidated man. "Now then, Mr. Snake. Perhaps you can explain to me why this was so blown out of your control?"

"Okay," Snake began, taking a deep breath. He knew if he said one thing that would displease Sir, he would be executed in moments. "So, I was hanging around the Center in Peltigrow, just looking for some easy cash, you know? My quota was coming up, today actually, and I was short 400. But I saw this kid who was carrying a ton of cash on him-"

"Hold that thought," Sir interrupted. "A kid? So you're telling me you lost your pokemon and your ear and embarrassed this organization...over a kid?"

"Well…" Beads of sweat were running down the back of Snake's neck. "The news isn't actually stating that it's us. It could be one of those other gangs. So it's not actually anything to be embarrassed about, Sir."

"How many other gangs are operating on this island, Snake? Do tell me. How many active gangs do you think are on Ilragorn? I'd love your thoughts on that subject." Sir leaned back in his chair, his arms folded over his chest, still smiling his movie star smile.

"I...I don't know, Sir. Five?"

"There is us, and that's it, Mr. Snake." Finally, Sir's smile faltered, and a look of dark seriousness clouded his face. "The only other gang that was even relevant was The Family, and I eliminated their lieutenants a long time ago. They're nothing now."

"Yeah, I know. But the media doesn't know about all that, I think, Sir," Snake attempted to show his subordinate status, despite knowing that the media had no clue about the weak condition of The Family.

"Team Anonymous is known for wearing what colors?" Sir put his fake, perfect smile back on.

"Black."

"That's correct. So if a little boy identifies someone in an illegal Pokemon battle involving three dead pokemon wearing all black colors and fleeing the scene of the crime, what gang do you think the public is going to be thinking is involved with this?"

"Anonymous."

Sir pushed his chair back, and rose from the desk. Snake momentarily thought that Sir was going to release his Pokemon to slaughter him, but Sir settled for strolling to the other side of the desk and sitting in the second chair, beside Snake.

"Why was this 'kid' such a problem?" Sir wondered.

"He had a lot more Pokemon on him than I thought, boss, that's it. He caught me off guard is all, 'cause he had them all out of their balls. I didn't think they'd be out of their balls, but I had to go for it anyway. I needed the cash." Snake thought that sounded like a reasonable answer.

"Yes, I actually had one of my dear friends do some investigating on these Pokemon, I'm sure you'll be glad to know," Sir explained as he stood again, only this time he walked over to one of his many file cabinets, popped open the top drawer, and started rifling through what sounded like hundreds of folders. "Where is it? Where is it? Ah, here. According to this Peltagrow Gym file, his Pokemon were…a Togepi, how threatening...a Spearow, which lasted 10 seconds during its gym battle according to this...an Emolga, oh well no wonder you lost...and a Skorupi." Sir snapped the folder shut and threw it in Snake's lap, looking upset. "These top tier threats are what caused all of this? A Togepi and a Spearow?"

Snake was too stunned to answer. He instead opened up the file, which had the information of the four Pokemon he had identified as fighting to his boss, who Sir had apparently taken enough of an interest in to locate this gym match file which had occurred earlier that day. The trainer's name was Adam Hunter. The file stated his parents information, his address, his older brothers name, his hometown.

"The kids address," Snake mumbled, more to himself than to Sir.

"You're not going there, so don't get too attached to the idea of paying him a visit."

"What?" Snake was surprised. He was certain Sir showed him this file as a way for Team Anonymous to show that if you fuck with them, you don't get away with it. "But this kid killed my fucking Arbok...Sir."

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that, Mr. Snake. Why were you only carrying one Pokemon on you? That's just asking for situations like this to happen."

"My Arbok ate the rest of my team."

"I see," Sir was baffled at such a poor answer, but recovered. "Be that as it may, I have no interest in wasting anymore of this organization's resources, money, or time on some teenager who got a lucky headshot on your Arbok. As hard as this may be for you to hear, no offense, I order you to not waste anymore time on this child. Do you understand?"

"I couldn't even if I wanted, Sir. I don't have anymore Pokemon."

"I will give you one of my own. She's more than overqualified to deal with the task I'm setting you up with."

"Sir? You...You're giving me one of your Pokemon?" No one that Snake had worked with had ever even seen Sir whip out a Pokemon, but there were wild rumors of the insane power they must undoubtedly possess, from being trained by the leader of Team Anonymous.

"Indeed, on the condition you do some recruiting for a while. Let's keep you out of the city and doing some trainer-hunting. We'll keep you on the Routes and in the woods so you don't have to deal with law enforcement."

"Of course, Sir. Whatever you want." Snake was just relieved that he wouldn't be killed today.

"First trainer we're interested in recruiting is a very wealthy girl named Stacy in Wintervale City. She could be quite the asset to us, if her gym record is any indication. Also, a young man named Evan who's currently in Lunaris Town. Recruit him as well."

"You got it, Boss."

Sir reached into one of the lower drawers in his mahogany desk, and pulled out a pure black Pokeball. He handed it over to Snake.

"Remember: you are not to harm the boy. We are not wasting time on him. If I find out that you disobeyed me, there will be repercussions."

"I promise, Sir. Just recruiting. Stacy and Evan. I'll get 'em."