Revised December 17th
-
Chapter 4: A Guided Tour
Location: Just outside Havok City
Rita and Lloyd were escorted to Havok City by the Marshtomp that was from the brotherhood, the two of them now safe from any more attacks. The city was enormous, none of the buildings were higher then two floors, except for the Brotherhood HQ. It was a huge, five to six story building. It looked like it could easily fit over a thousand Snorlaxs.
Marshtomp started to speak when they got through the city gates.
"Listen you two, you guys are safe as long as your in the city. But please don't go anywhere until we capture that fugitive. You have any idea why he'd be after you guys?"
"Nope, he lost his memory and I've only been with is for a day now."
"Lost his memory?" Marshtomp shook his head. "That ain't good, now is it? Don't worry buddy, I'll protect you."
"Thanks, my name's Lloyd by the way."
"And mine's Rita."
"It's a pleasure to meet you both, the names Ewan, leader of Team Torrent."
---
Location: The Wasteland
Zar waited in the wasteland, his package had not arrived yet. Gastly came back from his watch to check on him.
"Master Zar, has it arrived yet?"
Zar shook his head.
"Do not worry, it should not be long now." Said Gastly.
Just then, a screeching sound was heard above, it was the Spearow! Without landing it dropped the package beside Zar and flew off.
"Yes! YES! Go get Raticate and go spy on the Brotherhood headquarters, as soon as they leave we attack."
---
Location: The Brotherhood HQ
The HQ was even bigger up close. Rita also noticed for the first time the entire building was made of metal. It was rare to see such a huge metal building without any rust.
"Listen, normally we don't allow civilians within the main part of the HQ. But as your involved in an investigation involving several wanted criminals, we have no choice. Still, stay close to me, you don't wanna get lost, do ya?"
Both Rita and Lloyd replied with a shake of their heads.
"Umm, Rita and I were kinda of coming here anyways. We need to find out what pokemon I am."
"You mean you don't know? That's pretty unbelievable."
"It's true. I can't remember anything about anything at all. The only thing I remember is..." Then Lloyd thought for a moment. Perhaps now isn't the right time to tell people I'm human.
Rita sensed why he had paused suddenly. "Ahh, the only thing he remembered was his name, Lloyd, that's it."
Lloyd said silently to her. "Thanks."
"Anyways Ewan." Rita said, trying to change the subject. "We found out from a retired member of the Brotherhood that you guys could tell us what Lloyd is."
Ewan nodded. "I think that shouldn't be a problem. Except... The database is typically reserved for members only. No civilian use."
Lloyd was shocked. "What!? So this trip was for nothing!?"
"Well, you could use it all you want if you became members of the Brotherhood and passed our entry exams. But it's a tough process, and I'm not sure the two of you could handle it!"
Rita looked offended by this. "What do you mean 'can't handle it'? We had to go through a mystery dungeon just to get here. Plus we were attacked by two of that Charmanders cronies, the Raticate and the Gastly, and did fine!"
"Listen, don't get mad at me, its just how it is! Your welcome to try if you want to, but I'm just saying, its tough!"
What are you thinking Rita? Thought Lloyd. Join the Brotherhood? I've barely done any fighting at all, I can't be ready for this!
"We'll do it ok? Me and Lloyd will take on any thing you throw at us!"
Ewan laughed. "Well I guess it's decided then. But lets take care of everything else first, just come down to see one of my superiors, tell him what you know about the wanted pokemon, and you'll be free to do whatever." Ewan went up to the front gate and pressed a button.
Krrssh. "Hello, who's there?"
"Its me, Ewan of Team Torrent! Mind openin' the door?"
Krrssh. "Ok, opening the door now."
Suddenly, the building seemed to come to life, the massive metal door began to rumble. After a few seconds it started to slide over into the wall, slowly disappearing. The door opened enough that any pokemon could fit in, but didn't open all the way.
Krrssh. "Head on in please."
Marshtomp started making his way into the HQ, Rita following close behind with Lloyd in the back.
Behind a desk behind the door, there was a Lopunny, writing stuff down in a large book. She looked up and noticed Lloyd and Rita.
"Oh, new recruits?"
"Sort of, I'm taking them down to see the captain first, then they plan to take the exams to join."
"Oh, I see." She leaned over her desk to get a good look at Rita and Lloyd. "Ha, Good luck."
Rita could easily sense what she meant by that. She didn't like it. "Hey! We're tougher then we look!"
"Hmm, sure, whatever you say." Lopunny looked at Ewan. "You keep an eye them, I don't want to have to stop my work to look for children."
Rita looked like she was about to lose it. But luckily Lloyd and Ewan managed to push her out of the room.
They stopped in the next room.
"Grr! I hate her! Stupid little fuzzball thinks she's so tough!"
"Ah, she ain't bad when you get used to her. Don't worry to much about it!"
Lloyd whispered in her ear. "She's not worth it, we'll pass this exam thingy and prove what we've got, ok?"
Rita nodded. "Yeah... Thanks Lloyd."
---
They passed through room after room. Lloyd and Rita we're surprised how few pokemon they actually saw.
"Why's it so empty here?"
"Mostly everyone has gone down to the lower levels, that's where all the Brotherhoods private entertainment facilities are. Its pretty late in the day so pretty much everyone is relaxing after their missions. The ones up here are probably just gettin' back now."
"What's down there?" Asked Lloyd.
"All kinds of things, we got a cafeteria, a pool, a lounge, a library, we even got ourselves a casino."
Both Rita and Lloyd didn't know what that last one was, so Rita asked. "What's a casino?"
"It's a place where you gamble your poke, hoping to earn more in the process. You could luck out and win millions, or you could lose it all. I for one avoid it, I prefer to earn my poke, makes it..."
Rita wasn't listening, in fact she tuned out when he had said 'luck out and win millions'. Rita couldn't get the thought of suddenly becoming a millionaire out of her head.
"And that's why you always shouldn't accept gifts from strangers."
Rita suddenly came back to reality. "Umm, yeah. Great advice. Hey lets go sign up right now! Come on lets go!"
Lloyd held out his paws. "Wait, we still gotta go see this captain guy first and tell him about these guys who were after me."
"Oh... yeah." Rita said, trying to hide her disappointment
"Well, if your ready to go see him. Let get in there!" he pointed to a small room.
All three went in, but nothing was there.
"Umm, Ewan, are you sure this is the right place?" Lloyd had a hard time speaking, as Rita and Ewan had him pushed up against the wall.
"Yup, pretty sure, just wait one moment."
He pressed a button on the wall by the door, and soon after, the door closed. They were now tightly enclosed in the tiny room.
Lloyd squirmed out from behind Rita and Ewan. "Now what?"
"Just wait, takes a sec."
They waited another moment, and suddenly the entire room began to shake and rumble. Slowly the sound became a mechanical whirling sound. They could feel themselves being pulled upwards.
Rita sounded like she was on some kind of ride. "Wow! What's happening!?"
"This is an elevator, when you push the button a machine at the top of this shaft lowers or raises this little box were in and takes us to the floor that we select using these buttons."
Lloyd for one wasn't having a fun ride. His insides felt like they were melting inside him.
Thankfully for him (but not for Rita, who still was enjoying the elevator,) it stopped before Lloyd got really sick.
"Wow, that was so fun! I can't wait to ride it again!"
"Speak for yourself, that was just awful..."
The door opened to a very nice looking office. Before they stepped off the elevator Ewan stopped them.
"Let me do the talking for now, when I tell you to explain, explain. Sound like a plan?"
Both Rita and Lloyd nodded. "Got it." They said together.
They all got off, the door of the elevator closing behind them.
"Hello Ewan, here to see the boss again?" It was Lopunny.
"Hey!" said Rita before they could begin to talk together. "How'd you get up here so fast?!"
"Umm Rita, they're sisters." Explained Ewan.
"Yes, I am one of many siblings. There are twenty four of us in total, all work or are soon to work in the Brotherhood in someway."
Rita was amazed. "Wow, twenty four? That's awesome!"
"If I may ask, which one of my siblings did you meet?"
Ewan told her. "I'm pretty sure it was Eva, or might have been Stephanie... It doesn't matter right now, need to take these two to the captain."
Lopunny pressed a few buttons, a double door to the right of her desk opened up.
"You can go right in. Have a nice day…" She paused, hinting at wanting to get to know their names.
"Rita."
"Lloyd."
"… Rita and Lloyd, glad to meet the both of you, my name is Lina. I hope you have a good day!"
Rita smiled at her. "Thanks a lot!"
---
Location: The Wasteland
"Gastly, Raticate, come here."
Both came immediately from their posts.
Both said at once. "Yes Master Zar?"
"Your both fired. I don't need you anymore."
"What about our pay? You owe me and Gastly weeks worth of poke!"
"You expect me to pay you for your constant failure? No, you're lucky I don't unleash my new power on you, now leave, or I'LL KILL YOU!"
Both Raticate and Gastly left, knowing that both couldn't do anything about it. It was true that if Zar used the item the Boss sent now, he could easily destroy the both of them, even if they fought together.
Alone, Zar pulled out a small box, much like a box that would hold a ring. He opened it and gazed at in adoration.
"Finally mine. The rare Infinity Stone. Capable of evolving any pokemon that uses it. With this power, I'll take that 'Lloyd' guy on, bring him to the boss, and claim the entire reward for myself!"
Zar looked up to the sky and let out a triumphant laugh, occasional bursts of flame spewing from his mouth.
---
Rita, Lloyd and Ewan all entered the captains office quietly. The captain wasn't visible as he was sitting on a chair facing the other way. They could hear his voice from across the room, he seemed to be talking on a phone.
"Listen, tell Team Avalanche if they want to keep their rooms as cold as they do, that they need to keep the door closed! They go through at least 1500 poke a month from maintenance on their air conditioner alone! Yes, yes. Listen, if they don't like it, and can't remember to keep the door closed, tell them they can go without or pay for it themselves. Ok, all right then. Talk to you later, bye."
He hung up.
"Hey captain! Its me!"
"Ewan? Ewaaaan, my boy!"
The captain got out of his chair, he was a Wartortle, Rita saw that it had a green shell. Just like that Squirtle I met. Are they brothers or something?
"What can I do for you my friend?"
"Well. I brought these two…" pointed to Rita and Lloyd. "for two reasons. Firstly, they are targets of one of our most wanted pokemon, Zar the Charmander."
"Okay then, so do either of you know what he wants with you?"
Lloyd and Rita both went to speak, Rita told him to go ahead.
"Well sir. My name is Lloyd and her name is Rita. This guy Zar, he, as well as two others with him, a Gastly and Raticate, are only after me. Rita has nothing to do with it except that she rescued me from a Mystery Dungeon."
Wartortle laughed. "Aren't you a brave little Chikorita? It's great to see people willing to help others in this world. Please continue Lloyd."
"I have no idea why they are after me, when I woke up in the town Rita brought me to, I couldn't remember anything."
Wartortle laughed again. "What a great story! I can see you two going places in the future."
"That's the other thing I wanted to talk about captain." Said Ewan. "These two are interested in trying out for starting their own team. They wish to try the exam."
"Yes! Wonderful! I was right! I would be honored to have you part of the Brotherhood." But then the Captain frowned. "Eh, but I foresee a potential problem in this. All teams must start out with a minimum of three members."
Ewan looked like he got hit in the head with a rock suddenly. "Ahh, I totally forgot about that. Looks you guys are going to have to recruit another member."
Rita and Lloyd both frowned at this, they didn't know anyone who could join them.
"Don't worry, the rule is the number of members must be at least three on the first month anniversary of your teams creation. So as long as you can get someone by the end of the month. You're good!"
"And if Rita and I can't find anyone?"
The captain shock his head. "Well, even if you're friends with Ewan, rules are rules. We'll have to disband you from the Brotherhood. So are you still going through with this?"
Rita nodded. "Of course we are, we need the money, and we need to get information from your little database thing."
Wartortle laughed yet again. "Great, great, best of luck in your exam then, and best of luck finding another member. Ewan, if your not busy, I'd like you to show them the lower levels, and give them a room."
Marchtomp saluted. "Yes sir! Come with me you too."
"Oh no…"
"What is it Lloyd?" Rita asked.
"We're going on that elevator again aren't we?"
"I guess so. Its how we got up here."
Lloyd quietly sobbed to himself. "My poor stomach…"
---
Location: HQ, Basement level
Ewan went down the hall with Rita and Lloyd following them. The basement was much cooler then the other floors. Thankfully not as cool as Storm Canyon was though.
"First things first, the cafeteria. Here you can come to eat. Most food is free, but things like apples and gummies cost extra. You can also just hang out, if you don't mind all the noise."
Ewan continued down the hall. He stopped in front of the second door in the hallway.
"In here is the pool, favorite place obviously for the water types, but quite a few other types come down here to cool off. Except the ground and fire and similar types obviously."
He started to continue on, but turned to Lloyd. "I'm afraid electric types are banned from the pool area, if you were here when that Jolteon accidentally shocked everyone in the pool, you'd understand."
"That's fine, It's no big deal."
Ewan lead the way to the next door.
"In here, is the lounge and library, favorite place for the few psychic types we got here. Best place if you want a quiet place to relax.
Ewan continued to the last stop in the entertainment section of the basement.
"Here, is the casino. Many of our teams make enough poke to risk it in a little bit of chance. Try to avoid spending all your poke here, its not our fault if you can't afford supplies for your next mission. Now, if you'll follow me, we'll go back up to the first floor and I'll show you your room."
"Nooooo, not the elevator again! Augh…"
---
Location: HQ, first floor
"158... 159... Here we are! 160. This will be your rooms."
Ewan opened the door. Inside was a fairly nice room. It had four beds, a cabinet for storing anything, as well as a radio, a lamp shaped like a Magikarp, and a large mirror.
"This is the room that everyone has that have less then four members, when you get more, you will be moved to a bigger room. There also other rooms, but they are for the top ten teams. They are very luxurious rooms, I should know, my team is one of the lucky ones that has one!"
Rita had an excited look on her face. "Wow, this is great! I haven't had my own room in years!"
"Well, you two better go to sleep, you got a big day tomorrow, what with the exam and all."
Rita ran in the room to pick a bed, Lloyd stayed behind and asked Ewan a question.
"What is the exam anyways?"
"Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to say, part of the challenge. Don't worry about it though, get yourself a good nights sleep. See you two later!"
Lloyd and Rita waved (Rita waved with leaf on her head), and said good bye.
Rita got into the bed she picked out. "I'm going to sleep right now, I haven't slept in forever!"
"Yeah, me too, big day tomorrow I guess. Listen, Rita..."
"Yeah Lloyd?"
"Thanks for everything."
"Heh, no biggy. Go to sleep."
Lloyd did as he was told and got into bed, it wasn't long before both were quietly sleeping.