Hi everyone : ) I'm sorry about the delay, however this time it honestly isn't my fault. Some idiot builders have been messing on with the road on my street, and one of them accidently sliced through my house's internet cable or whatever it's called. Yeah, no internet and no phones for over a week : ( I was absolutely fuming, but yay! It was finally fixed today, so here's the next chapter : )
I'm hopeful that things will start to pick up a little in the next few chapters.
So far all of the chapters in the new version of the story just feel like they're setting future stuff up, and to be honest, this chapter is like that too, but soon I hope to get things going properly. But enough about that. I want to say a massive thank you for all the reviews the last chapter got, and please remember that Pokemon is not mine : )
I hope you enjoy this chapter : )
Agents Everywhere
"So let me just see if I've got this right" Misty spoke up before any of the others could, "You wear the bracelet, and the more pokemon battles you win, the more money you get that you can spend using this new Trainer ID card you're gonna give us?"
"That's right" the Professor nodded, "And you did a much easier job of explaining it than this memo" he chuckled.
"Okay... so what do we do next?" Ash asked.
"First; you, Misty and Tracey all need to sign and date these forms" the Professor said, picking up a stack of papers, "They're the Acknowledgement Form you need to sign to prove that the notice was read to you, or that you read an email or letter from the League containing the same memo".
He passed Ash, Misty, and Tracey one each.
"Have you got a pen please, Professor Oak" Misty requested.
The Professor nodded, and removed a pen from his coat pocket which he passed to her. He then stood up, headed over to his desk, and came back with two more pens which he handed to Ash and Tracey.
Misty quickly read through her form, taking extra care to read all the small print, and once satisfied that everything was in order, she filled in the form before signing it.
She returned it to Professor Oak as Ash and Tracey did the same.
"Excellent" Professor Oak said cheerfully as he stored the forms away, "Now, we need to set up your accounts. We can use my computer to do this part".
This part took a while longer.
Misty was surprised at how much detail was required to open the account, but nevertheless she submitted her full name, her date of birth, her birthplace, her Trainer I.D number, and all the other details required.
Once Professor Oak had approved it, the man had entered a password that Misty was not allowed to see, and the details were sent off to the Pokemon League so that her account could be opened.
Professor Oak then quickly did the same for Ash and Tracey, whilst Mrs Ketchum remained at the table, sipping her tea.
"Right, now as we're waiting for the details to go through, I think this is a good time to give you your Balance Bracelets, and some information booklets that will hopefully answer any questions you might have" the Professor said.
He picked up the box he had sent Tracey to retrieve earlier and opened it.
Misty glanced down at the box, and saw dozens of silver coloured, high-tech looking bands that appeared to be made of metal. They were coated in protective material, and they each had a small screen and a tiny keyboard forming the centre of them.
They almost looked like digital watches, the redhead privately thought.
The Professor pulled three Balance Bracelets out of the box and began fiddling with them. They each made a series of loud beeps.
"Here" he said, handing them out, "You need to type in your Trainer I.D number. It's unique to every trainer".
Misty typed in her I.D number and once she'd finished, the Balance Bracelet made a series of beeping noises.
The screen then lit up.
"Greetings Misty Waterflower. Thank you for activating me" the bracelet said in an automated voice.
Misty stared at the device, impressed.
It vividly reminded her of Dexter, Ash's first pokedex.
Around her, her friends' bracelets activated and greeted their new owners too.
"Good" Professor Oak nodded his approval, "So the bracelets are all set up and once -".
He was cut off as his computer dinged loudly, and turning to it, the wise old Professor typed on the keyboard and brought up an alert email. A machine suddenly whirled, before several small lamented rectangular I.D cards were printed out.
"Ah, perfect timing. Well kids, that was an alert from the Pokemon League. Your accounts were all set up without any problems and will be accessible within two hours. Here are the information booklets and your new Trainer I.D Cards".
The Professor handed them each a booklet and their respective I.D card.
Misty pocketed her new Trainer License, before quickly flicking through the booklet interestedly.
Across from her, Ash was doing the same, and Mrs Ketchum was peering over at the booklet too.
"Thanks a lot Professor Oak" Misty, Ash and Tracey all said together.
"It was my pleasure" Professor Oak waved their gratitude aside, "Those booklets should explain everything you need to know about how the bracelets and the new banking system works, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me".
"We will" the three teenagers nodded.
"So" Mrs Ketchum piped up, setting down her teacup on the table, "Is that everything?"
"It is" the Professor nodded in confirmation.
"Then we should really be heading home" Mrs Ketchum announced, "It's getting late".
Misty glanced out the window and saw that darkness had indeed fallen outside.
"It's dark already?!" Ash cried in shock, "Aw! I wanted to say hi to all my pokemon!"
"Well, it's too late for that now Ash" Misty told him.
"It sure is, but you can come back tomorrow morning and say hi to them all then" Mrs Ketchum suggested.
"Would that be alright Professor?" Ash asked the older man hopefully.
"Of course" the Professor nodded.
Professor Oak then pulled himself to his feet in order show his guests out.
The others all mirrored the action.
As she stood, Misty slipped her new bracelet onto her wrist.
The Professor and Tracey showed Misty, Ash, and Mrs Ketchum to the front door of the Oak home/laboratory.
"Goodnight Ash, Misty, Delia" he bid them farewell, "Be sure to pop around at some point tomorrow. I'd love to talk more about your recent adventures in the Johto region, and you're always welcome too Delia".
"We will" Ash and Misty said, whilst Mrs Ketchum nodded.
"Goodnight guys" Tracey nodded at them all politely.
"Goodnight" Misty, Ash, and Mrs Ketchum all said.
The three of them set of through the darkness.
Misty had to fight hard to stiffle a yawn threatening to escape her.
It had been a very long day after all.
It would not be unreasonable for a person to assume that at three o'clock in the morning, Pallet Town would be still and silent. After all, it wasn't like many people in the quaint little town ever had something so urgent it needed their attention at that hour. It was only natural for someone to think eveyone would be at home.
Everyone tucked up in bed.
Everyone fast asleep.
Anybody making that assumption would be wrong.
On the border of Pallet Town, there stood a small twenty-four hour cafe. There was nothing particularly special about it; it was just your average greasy spoon. In fact, it was so unremarkable it almost was remarkable.
But what truly was unusual, was that despite the unsociable hour of the morning, there were three figures loitering outside the cafe.
Not one, but three.
Three people out of bed at three o'clock in the morning.
Now that was unusual for Pallet Town.
The three people weren't doing anything suspicious though, or even anything that would draw attention.
They were just standing there, staring at the cafe thoughtfully.
The first figure was a man.
He had cyan blue hair that was tied back into a stylish ponytail. Perched on his nose were a pair of rectangular glasses. He wore a smart black suit with white pinstripes, and a bowler hat on his heat that was tipped so lowly, it obscured the larger half of his face. A simple black briefcase was clutched in his grasp.
The second figure was that of a woman.
Like her companion, the woman was dressed in business attire. She wore a simple white blouse under a striking red jacket. Her knee-length tight-fitting skirt was also red in colour, as were the heels strapped to her ankles. Her magenta hair was drawn back into a professional bun. She was eyeing the cafe with distain.
The third and final figure was somewhat... different.
He was much shorter than the other two, and far less... human, as well. He had put a good amount of effort into covering up that little detail however. Dressed in a pinstripe suit identical to that of the man, the pokemon also had his own bowler hat, and had even glued a fake moustache to his face. It was a passable look, even if he did look more like a child playing dress up than a respectable businessman.
It wasn't obvious, but there was more to this trio than met the eye.
The three figures chanced a discrete look around the quiet street, and satisfied that nobody else was up and about at that late hour, they glanced at each other and nodded.
They all entered the café.
The café was virtually empty. In fact, the only person there was a young woman behind the counter, and she was just as unremarkable as her place of employment. She was standing behind the counter, a bored expression set into her face.
When the bell above the door jingled loudly, the girl was snapped out of her thoughts. She looked over at the approaching trio, eyeing them with great curiosity.
Unfazed, the trio approached the counter.
"We'd like three hot cocoas, please" the woman in red said as a means of greeting.
"With extra marshmallows and cinnamon" the blue-haired man added.
"And don't forget the side order of six jelly donuts" the shorter figure finished.
The girl's expression changed from a bored pout to a knowing smirk in a split second. She recognised that code, and immediately knew what the three of them were there for.
"Right. Three hot cocoas with extra marshmallows and cinnamon, and a side order of six jelly donuts, coming right up" she said, flashing them a grin, before gesturing to a door to her left, "Why don't you all head on into the back room? I'll bring in your order once everything is... prepared".
The trio all returned her dark grin.
None of them were expecting their hot cocoa with marshmallows and cinnamon, nor were any of them expecting a plate full of jelly donuts.
It was clear now, more than ever, that they were up to no good.
"Thank you" the woman in red nodded politely.
The two males also flashed the woman behind the counter appreciative smiles.
The trio then headed over to the door the woman had indicated, and completely ignoring the 'Staff Only' sign pinned to it, they passed through the door, without so much as a backward glance.
They had some very important business to attend to.
The three figures entered the back room, finding it in total darkness. The lights were low, and the curtains drawn shut. Nothing about it would attract unwanted attention from anyone outside the window.
The trio looked around, and satisfied with what they saw, they glanced at each other and nodded.
Immediately, all three of them flung off their disguises, revealing themselves to be none other than Jessie, James and Meowth of Team Rocket.
"Thank Mew I'm out of that disguise" Meowth immediately complained, "That suit was chafing my tail".
"Stop complaining" Jessie lightly scolded, "We're here because we were ordered to come, by the boss himself".
That was certainly true.
They had just been recovering from the blast off the twerps had sent them on, when a Team Rocket Fearow had swooped down on them, dropped a letter signed by Giovanni on top of a crumpled Jessie's head and the briefcase James was holding on the ground, and then flew off again.
The letter had instructed them to come to this specific café at this specific time, tell the woman behind the counter the code, then go to a private room with the briefcase.
The briefcase that James was currently placing on a table in the centre of the room.
He opened it, revealing that it wasn't in fact a briefcase, but a laptop in disguise.
"I guess he wants a conference call" Jessie mused as they realised this.
"I hope he doesn't ask us for our expense report" James groaned.
"The only way to find out is to turn it on" Meowth pointed out.
James turned the laptop on, and for a moment there was nothing but a blank screen.
Then the display changed to that of a man.
A man that was not Giovanni.
The man on the screen was in his late forties, with greying hair, a hard-set jaw, and calculating cold blue eyes. His nose was crooked, and had obviously been broken several times, and a gruesome scar ran down his left cheek. He was wearing a black uniform, with a scarlet 'R' on his chest.
Jessie, James, and Meowth were all immediately intimidated.
They all knew he was.
The man's name was Gregory Gray. He was the head of Team Rocket's financial and pay-roll department. Twenty years ago, he had earned his position as a departmental head by pulling off one of the largest bank heists that Kanto had ever seen. He had shot a security guard that had got in his way, and murdered him without so much as batting an eye.
Giovanni had easily persuaded him to turn his talents to Team Rocket's cause, and after a long and colourful criminal career, Agent Gray had retired to a desk job.
He was one of Giovanni's most trusted men.
He had to be, to have the job of dealing with the entire organisation's finances.
Yet despite his newer, much tamer job, everyone in Team Rocket still feared and respected him.
Jessie, James and Meowth included.
"Good morning Agent Gray, sir" Jessie greeted him nervously.
"Agents" Gray returned with a stiff nod, "I assume you all know why you've been summoned".
The looks on their faces gave it away.
"Apparently not" Gray scowled in annoyance, "Fine, I guess I'll have to explain. Our good friends over at the Pokemon League have issued a new decree to all its trainers. One that will almost certainly blow the cover of any Team Rocket Agent if we do not follow it".
Jessie, James and Meowth all looked shocked.
To hear one of the highest members in the Team Rocket organisation, not to mention one that had murdered a man in cold blood, talking about a law they had to follow; well, it was unnerving to say the least.
It certainly had their interest peaked.
"What is the new decree sir?" James asked curiously.
"A more stable way of allowing travelling trainers to earn and maintain an income" Gray explained.
The trio all looked excited to here that.
Far too many times, they had run out of money to be able to afford to eat.
This would surely put an end to that.
"But I don't understand" Meowth frowned in confusion, "We've already got our Team Rocket accounts that our salaries get paid directly into each month. Why do we need these new league ones?"
Agent Gray scoffed in disbelief.
He couldn't believe he had just been asked such a stupid question.
"Because all those accounts are illegal, and if they are discovered, every single member of Team Rocket could be identified and jailed for life" Gray spat out, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So... to make sure that doesn't happen, we're... what? Going to register with this new way of doing things, under fake names?" Jessie guessed.
Agent Gray nodded.
"Well, you and James are" Gray confirmed, "Meowth on the other hand doesn't need to. As a pokemon, it will attract far too much suspicion if he opens an account. If he wants to remain a member of Team Rocket, he'll have to run the risk of his Team Rocket account eventually being discovered".
"Hey, I'm more than ready to risk that" Meowth smirked, "Besides, it'll take more then some twerpy Officer Jenny to put me behind bars".
"So what do we do first, sir?" James couldn't help but ask.
"First, we're going to wait for Agent Urwin to arrive. She's specially trained in forging documents, and can make you two fake identities that will for all intents and purposes seem entirely legal" Agent Gray told them, "Then she's going to take you through how the new banking system will work, and ensure you understand it all, so that if you're stopped whilst out in the field, you can keep your cover as trainers intact".
As if on cue, the door behind them opened, and in walked the woman who had been behind the counter. Her name was Pamela Urwin. Only now she wasn't dressed like a waitress.
She was dressed in her Team Rocket uniform.
Clutched in her hands was a laptop and a camera.
"Sir" she nodded at the screen with Gray's face on it.
"Agent Urwin" Gray nodded in acknowledgement, "I assume you've received your orders regarding your fellow Agents?"
"I have sir, and I've got everything prepared to make all the necessary documents, such as Passports, Trainer Licenses, and Birth Certificates. Plus I've got Balance Bracelets" Agent Urwin explained, before smirking, "By the time I'm done, these two will have whole new lives and back-stories".
"Excellent" Gray said in approval, "Once you are finished designing the new personae, send the details to our undercover agent at the Kanto Branch of the Pokemon League. He's dealing with all the Team Rocket fake accounts and getting them through the security checks".
"Of course sir" Agent Urwin nodded.
"You two" Gray turned back to Jessie and James, "Are to follow Agent Urwin's orders as if they were my own, understood?"
"Understood" Jessie and James nodded.
"Good" Gray said gruffly.
With that, he cut the call, and the screen turned black.
Jessie and James turned to Agent Urwin, looking excited at the prospect of designing themselves entirely new identities.
They both grinned.
This was going to be fun.
Several hours later, when the dawn had finally broken, and it was a much more acceptable hour for people to be up and about; Professor Oak was sitting at his computer in his laboratory, analysing some data on his computer. It was some simply fascinating information about the differences between two male Lickitung he was currently caring for at the lab for some travelling trainers.
Tracey was out in the grounds, giving all the pokemon that resided in the gardens their breakfast, with the help of Ash's Bulbasaur and some of the other pokemon that usually volunteered their assistance.
Professor Oak was so absorbed in his review of his data, that at first the good professor didn't even hear the doorbell ring.
It was only on the forth ring did the professor finally realise he had a visitor.
He glanced at the clock on the display of his computer monitor.
It read two minutes past eight.
A bewildered frown pulled at his lips.
"A visitor?" he said to himself in bewilderment, "At this hour?"
That was rather unusual.
His mind immediately turned to Ash and Misty. He remembered from the previous night that Ash had been disappointed at not being able to see his pokemon.
The boy had said he'd swing by at some point today.
And if Ash had decided to come, it was practically a given that Misty would be accompanying him.
Those two were nigh inseparable.
But this was most unlike Ash. It simply wasn't in Ash's nature to be awake so early in the morning, let alone be prepared enough to come visit him at this time of day. And Misty was also quite thoughtful, and would point out to him that a visit at this hour might not be appreciated.
Of course, he was always glad to see the two youngsters, and enjoyed their company immensely, but nevertheless, he just couldn't quite imagine them arriving for their visit so early.
The answer to the man's musings was quite simple though.
It wasn't Ash and Misty at his door.
When Professor Oak opened his front door, he found to his immense but extremely pleasant surprise that his visitor was not a friend, but in fact a family member he treasured very much.
Standing there under the Pallet sun, wearing his signature purple jumper and blue jeans, his hair fashioned into its usual messy mane of spiky brown hair, and his dark brown eyes looking excited and happy to be home, was the professor's grandson.
Gary Oak.
For a moment, the Professor just stared at the teenager in shock.
Then his face lit up with excitement as he registered who it was standing on his front door step.
"Gary!" the professor cried joyfully, "Welcome home my boy!"
Gary grinned up at him brightly.
It was more than apparent that the teenager was just as pleased to see the professor as Professor Oak was to see him.
"Hiya Grampa" Gary greeted.
The next thing the teenager knew, he was enveloped in a gigantic hug. Laughing happily when he realised what was happening, Gary gladly returned it.
"It's so good to see you" the Professor continued happily as they broke apart, "How's everything been going? Have you been taking care of yourself?"
"Ah, you know me Grampa, I'm always okay" Gary shrugged nonchalantly.
"So what are you doing here?" Professor Oak couldn't help but ask, "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm always happy to see you home. Its just you usually ring on ahead first".
Gary smiled up at him sheepishly.
"Ehehe... sorry Grampa. I know this visit is a little unexpected. I've just had a lot on my mind the last few weeks and forgot to call before coming back here" the brown-haired boy explained.
"A lot on your mind?" Professor Oak looked concerned, "Is there something troubling you? Perhaps I could help, if you tell me what it is?"
"It's nothing bad Grampa" Gary quickly assured the older man, "I... well, ehehe... Err, when I imagined telling you this, it wasn't on the front door step".
"Oh of course, silly me" the professor chuckled, "Come on in. We can talk properly in the sitting room".
The Professor stood aside and allowed his grandson to enter the laboratory.
Within two minutes, Gary had taken his seat in a plush armchair, and the professor was sitting opposite him.
Professor Oak levelled his grandson with an expectant look.
He wanted to know whatever it had been bothering his grandson, despite the boy's assurances it was nothing negative.
Family had always been important to the professor.
If there was something his grandson needed help with, then Professor Oak would see to it.
"So, what is it you wish to tell me, Gary?" he got straight down to business.
Gary looked up at him with excited eyes.
It was enough to ease Professor Oak of his worries, though only slightly.
"Before I tell you, I want you to know that this isn't something I just rushed into Grampa. It's something I've been thinking about for a while now" Gary told him.
Professor Oak raised a curious eyebrow.
"Okay, here goes..." Gary let out a breath, "I've decided to give up Pokemon Training, and become a Pokemon Researcher".
The professor was shocked in silence.
A part of him could almost feel his heart swelling with pride. He had often hoped that one of his grandchildren would follow in his footsteps and become a professor, striving to uncover some of the many mysteries surrounding the pokemon they shared the planet with.
Ever since the boy was a toddler, Professor Oak knew his grandson was destined for great things, and not just because he was biased towards his own flesh and blood. Gary had always been exceptionally bright for his age, and could retain almost any tiny piece of information given to him, stored and ready to use to his own convenience at any time in the future.
But other part of the professor was filled with uncertainty.
Gary was only thirteen years old, hardly a child anymore, but still so young. It was no age to be cooped up in a laboratory all the time. He should be out there, seeing the world and having adventures.
After all, seeing the world was the best way to learn about it.
The professor himself had given up pokemon training when he was only sixteen, and he had often contemplated whether or not he had done the right thing. Even all these years later, he still had doubts every now and then.
He didn't regret becoming a Pokemon Professor.
Not at all.
But sometimes... he just wished he'd got to have a few more adventures first.
It hadn't really hit home for the professor until after accepting a position as a Lab Assistant exactly what it was he would be giving up.
A sense of freedom.
Freedom to see the world, to experience new cultures, to surround himself with new pokemon, and to simply follow his heart, wherever it led him.
Only years later, when he had graduated and become the head of his own establishment did he feel that sense of freedom again, and the years between were long and challenging.
Did he really want his grandson going down the same path?
But did he have the right to try and persuade him otherwise however?
Professor Oak wasn't so sure.
No.
Surely making it clear to Gary exactly what the sacrifice would be, and what this new path would entail, wasn't talking him out of his decision. It was simply... making sure he had all the facts.
Professor Oak heaved a heavy sigh.
He wasn't exactly sure how Gary was going to react hearing this.
But no.
His grandson had to know.
Professor Oak loved him too much to let him walk into this blindly.
"Gary... I think there's a few things I ought to tell you first, before you make any decisions regarding this" the professor said slowly, wanting to be delicate.
"Huh?" Gary blinked, looking a little put-out that his Grampa wasn't more excited.
Professor Oak winced, but forced himself to continue.
This was too important not to.
"Just let me talk. There's a few things I want to tell you about myself" Professor Oak said seriously, "About when I first became a Pokemon Researcher".
Gary allowed himself to fall silent.
Regardless of his Grampa's less than overwhelming reaction, the boy was curious as to what the older man had to say.
Professor Oak mentally braced himself.
It was time to give his grandson a lesson.
A lesson about life itself.
Another chapter done : )
So much happened in this chapter, and there wasn't really much action in it at all : )
I wanted to give Team Rocket a bit of 'screen-time' since we haven't seen them all that much so far. I feel that this is going to be a real turning point for them, but you'll see what I mean by that later on : )
And yay! Gary finally shows his face, and there's going to be some important changes for him than what happened to him in canon : )
But enough of that, it's time to play the game : )
Firstly - congratulations to Deant33, UltimateCCC, Pokemon Trainer Tom, Disruptor, OmniDragon10, Queenspeller67, Siggimondo, RHatch89, Breakawayfan, Mewmaster89, Anthonypasq, NarutoMagi17, Kurakuma, SPeCTeR-117, Yugi the Godfather of Games, Jeet Granger, Magic135, Sesshoru, Reppad98, Pokesean, and Jamesharold13 - the correct answer was indeed Manectric.
Better luck next time to LovingGinger30 who thought it was Thundurus, Stallion6 of Deviantart who thought it was Luxray, Teddi 8347 and AtomicGeneral25 who both thought it was Ampharos, and ArmyWife22079 who thought it was Zebstrika.
WHO'S THAT POKEMON?
This pokemon is an odd pokemon that mimics its foes. It is a baby pokemon with one evolution and no Mega-Evolutions. Both it's baby evolution and its final evolution are pokemon of main characters on the show, although they are owned respectively by different people. It is a much loved pokemon by a certain member of Team Rocket.
And there we go : )
I hope that you all liked this chapter, and please leave a review : )
Until the next time, keep on reading : )