Chapter 13
"Handing out the Indictments"
Early the next morning, Colonel Andrus was up early to assist a young British officer in delivering the indictments against Giovanni and his associates. The officer was nervous about approaching these men and women who carried out mass murders against people and Pokemon alike. He had faced these people before in Iraq and Afghanistan when he was captured by them twice, but knew that in order for justice to be served, he would have to face them again. However, Giovanni would somehow know of this young soldier and little did the young man know how much Giovanni would come to admire him for who he is.
"We'll start with this one," said Colonel Andrus, pointing towards Giovanni's cell.
"I hope I shant make a balls of it," the soldier said nervously.
"You'll do just fine, old chap," remarked Colonel Andrus. "Open it up."
The soldiers opened the cell door and the young British soldier stepped into the cell of the second most wanted man in the world. He placed his bag of indictments on the ground and stared at Giovanni dead in the face.
"Good morning," he said. "I am Major Ferguson, I am the officer appointed by the International Military Tribunal to…"
But, Giovanni stopped him before he could finish his introduction as he knew something familiar about this Major Ferguson.
"Wait," he interjected. "You're British."
"I am," replied Major Ferguson.
"Finally, a civilized man," he said, putting down the book he was reading.
"Ferguson, Ferguson," he wondered out loud. "What is your given name?"
"Aidyn," replied Major Ferguson.
"Major Aidyn Ferguson," he replied. "Where have I heard this name before?"
"I was captured, tortured by Team Aqua and escaped twice," replied Major Ferguson, looking nervously at Giovanni.
"So, you have earned your given name," said Giovanni. "You know, it is interesting that we'd finally meet on an occasion like this."
But, Aidyn stood his ground and now did what he had to do and that was to hand out the indictments against Giovanni and his associates.
"I am the officer appointed by the International Military Tribunal to serve upon you a copy of the indictment in which you are named as a defendant," he said firmly, handing him the indictment. "I am also to advise as to your rights to counsel…"
But, Giovanni interrupted him again, taking the indictment that was given to him and throwing it on his cell bed.
"I care nothing for lawyers, my friend," said Giovanni. "You can find one for me, Major Aidyn Ferguson. We're men of culture, we both know the truth. The victors will always be the judges and the vanquished always the accused, yes?"
Nevertheless, all Aidyn did was pick up his bag of indictments and leave the cell, shutting the door behind him as Giovanni sat down on the bed and began to look over the charges that were against him. As he read the indictment, Aidyn did the same thing at the other cells and their receptions to them ranged from subtle to outrageous.
"Until I've studied this, I cannot speak to the accuracy of the charges against me," said Ghetsis, the leader of Team Plasma. "But, I acknowledge the necessity of this trial and accept my inclusion in it."
"How can you say that before reading the charges?" asked Aidyn confusingly.
"There is a common responsibility for the crimes that were committed in the name of Pokemon Crime," he replied. "No one is blameless, apart from the victims."
"But we were just following orders," cried Vicious.
"I know about crimes against Pokemon, but not crimes against Pokemon," whimpered Domino.
"Here is a list of lawyers," said Aidyn as he handed one of the indictments to Dr. Namba.
"Rocket Killers," he shouted as he looked at his indictment. "All Rocket Killers!"
"I want to be defended by a Japanese Naval Officer," demanded Archie, the leader of Team Aqua.
"I wanted to be a lawyer myself," said Sebastian. "I was full of ideals."
When Aidyn handed Sabrina her indictment, all she did was drop it on the floor silently and not pick it up.
"Why don't you just shoot us now?" cried Butch angrily, but Aidyn stood his ground and Butch grew calmer and spoke in a hushed tone. "Why don't you shoot us now?"
So, all of the defendants went to bed that night, knowing of the amount of charges against them. The next morning however, Colonel Andrus was in the middle of shaving himself when a telephone call had brought him in an urge pace to one of the cells in question. Still in his bathrobe, he ran to the cell of Mondo Apollo, one of the Team Rocket executives who was being carried out on a stetcher with a rope fastened around his neck, but he was still alive as he tried to tighen the noose around his neck in an effort to take his own life. Colonel Andrus was disgusted by this and knew what needed to be done at that very moment, starting now.
"I want a guard posted at every cell," he ordered, getting into one of the soldier's faces. "They're to be watched around the clock!"
The soldiers clicked their heels as Colonel Andrus stormed away in anger and frustration, knowing that one of his prisoners had attempted to kill himself.
"I WILL NOT HAVE THEM TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT!" he shouted, making his men know that if one defendant took his or her own life, then their mission to make sure that these people get justice for their crimes would not go through and the crimes themselves would go unpunished.
Meanwhile, Giovanni had heard the commotion from his cell and deep down, he wanted to kill himself and become a martyr for his own cause. But, he knew that there was no way he could do so, he was going to have to live through this trial, one way or another and that it was like he said to Major Ferguson that the victors would always be the judges and that the vanquished would always be the accused…