Poke-genetics: threat
«Rattata, it's time for your meal. » cheerfully announced a kid.
The rat pokemon happily replied to his master who petted him tenderly.
«It's a new flavor. They were giving free samples of it in front of the grocery. If you like it, I'll buy you more, okay? »
The rattata ate his meal with good appetite.
«Hum… » it thought. «This is certainly new… it's good… »
The kid was sitting next to him waiting for his pokemon's opinion.
«So, is it good? »
The rat licked its lips. It then happily nodded.
«Great, I'll ask mom to buy more of these. »
«Ratta… ta…»
«Rattata? » wondered the kid. «Are you alright? »
The poor pokemon couldn't answer. He fell on the ground without a noise.
«Rattata! »
He took its pokemon and yelled:
«Dad! Mom! Rattata fainted! »
«What? Take him to the car. We're going to the pokemon center! »
Unbeknown to them was the fact that hundreds of families and trainer reacted the same way this morning.
In the station, Jenny, her subordinates and Genno were making as many phone calls as possible. They were calling the police station of four different cities: Viridian City, Lavender Town, Fuchsia City and Saffron City.
«No, this is not a prank. Yesterday was only a decoy. Stop the pokeblock factories from selling their products without them being put under a scientific analysis. Stop anyone giving pokeblocks on the streets. Don't feed your pokemon with untested products either. This is not a joke. The pokeblocks were poisoned by Team Blast yesterday night while you were away. »
At first, some of the people they talked to were skeptical.
Then, they received reports from the pokemon centers. Around two thousands pokemon from all over the region had collapsed after eating pokeblocks. Suddenly, it didn't sound as funny as five minutes ago.
The four cities where Team Blast had introduced the poison were in a state of complete panic. Half of the police forces were paralyzed as most police officer had to feed them pokeblocks from a restraint choice of companies, regulation was the excuse given.
«We called everyone that could have been touched by the attack. We sent warnings to the towns that are so far untouched. Now, what can we do to stop Team Blast's plan? » Officer Jenny asked.
«… I'm not sure… » Genno hesitated. «We do know what they originally planned to do, but… »
«But …? » wondered practically everyone.
«But we can't rely on these information if there's a possibility that Team Blast know we have them. » completed Jenny.
«Why not? » Ash inquired.
Genno tried to sound like he was thinking out loud.
«If they know we know their plan, then they could use that to their advantage. For example, by acting at the exact opposite of what they wrote on these sheets. »
«Exactly. » confirmed the Officer. «The problem is that we can't ignore these information either, just in case they try to carry out the original plan regardless. »
«So, we're screwed either way? » Ash despaired.
«Hum… we are stuck in a bad position, aren't we? »
«You said it, kiddo. » Matt affirmed. «But it's not as hopeless as it could be. If we act to cover all the ground, then it won't matter where they planned to strike. We'll be there any way. »
«We could do that? » asked a now enthusiastic Ash.
«Easy now, Matt. » Andrew replied. «We'd need a higher number of officers for this plan to work. Even if half the pokemon working for the police weren't now in a coma, we'd still be tight on numbers. »
«Oh… » Ash whispered as he lost a lot of his enthusiasm.
«There's another problem. » added Jenny. «It would only work if Team Blast attacks several places at the same time. If they concentrate their assault on one place, then we'd be outrageously outnumbered. »
«We're back at the beginning. We're screwed no matter what we try. »
«… I'm not so sure. » Pikachu began.
Genno and Ash looked at him with deep interest.
The mayor of Viridian City had the headache of the century. Yesterday, he had heard of an operation of Team Blast threatening the other cities, but it turned out to be a decoy. The real attack had been directed here. Now, a big fraction of the population's and of the police's pokemon was in a coma.
«Do you gentlemen have any ideas about what could be done to keep this mess from being the downfall of Viridian City? »
His two advisors were not in a better mood.
«We prepared a program that will distribute tested food for the remaining pokemon. This way, Team Blast strategy won't progress any further. »
«We also closed every single factory producing pokeblocks. They are under suspicion of having been in contact with Team Blast's members… willingly. »
«Oh great. » the mayor thought. «That's just what we need. »
«I see. » he said. «Anything else? »
«We received an anonymous videotape. We are almost certain it is from Team Blast. »
The mayor's eyes narrowed. Here it was. These terrorists were going to make their demands.
«Play it. »
The advisor turned on a television and put the tape in the machine. As soon as that was done, the image of a black-haired man in red and black appeared.
«Marco Blaze… » whispered the mayor with hatred.
«Hello there, Gregor Dexter, my favorite mayor, the only one with guts. So, how do you like the product of my research team? »
Mr. Dexter's knuckles were white as he clenched his fists.
«Two thousands… that's a pretty big number. Bigger than I expected, I must say. »
What was he saying?
«To tell the truth, that decoy last night was just a counter-measure in case of intrusion. It turned out to be the best thing about our plan. It doubled its chance of success. On that matter, I must congratulate you for your spy. He is crazy good. No one was able to tell he or she wasn't the one it pretended to be. We just realized the disappearance of a key. If it wasn't for that and his phone call, we wouldn't have been able to execute our plan. I must say I'm impressed. »
A spy? He hadn't sent anything like that. He didn't even know where their headquarters were.
«Anyway, let's get down to business. Since half of the police force over Kanto is immobilized, it would be suicidal to resist me, would it not be? » Marco said with a grin.
If they had been in the same room, Marco would have eaten a solid punch.
«What I want is simple. I ask for the totality of the money inside your banks. »
«This is outrageous! »
The man on the screen began to laugh.
«I can just imagine the look on your face, right now. There is no possible negotiation. If I wanted to talk I would have phoned you. Just make a public declaration as soon as you accept. Don't be too tardy though, I might not be too patient. »
As Marco laughed, the phone rang. Surprised, the mayor of Viridian city answered the call.
The conversation he had seemed to be quite shocking and, in a strange way, encouraging. When the mayor finally said: «Goodbye. », his advisors were both quite unsure of what they should do.
«Gentlemen, » Gregor announced. « prepare an extraordinary meeting with every single member of the police. »
The conference room was big, richly decorated and all in all was the most impressive part of the town hall. Today, it was even more intimidating. It was hosting more than an hundred policemen and women. In the front of the room, the tape containing Marco's demands was playing.
Gregor Dexter was satisfied. He saw the horror and the rage in these officers' face. It was going to be easy.
«Members of Viridian City police! I want to ask you, do you think that I should agree to his demands? »
Unsure whispers echoed through the room.
« I can see it in your eyes. You all refuse to bow down to a terrorist like Marco Blaze, but you try to think of the innocent citizens that will be the targets of Team Blast. That's exactly what people think police officers should act like… »
Gregor Dexter rose from his chair.
«THIS IS WRONG! »
All eyes were fixated on him.
«Protecting the citizens is the right thing to do! What you are unsure about is: «should you protect criminals? » The answer is crystal clear: NO! Policemen and women track down criminals and bring them to their trials! And this is exactly what we're going to do! We're going to take out the thorn in the side of Kanto's citizens! WE ARE GOING TO BRING TEAM BLAST DOWN! Our numbers have swindled, our pokemon are hospitalized, but WHO CARES? They have not subdued our pride as citizen of Kanto, we are not their slaves and we'll bring them down bare-handed if we need to! »
Flames of determination were spreading like wildfire. As one man, they stood from their chairs
«I swear on my pride as a mayor to bring peace again to this city! Swear on your pride as police members to fight back! Tell me: should I agree with his demands? »
An hundred voices echoed as one. «NEVER! »
The mayor smiled as he sat back.
«Today, I am going to reassure our citizens that nothing bad will happen to them. To keep that promise, I'll pretend to agree with Marco's demands, but don't be fooled. Can you feel that fire burning in your chest? This is your pride and I want you to use it to burn down Team Blast. As I'll say that I agree, I want you all to prepare to strike down those damn criminals. Dismissed. »
As everyone was leaving the room, the two advisors talked in low voices.
«Isn't this madness? We don't have enough strength to take them down. »
«I wouldn't say that. History takes strange turns when the right men acts in unexpected ways. The mayor may have taken one of those turns. »
Said man was proudly looking at the men and women who chose to fight for those they swore to protect.
«Dad! » shouted a young blond boy.
«Sebastian! » called the mayor.
«You were awesome! You're the coolest dad ever. » he claimed as he hugged his dad.
The previously authoritative man ran a hand through his son's hair with tenderness.
They had found a comfortable inn to stay in. They were resting. They didn't know if they'd be able to sleep that night.
«Well, I'm surprised you thought about something like that: «We don't need to defend, we can just attack instead. » » Genno assured. «You didn't strike me as the type of guy to think like that, Pikachu. »
«You obviously never saw me in a real battle. » responded the pokemon.
«Yeah, he is a killer pikachu. » Ash joked.
«Hey! »
«Just kidding. »
«Anyway, we should prepare ourselves mentally. The troops from Viridian City will arrive shortly. »
«In other worlds, let's all stress about how much is at stake here. » sarcastically added Ash.
«I'm serious. »
«Me too. Is that really what we should do? »
Pikachu jumped in. «Why don't we listen to the news? They will probably say something important. »
Both of them questioned Pikachu with their eyes before giving in.
«Okay. » They both agreed.
The woman on the screen, Paulina Jersey, seemed to be passionately relating her story.
«Ladies and gentlemen, this is incredible. We've heard shocking news coming from Lavender Town and Fuchsia City. »
All three leaned toward the television. What was it all about?
«It seems that both mayors of Lavender Town and Fuchsia City refused to obey Team Blast and are offering a united resistance toward the criminal organization. It is currently unknown if the leader of Team Blast, Marco Blaze, has answered these challenges. »