Pokémon Journal

Okay, my bro had Richter SO outta character that in the end he provided a basic outline and I wrote the majority (note: almost all) of this chapter. The idea that Richter looks like a librarian is tribute to my sister's, Superficial Mycosis', observation. (She thinks he looks like a librarian)

Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Chapter 3: Cyrus Needs Help?

Richter walked into the command centre of Team Galactic's headquarters in Veilstone City to find his employer, Cyrus, standing at the intercom talking to someone he was calling Saturn. "What do you mean it will take another week to complete? I want the plan ready now!"

If Richter were in Cyrus' position, the last thing he would want would be to get interrupted at this point. Likewise, Richter, in his own position, was not in the mood to have childish anger at someone else directed towards him. He would probably lose it completely; today had been a bad day. Thus, he waited politely at the edge of the room, conveniently within earshot. It helped to be clued in about the job you'd been hired for.

This plan was promptly dashed when Cyrus noticed him. The Team Galactic leader took in the long red hair, past Richter's shoulders, the slightly eccentric yet imposingly formal outfit, the emerald-green eyes and the thin glasses, immediately drawing one conclusion; this man could not be the one he'd hired. This man looked suspiciously like a librarian. Probably at a school library, if the stern, slightly frightening expression and atmosphere around him was anything to go by.

"Who the heck are you?" he snapped. The stern expression became dangerous.

"If you don't want me here, then you should have thought twice before hiring me." Richter turned to leave, only to be stopped by his employer's call.

"That's you!" He barked incredulously.

Richter's eyes narrowed. "If it's co-operation you want, it might benefit you to be a little more polite." A shadow seemed to grow in the room, making the man seem to fill it even more than his considerable height already did. "I don't appreciate being snapped at."

Cyrus coughed quietly to hide his unease, but didn't bother to stop the satisfied smile. Yes, this was the man he'd hired, and yes, he was going to do a damn good job, librarian or not.

"Mr. Abend. Good afternoon; we've been expecting you." The sudden change caught Richter off-guard; he hadn't expected such a literal reaction. No one noticed, of course, save for himself.

His eyes remained guarded and he subconsciously flipped his hair impatiently. "If you've been expecting me, then you know why I'm here and you're prepared." He challenged.

"Indeed." Cyrus ended his conversation with Saturn and cut the connection, beckoning Richter further into the room. The man complied, albeit warily. These kinds of 'organisations' were notorious for double-crossing.

Cyrus seated himself at the head of the table and gestured for Richter to join him. "Mr. Abend, as I'm sure you know, Team Galactic is rather… infamous for dealings in powerful Pokémon." Richter nodded as he seated himself. "However, as I'm sure you also know, powerful Pokémon are… infamously difficult to get hold of."

Richter cut in. "Which is why you hired me, I suppose?" He refrained from rolling his eyes. "I can't help but wonder what you've been doing up until now. Or did the last hired help's contract end?"

A vein pulsed in Cyrus' temple. This damned man had insisted on seeing him personally and had refused to meet with anyone else. He was a former scientist, some kind of researcher. He'd stopped, for reasons unknown to anyone other than him, and had been recently hired by some obscure group working in other regions. One of Cyrus' connections had seen him in action and recommended him. Recommended him very highly indeed. Which was why the Team leader had endured the hassle of making sure he was here to talk with the enigmatic Richter Abend. They'd only been in the same room together for a few minutes and so far, he had turned out to be an insufferable, impatient, angry-sounding man who would be constantly winding Cyrus up with his none-too-subtle demands for respect. That particular demand would be easily satisfied by the other Team Galactic members, not least as a result of Richter's commanding air.

"We're aiming for rather more valuable and far more elusive quarry than the usual, Mr. Abend." He informed Richter, attempting to sound patient.

Richter elegantly quirked an eyebrow in slight intrigue. "Continue."

"What do you know about the Three Legendary Lake Pokémon?"

Inwardly, Richter smiled.