15
The sun starts to set in the west, and a pale orange glare hits the exterior of Giovanni's. The club is only a few stories tall but looks quite wide from the outside. A white, modern building with pointy ceilings and window walls, this place definitely fits in well with vibe of Celadon City.
Erica or is it Erika? She just told me that this is where Team Rocket went, but I can't believe it. Aren't the bad guys supposed to live inside a cave or a dungeon or something? I have put my dress clothes back on from earlier, the black pants and purple shirt.
As I think about hunting down Team Rocket in this fancy club, I can't help but imagine I am character in a spy movie. I'm at the casino and soon I will meet the arch villain for a game of poker or rummy. Afterword I'll follow him to his secret lair. Someone will track my location with global positioning system and try to give me instructions. Sometimes I'll listen, but other times I'll improvise. Ah, wouldn't that be cool!
But my imagination can't blot out how I feel at the moment. I don't know anything about gambling or how to look cool investigating people. Can people tell why I'm here? Do they think I'm just some weird stalker?
I have this lump in my throat, sweat on my brow, and the fear that people walking by will catch me at any moment. As they pass, I imagine them staring me down and reporting me as a suspicious person to the police. I can see myself pleading my cause before a judge, "I was only trying to stop the bad guys! I'm on your side!"
"Red? Are you ready?"
Green walks up to me from the crowd, and my nervous stupor quiets down for a moment. She has on her purple gown from earlier. The street lights make her flower hair piece reflect the colors of the rainbow. She has put on some make up and red lip stick to highlight the finer features of her face. I drink in the look that is Green like a strong beverage and realize my mouth has opened and quickly shut it.
My date smiles and offers me her hand, and as she gets close to me, I can smell a new perfume in her, a blend of pine and cinnamon. Mmm!
For a moment, I lose myself in the moment than remember where I am. Why did I agree to come to this place? I shouldn't have looked into Team Rocket tonight.
Green will feel like second best and probably never date me again. Way to blow it Red!
"I am really sorry. I wish we didn't have to be here tonight."
"Huh? Are you saying you want to cancel the date?"
"What! No, that's what I meant. What I'm trying to say is I wish I had not run into Erica this afternoon. I wish we would have had the chance to go on a date first and worry about Team Rocket later."
"Well I agree with you on that. I guess you and I just have to chase Team Rocket like a dog chases cats. Ha ha! But I wouldn't worry about it, I mean look at this place! She didn't point at some creepy warehouse. This looks like an amazing place to have some fun. And seriously we will be lucky if we can find those two guys. It's so big...well what do you think? Do you still want to go?"
"I do! I really do! I just wish I had heard about this after our date? You won't be upset with me for messing up tonight?"
"You didn't mess up tonight. This is STILL our date."
She wraps her arms around, and I feel her body press against mine. God, she is so beautiful! I want to kiss her right here, right now.
"HEY GUYS! The door is this way!"
A wild and annoying ruckus in khakis and a blue shirt trounces by us. Feeling violated from the clanging of his voice, I glare at Blue trotting by and try to burn a hole in the back of his head with my eyes. The fact that he doesn't seem bothered by his interruption somehow makes me only angrier.
"Whatever, let's go."
Green and I pull back from one another with a sigh.
"Yeah, hey Green, have you ever been to a place like this on a date?"
I guide her in the door and let a hostess know we're here to eat. She grabs some menus and starts walking us back.
"No! Ha ha. I mean look at this place. Are you kidding me?"
As we walk to our table, we pass aisles of slot machines, a fully stocked bar, no two bars, three! Then I see a man-sized chess board and a stage in the center of the room with Elvis Presley impersonators.
"Whoa! Look at that?"
"I don't believe it!"
The lady seats us at a table a few rows back from the stage on the right and close to a water fountain that stands up to the second floor. People up stairs look over the balcony down at the top of the fountain but it's just far enough away they can't touch any of the water.
"So I'm doing pretty well for a first date then?"
"Oh Red, of course! I mean don't be silly. I'm not exactly dating all the time or anything. I spent all of my time studying or helping my mother around the house. You know, this will only be my fourth date?"
"What?"
"Yes, I went out once, well sort of, with a guy named Ben Ryoshi then two dates with David Kishoi. I guess he was sort of like a boyfriend but not really. That's it."
"Ah wow, I mean I don't remember seeing you dating anyone while we were in school come to think of it, but I just figured you must have been dating. Well so you got to tell me what happened. On the dates I mean."
"GOOD EVENING! Can I take you drink orders?"
The waitress comes up to our table with the friendliest face yet she still manages to startle me. Green giggles at me and when I look at her she tries to hide her smile behind a hand.
We both order waters but don't even check the menu when she leaves. I think I'm hungry but just have to hear a little more.
"OK, so let's see. Ben's dad knew my dad, and they would go fishing together. I liked fishing and so did Ben so he asked me to go out fishing with him once. Not really a date I guess. I thought the idea was really cool and got very excited, but nothing happened. I mean we fished and talked about fish. It was nice, but there was no spark. I saw him many times more but never alone."
"And David?"
"Yes, David was different. David was a boy I actually had a crush on in high school. He came up to me in class one day and talked to me. David asked me out so of course I said 'yes!' We went to west Pallet and got ice cream at Scoopy's."
"NICE!"
"Right? It was nice. We had a good time. I mean there was this cute boy from soccer team, and for some reason he wanted k be on a date with me! All the way back home, he held my hand and told me how pretty I was, and I felt really good most of the night. That is until we got back to my front door, and he tried to kiss me before the date ended."
"Kiss you?"
"Yes, I hadn't been kissed before, and here is this guy springing it on me like a trap! He was forceful and didn't have the best breath. I felt like he was trying to eat my mouth!"
"Oh how awful! Wait a second! So no kiss before that...so that means that David was…"
"Oh don't say it!"
"…your first kiss?"
She looks down at the table seeming quite defeated and nods just enough that I barely notice it.
The waitress comes back and
asks what we want to eat. I haven't looked at the menu and neither has Green. We pop ours open frantically and as the waitress is about to say something about coming back we say "yes!" a little too emphatically. She leaves, and a silence comes back over us.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to poke a bruise."
"It's OK. I just haven't really talked to anyone about it other than my mom."
"If it makes you feel any better, I haven't been on a date or...kissed anyone...like that."
Green is looking at me curiously now. I can't tell what she is thinking. Is that a smirk forming on her face? Is she blushing? Stupid! Why did you say that? Say something Red!
"I mean technically in elementary school this girl named Lulu came up to me and kissed me in the hallway. I was so confused! I thought for a minute that we were going to get married or something, but it was just some stupid dare her friends put her up to."
"Ha ha ha! That's so cute! But you didn't marry her, right?"
She smiles and I feel the tension in my body start to melt like butter on warm bread.
"No! It wasn't meant to be."
She laughs and grabs my hand. Electricity courses through me. I watch quietly as she rubs her thumb gently over my knuckles with a steady tempo. Her hand is warm and soft, thinner and smaller than my own.
"And you didn't date in high school either than?"
"No, I was always with Blue or band or science club. There were girls in school I liked, but I never knew how to talk to them or if they were single obviously!"
"And you saw Daisy when you went over to Blue's house."
"Yes, she was probably the only girl I ever spent time with on a regular basis. I hadn't really thought about it like that."
"And well she is incredibly pretty so of course you fell for her."
Is that jealousy? Are we still unresolved about the cruise incident? I have to respond to this statement carefully.
"Well yeah, but to be honest, Daisy was just a good host. I mean Blue lost both of his parents and his grandfather is always busy so it was up to her to entertain us and feed us. I was getting normal attention from a girl and thought there was more to us, but there wasn't."
"I could see that."
"OK. So let me go back to your story! You had THAT bad experience with the kiss monster, but you gave him another shot?"
"Right! I did. I let him kiss me and tried to enjoy it. It was supposed to feel good right? I mean kissing...well anyway it just wasn't very good. I actually tried to avoid him the next day and then the rest of the week. He finally chased me down in the hallway, and I wanted to tell him I wasn't interested in him, but he asked me out, and I said yes!"
"Why?"
"I know 'why Green?' Again, cute guy showing me attention, girl's brain goes out the window! Anyway he asked me to come over to his place and watch some scary movie. I don't like scary movies but sure I'll go. His parents would be upstairs and let us have the living room to ourselves he told me. My parents were iffy but let me go.
"I get there, and his parents are out of town at some party in Viridian! I'm kind of mad at this point and let him know, but he just says they are coming later and not to worry. I get on the couch, and he gives me a bowl of popcorn and grabs a blanket for us to snuggle in. I'm sitting next to him trying to watch this film and thinking everything is going to be fine."
"But?"
"But he starts trying to kiss me again, on the neck, in the cheek. It's so sloppy! Then he starts trying to put his hands all over me under the blanket! I turned and slapped David right in the face. I spilled his popcorn bowl on his head and bolted out of there like the place was on fire!"
"Whoa!"
"Whoa is right? I told my parents, and they hugged me and helped me calm down that night. When I went to school the next day, everyone just stared at me and didn't talk to me. They all knew I hit David and thought I might hit them, too. Maybe I would have if anyone tried to make a joke about it."
"Geez and that was it for you and dates huh?"
"Dates, yes! Crushes, no."
"Right, there was Blue."
"Yes, there was Blue, and then my friend and I got into an argument about that and now I...I don't even want to talk about her."
"Oh the one that liked him, too. OK."
"And you didn't ask out Daisy? Is she the only one?"
"Huh? I mean yes, I didn't ask out anyone. Thought about some people, but not really. I...OK can I say something about Daisy?"
"Go on," she says giving me a look over. I'm being studied again.
"OK, yes, Daisy is a pretty girl, but she was also the only girl I really saw on a regular basis and only because I visited Blue."
"We've been over that."
"I know. What I mean is she just told me last week that I'm like a brother to her. That sort of ruins it for me!"
"So she is not competition anymore then? Is that what you're saying? Ha ha!"
I see her face light up with laughter and joy. Each smile is like a small prize just for me.
"Ha! No, she is no competition for you."
"Oh...that's nice."
Green pauses and doesn't speak. Feeling confident, I go on.
"Green, I always thought you were a pretty girl back in school, but I never got a chance to know you. I mean now I know that you are pretty cool, and I just love this adventure so far."
"Me, too!"
"But you are really wonderful and I mean look at this dress! You are just gorgeous."
I see her blush and feel her squeeze my hand with both of hers.
"Oh Red, stop it!"
"No, you are. It's true! And I want to say some other things. I blew it with the cruise thing. I did. I apologize!"
"It's in the past. I forgive you."
"Thank you! Oh! And about David...the way he was with you, kind of forceful, pushy..."
"Try gross!"
"Ok gross then! Anyway I want you to know that my parents didn't raise me that way. I was taught to cherish a woman, one woman, and make her feel safe and beautiful. I don't want you to worry about me hurting you or scaring you off like that. I feel privileged to be here with you."
"Red that is so sweet! I'm not worried. I'm not worried about you. I feel like...I can trust you. My father told me stories about your father after the war. He was a standup guy, and I never saw anything about you at school that made me think you were otherwise. Ha ha, you know Blue wasn't the only crush I had after David?"
"Oh? Who else was there?"
I ask the question and realize the answer after the words leave my mouth. It was me!
She leans forward, and so do I. Like magnets we come together effortlessly. I feel her arms reach behind my back and slide mine onto her shoulders. The touch of her skin makes my heart start beating like a drum. I see her lips close to mine and feel my mouth water. What is this excitement, this thrill? Her noses touches mine and our lips are less than a breath apart. Could this be our first kiss?
"RED! GREEN!"
We pause in our embrace only to see a frantic Blue standing over us. Feeling violated and confused, we both slide back into our chairs. I groan a little louder than I mean to but don't feel bad.
Blue doesn't say anything and rolls his eyes at me as if I somehow inconvenienced him and not the other way around.
"Guys! I saw Erica! Follow me!"
We both get up to follow him just as the waitress returns. I quickly look at the menu and point to the first two appetizers and tell her we want those for our meals. I don't even know what I choose, but I'm getting hungry and a little irritated. Anything will do.
She nods and walks off, and Blue goes on ahead of us to hunt down Erica. I'm beginning to wonder if he just saw or if even I saw earlier. Green starts to turn and follow him, but I reach out and catch her hand.
"Green wait!"
She turns around and I draw her into my arms. I pull her a little too quickly and feel her frame bump into mine. She looks at me with her brown eyes wide. I see the words in them without her saying them: "what is it? Is this excitement or fear? Am I safe with you?" I can feel the beat of her heart in her chest as it rests against my own. I lean in slow and gently bring my lips to hers. She makes the slightest moan as we kiss, and I find her lips dropping with richness sweeter than any nectar.
I bring my mouth back just enough that my forehead is still touching hers. She stares into my eyes and smiles. I feel warm and exposed suddenly and step back from her, but she holds onto my hands not letting me go.
"RED! GREEN! Come on!"
Our friend calls to us once more, and we remember where we are. The two of us share a quick laugh and follow after Blue.
"How was..."
"Good..."
"Yes?"
"Yes!"
I squeeze her hand and soak in beauty of the casino section. There are card games like black jack and poker, roulette, and slot machine after slot machine. There also seems to be many arcade games. Some are separated by themselves and are clearly meant for younger adults and kids to play just for fun. Other arcade games have slots for money as well. One in particular grabs my attention, the caption "Catch'em All" shines above the screen.
"Let's come back here if we don't find them."
"Sounds good to me!"
Just as my partner consents to more fun with me, Blue freezes in front of her causing her to all but fell on top of him.
"Oh, sorry. Hey, where did she go? I just saw her."
"Should we split up?"
"Yeah! I'll go this way."
Our ignorant friend speeds ahead without looking back and the two of us laugh once more.
"I just don't think that she's here. I don't think we need we'll find any bad guys here."
"I agree. I'm a little disappointed, but not much. OK, come with me and let's check out this game I just saw."
"OK!"
We make our way back to the arcade games and find four monitors for "Catch'em All," two of which are occupied by young boys. I sit down in a chair and Green takes the remaining one on my right turning, sideways to face my screen.
The premise of the game apparently is to use some kind of ball to catch Pokémon. Like a Bill Box, the ball is some advanced technology that makes something shrink to fit inside it, even a big Pokémon like Gyrados or Onix. What a fun idea for a video game!
I sit down at one monitor, and Green takes the seat next to me. I see places to insert coins or bills, a lever to select some options, five small buttons, and one big green button with the caption "Throw.
I pull out some coins and try hitting the buttons to modify some options in the game, but I can't tell if I'm making things better or worse. After hitting "throw" about four times, we decide that the game is rigged and get up to leave.
"Bummer!"
"You tried your best, Red. It's OK!"
"Bssst! Hey, come here!"
We look to our left and see a man sitting in front of a monitor for another game. His body is facing the screen, but I notice him holding out a slip of paper at waist height. I walk up to him looking both ways and take the form like a kid taking a gossip letter in the middle of class. Quietly and looking in every direction, I grab it and step back.
"Enjoy!" he says without looking up.
Weird! I look over the note and see a sequence of numbers that goes on and on and some of the numbers are circled.
"What do you think it means?"
"Hmmm…every seventh number is circled."
"Wonder why?"
"Red, it's a pattern. I have an idea. Let's go back and sit down."
Green has me sit back in the chair and hands me some more coins. I put them in then lean back as Green starts punching buttons for me. She looks back and forth from the screen to the paper like a gamer putting in a cheat code.
"Hmmm…"
She bites her bottom lip as she tries a few different combinations. Beautiful! I watch quietly as the word "Miss" flashes across the screen a few times. Then it happens.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"You caught Pikachu!"
"Great job Green!"
"Oh great job, Red! I just helped."
As we laugh together, a clerk dressed in all black shirt and pants with a white tie and black beret walks up to me. He quietly motions for me to follow him to his booth with the Element Crystals. Green gives me a shove, and I get up to follow him with her close behind. There is quite a collection of skills available, and I'm told to pick any I want.
"Look you can pick Clefairy! I got that one back at Mt. Moon!"
I look at the pink fluff ball that Green caught a skill from earlier. It's not my first pick but suits her. I also see an Abra, the cat like humanoid creature Blue got a Skill from outside of Cerulean City. It suits him.
"I caught this one, Nidorino!"
I point to the purple creature with big ears and a horn. Next to it is a blue, female equivalent of Nidorino called Nidorina.
"Oh look! It's like the girl version."
"Right! Oh look!"
I spot some scary looking Bug Pokémon called Scyther and Pinsir. They seem to be named so because of their appendages. One is green and has scythe like arms while the other is brown with two pincers on its head.
"Oh, it's so creepy looking!" Green says pointing at the picture of Pinsir.
"I like this one more!"
She points to a picture of a wolf cub animal with six curly tails. I read the caption under its face, "Vulpix."
"Ha! I could see you getting that one. Tell you what, I'll pick that one out for you."
"You will? Oh thank you!"
I point to the Vulpix picture, and the man grabs a red crystal and hands it to me. I give it to Green and watch as she cracks it over her hair. The resin quickly disappears in her auburn hair briefly causing a twinkle in her flower piece. Her eyes flash red and her arms twitch for a moment and the skill takes hold.
"Cool!"
"Yeah, are you happy with that one?"
"Very much!"
She leans close and kisses me on the cheek and for a second I feel my body jolt with excitement. I could get used to this.
"Kid. Hey kid!"
"Yes, sir."
I snap out of my daze and look back to the man that gave me the crystal.
"Hey you want one, too? Ted gave you the code right?"
"Ted?"
"Ted Ninno, he's the guy that built the game. It's really hard to win, but Ted has a soft spot for lovers. He always gives the code off to some couple. I think he was a romantic back in the day. I used to tell him to quit, but it doesn't hurt anything so I gave up. Ha ha! Go ahead, just give me the letter first if you don't mind."
"Uh…OK!"
I produce the code and hand it to him. The clerk smiles and says something to himself then waves to the Crystals, cueing me to look again.
"I'll take the Scyther!"
He hands me a brown, green Crystal, and I crack it in my hair. I feel some new abilities come into my mind and incision the green BUG creature attaching its prey with its scythe like arms. Then a strange calm come over me. I check my Skillfinder and see four dots now instead of three. It dawns on me that Green, and I have four skills.
"That's four skills. We can only get two more each."
"Well I'm very happy to add this one to my collection. Thank you mister!"
"Yes, thanks so much!"
He smiles and tips his cap before giving a quick bow and walking off. Green takes my hand and smiles at me. I can't imagine this night getting much more exciting. How lucky am I?
16
"Bsssst!"
We turn around and this time see Blue sitting at a monitor though he is starting right at us in contrast to Ted just a moment ago. He avoids yelling our names and running like before and simply points to the edge of the casino. We look and see Erica! She is standing by a staircase in what looks like a heated argument with the two men from earlier. Unlike earlier however Erica isn't wearing her typical kimono but instead has on a black jacket and matching black skirt. The ensemble definitely gives her a pretty her less refined look than I'm used to.
Suddenly one of the men grabs her arm and pulls her with him down the stairs. The other follows closely behind.
"What's happening?"
"Blue, it looks like she might be in trouble."
"Whatever! Let's follow them and find out."
We both nod and follow Blue to the staircase. As we approach I start to hear the roar of electronic music from below. With each step, the light from overhead gets darker and the music a little louder. At the bottom of the steps, lights of every color begin crawling across the walls.
We cross a packed dance floor my zigzagging through gaps and frequently bumping into people. No one talks just presses forward as we see the trio go behind a black curtain at the end of the room. When we reach it, I see Erica walk by herself into a room on the right of a long and empty hallway.
"Hi friends!"
Turning around we discover that the two men that accompanied Erica on the street were waiting for us. They block the only exit we know out of here and smile at us like hungry wolves. The guy in the right is skinny with dyed purple hair underneath a black cap while the one on the right is more muscular and blonde without a hat. They remove their outer coats to reveal their black costumes and the glowing red "R" on the breast of their shirts.
Blue runs at them for a Tackle, but the blonde delivers a Mega Punch first. The attack is one I saw on TV and impacts with Blue's face just like it did with another fighter when I saw it performed last time. The attacker drives his fist forward with incredible power such that a small gust of air hits us from get away and the impact makes a solid slam!
"BLUE!"
Green covers her mouth in terror as the purple haired man catches a bow unconscious Blue before just as he is about to collapse to the floor. He picks him and throws him over a shoulder like a sack of potatoes and motions for us to get back.
"Go on kiddies! If you don't want to take an early bed time, you better go join your friend in there with Alfie."
Alfie? We don't have a shot at giving these guys it seems. Green looks at me with her eyes and mouth open. I grab her hand and nod. For now we will go with these guys and if we're lucky, we will get a chance to escape later.
We turn and into "Room 6" here we see Erica sitting at a table by herself while a man dressed an older man in a black and white suit stands uncomfortably over her. His bald head shines under a single spotlight as well as his shark like smile which he reveals to us as we come in the door.
"Butch! Jesse! Who have you brought to join us? More of your friends Summer?"
"Summer?"
Alfie looks at us curiously and purses his lips like he is deciding which person to eating first then makes a smile fully intended for us. Yikes!
We sit down next to Summer who looks up at us nervously for a second then goes back to staring at her hands. Jesse as Alfie called him puts Blue down next to her. As he starts to come back around, I watch his eyes as he looks around at everyone in the room in confusion and shock. When his eyes meet Summer's, his eyebrows furrow and his gaze hardens.
"What is going on? Just who are you?"
"Ah buddy you are out of the loop aren't you?" Alfie answers for Summer. "Let me clean up the mess here. You see this girl here, she's no Erica, she's no Gym Leader, heck she's supposed to be a good spy, and she's not even that."
Alfie and the other Rocket members chuckle. I feel my heart racing but try my best to slow my breathing down. I have to be ready for any chance I have to get out of here alive. I look over to see Green panting and looking frantically around the room. I still have her hand in mine and give a tug. She looks my way, and I quietly motion to her with my mouth to take a deep breath. She nods and mimics me then closes her eyes and clothes my hand as she tries to focus on her breathing.
"Green, think of somewhere safe and go there in your mind. We will get out of here," I promise to her in my best whisper.
"Cute!"
Alfie steps over to me and leans forward bringing his ugly mug close to my face. He could bite my nose if he wanted, and I wouldn't put it past him.
"Look you there, it's nothing personal, but you shouldn't be messing with Team Rocket. Summer here for your knowledge is not your friend. She has been spying on Blue here's grandfather for us or she was supposed to. She has also been coloring outside of the lines lately and the boss, well he runs a tight ship. Can't have anybody running their mouth or causing trouble so it's time somebody got thrown overboard."
He leans back and cranes his head over to Summer.
"It's not true...I did what I had to do. I got information. I didn't do anything wrong. And Daisy was my friend...that's all I asked for was a friend..."
Summer sheepishly tries to explain herself to Alfie who has started chewing on something in his mouth. Hopefully his own tongue.
"Please I didn't want these thee two get involved. Let them go at least. I can prove I'm honest later."
"Sorry sister! Normally I'd like to give your pretty face a good listen, but Jesse and Butch here got eyes in their heads you know. Saw you chatting with Red here at the library and giving winks to Blue here at the casino. Oh did I forget mention that our stolen goods got restored right after you popped into town today?"
"For the last time, I didn't take the Silph Drive! You searched me and my place already! What more do you want?"
Alfie leans in close to Summer and cups her face with his hand pulling her up out of her chair. I watch as she grab at his hand and resists.
"I'll find that Silph Drive Summer or you'll find your sister in the morning paper. Don't make me keep asking. I'm not one for being tested."
This time I make the bold move to lunge forward. Tackling Alfie from the side, I knock him off balance causing him to release Summer. I hold onto his collar with one hand and strike him with the other in a swift array of swipes that claw up his face. I think this is called Fury Cutter, and it leaves quite a collection of red marks. He staggers back and covers his face letting out a low growl.
Behind me I hear a commotion and turn to see Blue being thrown the air by Butch and Green Biting Jesse in the hand. He flinches then tries to bring a Karate Chop to her head just as I intervene with another Tackle. I knock him back and grab Green off the floor. Turning back I see Blue getting off the floor unsteadily, grabbing his head with one hand. He looks at me with wild eyes and waves us away. I look around the room and as that I can't get to him or Summer without running into our enemies head on.
Jesse lunges at me, and I dodge just in time to get out of the way. As I leave the room, I see Butch grab Blue from behind and carry him over to Alfie. He doesn't put up a fight and words to me once more, "Go!"
I run out the door headed for the curtain we came through only to see three Rocket Grunts with whips out. I stop on my heel and turn to the right where I see an elevator opening though no one seems to be coming out of it.
"Red! The elevator!"
I dash towards it not letting go of Green's hand. We get in and look at the walls to see only one button marked by the letter "G" as well as the alarm button which simply rings a bell. I hit the "G" button and gold my breath as the doors close in front of the angry men chasing after us. Once they realize they can't stop us, the angry men stop and glare at us as the metal doors block them out of view. I let out a sigh as we start to go down without interruption.
"We left them...I left them..."
"We had to Red...I'm sorry. I didn't help you at all down there. I just froze!"
I turn to her and see a tear coming down her face.
"Red, what was I trying to prove? I'm not like you and Blue. I'm not brave like my parents. You saw Team Rocket and jumped to help to first chance you had, but I just...I was so scared."
"Hey..."
I pull her into my arms and kiss her on the forehead and smooth her hair back from her face. She leans into me and buries her head into my chest as I speak softly into her ear.
"We never thought this would happen. You reacted the way any normal person would. Don't beat yourself up. Blue told me about how you fought Misty, and you were the one that got me to get serious about starting this journey. You told me about your Dad, and how badly you wanted to clear his name."
"Yes..." she says pulling back and looking at me as she wipes a tear from her eyes.
"I know you're scared. I am, too, but that isn't who you are. You are a warrior, Kyomi Hayashi...that's who you are."
"Red...you are..."
But before I can hear what she says, the door opens. We are greeted by the sight of a personal office with an oak desk in the center. I believe a man is sitting behind the desk but only see the top of his dark haired head behind mounds of files and papers.
"Come in!"
At first I hesitate, partly hoping the door will just close, and reopen to somewhere outside of this place, but instead it remains wide open.
"Come in! Come in!"
We look at each other then slowly walk into the room to see the same Rocket Grunts from earlier. How did they get here so fast? It felt like we went down several floors.
"Satoshi Himura..."
I hear the voice of the man behind the desk as he comes out to see us. He is well dressed in suit and bow tie. A tiny button of an "R" shines back at us from his left lapel of his jacket.
"Well not him exactly but his son. Himura died in the war. I saw him die."
He smirks as he walks toward me, eyes trained on me like a wild cat in the jungle. I feel my eyes squint at him and tighten my jaw.
"What do you mean saw him die? How do you know who I am? How do you know my father?"
"Oh ho! Red, that's what you go by right? And Green here, too. Blue is with our traitor downstairs. I know all about the three of you. The question is do you know who you are?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did you get those badges so quickly when it takes normal trainers so much longer? Where did Oak find those rare Pokémon skills you have? Why wait to train now when Team Rocket is on the rise? I'll tell you why my boy! It's because you are all part of Oak's mad scheme to resist me. Ha ha! He dares to defy me now with teenagers. What irony that he would turn Himura's son of all people on me!"
"What are you going on about? What do you have against my father?"
"Your father! Ha! Your father was so heroic. Oh yes, he died to save Kanto from itself. But did anyone tell you that he did it for glory? Himura died to make a name for himself, but he didn't have to, no!
"He had his orders, and he disobeyed them. Because of that he and many others died as martyrs. Those fools died and took all the credit, but my unit found the bomb. We worked with the Champion of Kanto and had a plan in motion.
"Instead my unit was left behind like fools and forgotten. I needed that victory...my family...my honor...ruined by some idiot heroes. Now they haunt me by sending me their children!"
"Our parents fought for the safety of all and the peace of Kanto. You take that back!"
Green yells waving a fist in the air like a protester at a rally. I see her confidence has returned and a familiar fire behind her eyes.
"So you blame the people that died for this country for stealing your thunder and made Team Rocket. Why?"
"Good question, Red! I'll tell you why. When my family came apart both biological and military for that matter, I wasn't the only one that felt that Mashmo or whatever his name is striving for peace was the correct response. Kanto is weak and our economy in decline. One good attack from our neighbors again, and we'd become some colony or territory."
"You have a solution to keep that from happening then?"
"Yes, I will take this country by force and lead an outfit properly prepared and trained to make Kanto great again. Unova, Johto, Sinnoh! These nations will tremble at the sound of our name."
"That's what you want, fear? People ARE afraid of you. Great job! Although most people are afraid of thieves, murderers, and bombs so what did you expect?"
"Well Red, what I expect is for them to realize that the system in place won't protect them. Oak knows better than this. Relying on our champion and some misfit trainers called Gym Leaders to enforce laws is embarrassing. You saw Misty. She was so easily led outside of her town by one of my agents, and a small team was able to steal Crystals galore!"
"I also remember taking that guy and the band of thieves you sent to Pewter City to jail!"
"Ah yes, you did play your part didn't you? Well I appreciate your efforts, but maybe I should tell you what you're up against and as a mercy I'll let you end this crusade without punishment. Observe!"
The Rocket Boss points to his wall and several monitors that I didn't notice before come alive. We see footage from cameras covering the whole building including the casino and restaurant as well as multiple floors of what appears to be storage rooms. I look carefully at the screen to see dozens of worked moving endless amounts of crates that stand ten feet tall. There is also machinery cranking out devices of some kind.
"What's it in those boxes? What are you making?"
"I'm a busy man Red, but sure I'll stop and tell you about some of newest hobbies. Those boxes you see are loaded with Element Skills. We are in no short supply of Pokémon abilities. My general you saw Butch and Jesse prefer to give Grunts Poison types because they have so few weaknesses."
I read some labels on the screen and see he is telling the truth. Ekans and its evolved form, Arbok, are poisonous snakes. Grimer and Muk are poisonous blob creatures that live in sewers. Koffing by and Weezing are floating gas monsters, the same kind that flew through Saffron City on a rampage last week.
"But of course why stop with Pokémon Skills? I have also developed a machine that makes individualized special attacks or as call them, Technical Machines! Any trainer working for me can get an unlimited number of skills in their system plus these TMs and become a one man fighting machine. The Grunts you ran into at Mt. Moon weren't introduced to these goodies, but pretty soon every Rocket member will be unbeatable! That's why we are Team Rocket! We are fast and deadly, and nothing can stop us!"
"You devil! You're the one Surge warned us about, Kami Sakiki!"
"Ah! The word is out! Well you needn't worry about formalities Himura. I go by Giovanni now."
"Well Giovanni I think I've heard enough from you..."
I transition to my Charmeleon skill and feel heat well up in my body.
"See if you're faster than this!"
I spew Embers all over his files and watch them burn. He frantically runs to his work crying out something like "Porygon!" or something. Pathetic! The three goons rush us, but Green is ready to use her Ember as well from her newest skill. We both Tackle them and knock everyone down without effort and hit the button in the elevator.
"That won't work for you. It's remote controlled by me."
I turn around to see Giovanni holding a controller in his hand.
"Why do you think it opened just for you earlier?"
He sets the remote down and pulls open a drawer under his desk and removes something. He puts two bulky gloves on and hits a button in the middle of the palms. I hear a click and see prices of the gauntlets reshape into horns! One stands out straight and spiky while the other whirs in a spiral like a drill. He bears his teeth at us like a wild dog and jumps over his desk like a gymnast.
Rrrrrr! Baaaam!
He misses my head with his Horn Drill by a millimeter and destroys a filing cabinet behind me with one blow. With his other arm free, he jabs at me with the Horn Attack like some mad bee, and I fall back on the floor. Green grabs my hand and helps me up just as he retracts his drill.
"Red! Move!"
She pulls me towards the other end of the room, but I see no way out other than this elevator. Giovanni walks slowly towards us then Stomps on the ground with his heel, and a small remote makes us both fall down. We can't die here! We have to keep moving!
"Red! What is this thing?"
I turn around and see a glowing white tile on the floor. A cinder flies off of the desk onto the tile and vanishes! But not like it burned up. It just disappeared. Green pushes a pen in the floor onto the tile and sure enough we get the same result.
"Let's go!"
Giovanni Stomps the floor again and again throwing is off to the point we crawl to the tile. I turn back and spit an Ember at him just as I land on the tile myself.
Wsssssssh!
A warm draft and quick darkness cover me as I relocate from the Boss's office to one of the storage rooms. We look around and see many people starting at us in their overalls and gloves.
Wssssh!
Giovanni emerges next to us with his horns out to attack. I grab Green by the hand and run for cover. I can hear behind us the clamor of footsteps and the huff and puff of our foe hot on our tails. We find another following tile and run to it.
Appearing in another room, I point to the boxes and spit Embers at them. Green mimics me, and we begin running to tiles and trying to burn anything we can along the way. Giovanni wants to make an army, and he may be too tough for us to take head on, but we can still do our part to set him back.
After getting through four rooms and feeling like we're in a roll, Giovanni appears in front of us!
"You brats! I'll kill you for this!"
He jumps into the air and slams all four limbs into the ground with incredible force. I feel the ground then boxes and then even the walls start to tremble.
Dooooooom!
"He's trying to make an Earthquake! The whole building will come crashing in on itself!"
"DIE! Die you pests!"
He jumps into the air once more, but we don't stick around to watch.
Dooooom!
We dash to another tile, and this time we appear back in the room where Alfie was interrogating Summer and where we left Blue, but everyone is gone!
"Where are they?"
"We will find them Red. Let's get out of here!"
She's right! We run down the hallway and pass through the curtain. The overhead lights have come and people are screaming and running for the stairs. The staff stand at the side watching the chaos, and it dawns on me that many of them if not all just work for Team Rocket.
We get up the steps and make it to see everyone heading to main door through the casino and restaurant. Everyone except for two men in black that head through another curtain we didn't see earlier.
"Green! Look!"
We turn and follow after them and when we get through the curtain they run across another glowing tile and vanish. We charge through ourselves and come out in some sort of bunker loaded with boxes and lit by a few lanterns. This room...it's different from the Rocket HQ. Are we in a different building?
We go up the nearby steps and watch as the Grunts disappear into a crowd on the streets in front of us. We don't pursue them though because we're too caught that off guard by the scenery. This isn't Celadon City!
"That sky...it can't be? Huh!"
Green turns around and looks back at the building we just came out of. I do, too, but when I see it, I can't believe my eyes.
"It's...its Memorial Tower! We're in Lavender Town!"