"What? This is a complete madness!" Master Koga argued, "TV tells there is some serious police operation going on, and no civilians are allowed!"
"No civilians are allowed, yes. But do you believe the rest of it? Do you know WHY they are not allowed?" I seriously asked him. This is a question that always makes people think. This question made Koga think too, "there is much more behind this. I will not theorize without proofs, but… I hope you can help me understand this. If you wish me to hire you and your men – I can do this, just give me some time."
Master Koga leaned back and stared at the emptiness before him. He was thinking. And I gave him plenty of time to think through my offer. It was nearly a minute passed before he looked at me and continued talking.
"I`m a ninja, you know. We have our special… philosophy." He began talking from far away. "We don`t believe in coincidences. But I think I can clearly see one."
That sounded really suspicious… Maybe Koga actually has more interest in this that tries to show.
"You know what`s happening in Saffron City, right?" I asked him straightly.
"Not exactly… But I know who knows." Gym leader looked at the window. "Sabrina, the gym leader of Saffron City."
"Okay… And where is she now?"
"She is somewhere near the city. When Team Rocket came and threw them out, she and her students had to retreat outside. They are hiding somewhere in the forest on Route 6 and plan to retrieve their city someday."
"Wow. There`s a real war going in Saffron City, yeah?" I was surprised to hear that.
"This is not exactly a war… But it looks like it. As I know this lasts at least for six months already and Sabrina can`t return back just because cops don`t let anyone in or out. But this girl is too stubborn to give up."
This sounded pretty fantastic for me now, but actually I know worse situations.
"So… Maybe you can at least contact me with her?"
Master Koga suddenly stood up and headed to me.
"I can. And I will. Because there is a profit for me too." He said seriously.
"May I ask what is it?"
"Sabrina is a psychic-type gym leader. She is arrogant and proud. She considers herself as the strongest and always mocks me every time we meet." He tensed his fist with anger. "She is the only gym leader I couldn`t defeat! Well, except for the Elusive Man from the Viridian City. And in a situation like this I will never be able to do this and show this girl her place!"
I can clearly see there is some tensed relationship between them.
"You knew that she is in trouble and didn`t help her. No other gym leader helped her. Why?" I asked the obvious question.
"Because the is too proud to ask for help. She never asked for it, really. I know this just because one of my students have found their settlement on Route 6. And… I hate her. Hate her with all my heart."
"Just because her pokemon are stronger than yours?" I mistrustfully asked.
"They are not stronger!" Master Koga twitched from my impudent question. "The type effectiveness doesn`t mean anything to us. And I`ll prove it!"
"Calm down, man. You`re telling this to a guy that defeated a rock-ground Onix and half-water Starmie with his fire-type Charmeleon!"
After my words Koga silently nodded showing his respect.
"I see… You`re a really interesting trainer and a smart person. But assaulting the whole city isn`t an easy thing. You shouldn`t jump into the fire just because of vengeance for Team Rocket."
"Hey, don`t forget – Vengeance is my name! And there are much more at stake than just my revenge. There are lives. Many innocent lives."
Judging by Koga`s surprised look, he was really confused.
"You`re a ninja, master Koga. The follower of an ancient tradition… The man of honor. Do the men of honor protect those who need it?"
"Yes, we are!" Master Koga put the fist on his chest.
"So… The ending question… Will you help me in this?"
He went into a deep thought again. I needed him to think this very carefully.
"This is dangerous. Maybe you don`t know, but Team Rocket has the real power in this region. Their agents infiltrated the Celadon City gym… Did you heard about it?"
"Yes, the self-ignition of machinery." Koga`s answer somehow made me laugh.
"The self-ignition? Are you that naïve, master Koga? That`s how the television described it?" I pointed at myself and gave the gym leader a serious look. "I was there, fighting them. I know the truth. It was NOT a self-ignition."
That sounded really funny for some reason. There is nothing more stupid that creating SUCH explanation.
"And what about the fire in Celadon City Game Corner? Was that in news too?" I asked him.
"Yes, I remember that. The unsuccessful test of anti-fire system…"
"This is just ridiculous." I waved at him. "They have not only gained the control over television, they also put complete idiots there! I could think of something more inventive to lie…"
"Well, now I see sense in your words…"
"Great. You have to understand how dangerous it is. They tried to kill me and leader Erika. They have no mercy… But I`m going to put an end to this, with your men or without. Somehow, I don`t know now, but I have to do it. At least my life depends on it."
He just approached me and put his hand on my shoulder.
"For some reason I feel that I can trust you. That`s a very rare thing, believe me. But you need more allies for this. We can`t take over the city alone."
"Do you know anyone who can join us except for Sabrina and her people?"
"Other gyms, maybe?" Master raised his hand and stared at it. "You have collected five badges. You know some leaders in person already."
"That is not a really good idea, Koga. We`re going to war! And our soldiers are students and their pokemon. I don`t want casualties here, not at all."
"You`re underestimating the power of gyms?"
"I`m underestimating the power of Team Rocket. If you defeat them in battle, they easily take out the gun and shoot you to hell!" I raised my voice for some seconds, but then calmed down. I just wanted him to understand me. "I know who trains at gyms - children! I don`t wish to send children to fight. Even for a goal like ours." I looked at Koga seriously. "Your students aren`t children. They are grown-up men. This is who I can rely on, not on kids that can`t have pokemon at all by your laws!"
"Maybe, you`re right. But this is a responsibility that relies only on gym leaders. Try to talk to them. Give them the right to refuse and your conscience will be clean."
I couldn`t answer that immediately. The whole idea of gathering the army to assault Saffron City and Team Rocket there began to look just stupid. I`m no general, I can`t command. Maybe if I ask lieutenant Surge to take the place of commander we may have the chance. But still, I just can`t send untrained children into battle. I can`t send their untrained pokemon into battle. This is too serious.
But, on the other hand, maybe we can still find people that can actually help us. Maybe Brock has someone else but that boy Mikey in his gym. Maybe, Misty has someone else but Diana and Luis. Damn, taking Misty with me to Saffron is a terrible idea by itself! The worst thing is that she will definitely agree to this madness.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Well, you have the point. I will contact everyone I can and ask. We will see who will agree and who will not." I have accepted.
"And I will send someone to find Sabrina`s lair and contact leader Blane from Cinnabar Island. I`m not sure about the Elusive Man from Viridian, but… will do what I can."
"The Elusive Man? Ha… Is this how you call him?"
"Well, that`s for a reason. He works as a gym leader longer than any of us and he never appeared on our meetings. Blane even has a theory that he doesn`t exist… But sometimes challengers DO find him in his gym and challenge to battle. Very rarely they leave him defeated and proceed to the Pokemon League…"
"I wonder if I will be able to catch him when the time comes?" I quietly asked myself.
"Maybe. But right now you have more important things to do, right?" Koga reminded me of our plans.
"Yeah, you`re right. We need to get as much information as possible. Can you send someone to scout the situation in the city itself?"
"Ha! We are the shadows! I will send the best of the best on this mission!" Koga said with determination.
I gave look to the closed door for some seconds.
"I hope you don`t mean your daughter that is listening to us." I nodded in the direction of door. Master Koga stared at it and then strictly shouted:
"Janine! Come here right now!"
The office door slowly opened and a girl with guilty look stepped inside.
"Yes, dad?" She timidly asked.
"How much did you hear?" He asked her in reply. Poor girl made a step back and lowered her eyesight in fear of her father.
"Everything." I answered instead of her. "I noticed her right from the beginning."
Janine resentfully looked at me but said nothing. Her father turned to her and crossed his hands on chest.
"So… Then this task will be yours, Janine." He strictly said.
"Oh no, no!" I interrupted him. "She is not suitable for this at all. Don`t you understand the threat, Koga?"
"I do. But I understand the strength of my students. And she is one of the best."
That made girl smile a bit. I couldn`t understand whether she likes the idea of scouting the deadly dangerous area full of crazy criminals or not.
"But she is a child!" I tried to convince him but suddenly Janine rushed into our dispute.
"I`m old enough! I`m nineteen! And I passed almost all exams already!" She squeaked at me furiously.
"Almost is not enough. I was too overconfident and got a bullet into the damn shoulder." I told her my short and sad story and then turned to her father. "This is not that kind of help I expected you to give me… master Koga."
"Our trials are hard and dangerous enough to prove you that all of us are capable of taking care of that." He replied with determination. "She can show you how strong she is, in a fight!"
"A… pokemon fight?" I carefully asked.
"No, a fist fight! I`ll easily kick your ass!" Girl punched the air before you a couple of times. "In a pokemon fight too, a piece of cake."
"No, thanks. Enough battles for me today. I would like to have a regular sparring too but… I will lose anyway. Just because I don`t beat girls." I gave a very serious look at Koga. "I accept this. But on your responsibility, master Koga."
"Then it`s a deal. Janine, go prepare your equipment." He commanded to his daughter. The girl seriously nodded and immediately ran away. "With you… Vengeance… we will meet tomorrow evening near the PokeCenter. Seven P.M., remember that. My scouts will find Sabrina`s place and let you know where our camp will be."
"Fine. But… what about my part of the deal?" I unwillingly changed the topic. "Do you want money? Or something else?"
The ninja master approached me and brutally looked into my eyes.
"Revenge." He said and headed out of his office. I just had to follow him outside.
In the main hall Koga headed to his other students to give instructions and I had nothing more to do here, so I headed straightly to the exit. Too bad I forgot about the invisible walls and crushed into one of them. But then I found the pen line still hovering in the air and followed it outside.
So, I will get the information right tomorrow. We will find Sabrina, settle the camp somewhere near Saffron and attack with all out strength to throw Team Rocket out of here. If I will not meet Giovanni I will definitely have the chance to visit central hospital where grunts from the tower were taken to – if they were actually taken there.
But right now everything looks absolutely… differently. Just some days ago I was a lone bastard that wants to take revenge and return my car… Now I`m gathering an army to assault the biggest city in Kanto region. How crazier this can become?
Damn, could this be it? My nightmares about pokemon and people fighting each other? About the bloodshed? Am I going to start a real war? No, that`s not what I want. I aim to accomplish this impossible task without any blood at all – at least, not from our side. And I have an idea of how do it… And yet the idea doesn`t look good to me at all. But what else can I do?
"What took you so long?" Suddenly familiar girl`s voice sounded from aside. I turned to see a pretty young journalist that I know and dread.
"Hey there, Leaf. Glad to see you alive and well." I greeted her.
"So do I, Ven." She modestly replied. "It was a good battle."
"Were you watching it?" I headed away from the gym in the direction of PokeCenter and Leaf followed me talking during the walk.
"Yeah, that was amazing! You found the way to use their invisible walls against them, that was a smart move."
"Ah, it was nothing. After the battle I got better ideas, but it was too late…" I stopped for a second to give Leaf a suspicious look. "How did you find me anyway?"
"Oh, I was passing by and felt the heat and coolness from that gym at the same time. Only you can emit that." She playfully answered and winked.
"Maybe, we will exchange our places in this story? You will be leading the investigation, working out the detective stuff, doing stupid stings and all that? I will be your mysterious sidekick that will NOT betray in the end?"
That just made her laugh.
"You can`t handle my job, Ven. Let`s do it this way." She smiled and led me forward.
"So… You found me for a reason, right? How are you doing, by the way?" I asked detachedly.
"Yeah, I`m fine. My article is given to the editor and soon will be published. I came here to work on another one. And you usually give me plenty of material…"
"I hope that you write about less than five percent of our misadventures in your articles, right?" I gave her a serious look.
"No reason to worry, it`s not like I`m going to make you the star of yellow press… People keep asking my information sources but I`m good at keeping secrets."
"Don`t get problems for your beauty ass, girl…" I warned her.
"My ass is only my concern. What about yours? What do you plan now?" She began to interrogate me slowly and nicely.
"Let`s get to the Pokemon Center first. I`ll tell you a story that will change your life…" I mysteriously answered and accelerated in the direction of my goal.
We got to the PokeCenter pretty quickly and silently. I left my champions to rest and together with Leaf we got to my room where I closed the door tightly. Making another evil plan in the same building seems ordinary to me now.
"So… This is not a thing I would say that easily to a stranger…" I slowly began talking and sat on chair over against Leaf. "But I`m going to infiltrate Saffron City."
"Whoah… This is much bigger that our previous case…" Girl sounded extremely worried but not actually surprised. She begins to know me more.
"Yes. As previously some traces at the same time led me to Celadon City, now I have a lead to Saffron City. I am sure to find Rockets there. I am sure to find damn Giovanni there." I looked at Leaf for some seconds to understand whether I trust her now or not. We together have been in such deep ass that this question would have no relevance for regular people. But not for me. I don`t think she is following me just to betray in the best moment.
Or is she?
"You know that the city is surrounded by police, right?" Leaf reminded me.
"Of course, I know. But do YOU know why?" I stood up and approached her. "Do you know why cops keep the blockade for more than half a year and do NOTHING? Let no one in and no one out?"
"Erm… No, I don`t know." Girl confusedly replied.
"It is obvious. This is very obvious and very, very bad if I`m right." I made a step to window and raised my sight to the sun. "And by this gym battle I got some guys to get the proofs to my theory."
Leaf tried to collect all thought in her head and understand how does she concern my plans. She must keep away from me after our last small 'experiment' and yet she returned to find me again.
"But… this is just the idea. I have to make some preparations, invent some plans and buy some useful things…"
"Do you need me to help?" She asked with some hope in her voice. Maybe I could actually use some her help, but just during the preparations, definitely not during the assault. The responsibility for head will be on me and only on me.
"No, Leaf. This is too dangerous. I am going to war. I don`t want to risk your life." I answered seriously and softly. "So I ask you… please, stay away."
She gave me a very sad but understanding look.
"Okay. Maybe you tell me about it when it is finished." The girl quietly said.
I was actually surprised that she listened to me. She is not as stubborn as Misty or Erika, and that is good. I can try to keep her alive.
"Thank you. I will try." I smiled and sat near her. Leaf needed to take some time to think about it and stared at the space before her. So did I. Some time passed in complete silence until she suddenly put her head on my shoulder.
"Well then… I have to stay without cool material for now and head to regular Safari program that I had for the plan B." She said with disappointment.
"What is it about?" I asked politely.
"Ah, nothing special. The changes in population of pokemon in Safari zone, senseless talks about the day when we will be able to catch Dratinis there too and all that boring stuff…" She let me go and leaned on back of her coach. "For me the most interesting thing can be just the monthly challenge for HM Surf."
"HM Surf?" I tried to remember where could I see that move. If I remember correctly, this move was used by Douchebag. Then it is a really good move. "That sounds interesting. What is this challenge?"
"Oh, you don`t know?" She asked surprised like everyone must know that. "In the Safari Zone one of their employees hides somewhere in the deepest forest and gives TMs to everyone who reaches him. In this month they giveaway HM for Surf."
"That`s… strange. But sounds easy."
"Not at all… The time is limited for that." Leaf smiled cunningly. "Well, time is always limited when in Safari zone whether you came to see rare pokemon or to participate in the challenges."
"What happens when the time runs out?" I asked carefully.
"They have special teleporter bracelets that only they can take off, don`t worry. You won`t be able to cheat." She assured me, but I was not assured at all.
"We`ll see about that!" I jumped on place and headed to the exit.
"Wait, you`re going there too?"
"This will be a good chance to teach Surf to my Magikarp. He can`t learn any of the TMs I already have and maybe this one will work." I told her my short evil plan.
"That makes sense." The girl nodded in approval. "I was watching your trainings while we were at Bill`s house… That looked not very effective."
"I know. Sometimes I think that Magikarp doesn`t understand where he is and what is happening. But I will not give up! We had some progress, after all."
"Of course. But you may not hurry now. We are late already for today`s challenge."
"What, really?" I asked her disappointed. "And what am I going to do now? I can`t even go training – my pokemon are on treatment!"
"Well, you still have your Reaper and Magikarp alive and well. You could take them back and train a bit." Leaf supposed.
"Good point." I praised her and quickly left the room. But then I suddenly remembered that the room is mine and I need to close it and returned back. "Yeah, do you have your own room to stay?"
"Erm… No, not yet." She timidly replied.
"You have now." I threw her my key. "I may be back tomorrow." And after that I ran away to take two my pokemon and go training.
The rest of day passed quickly. I trained my Reaper to aim his fast Pin Missiles straight into one exact spot. During that I also trained my Magikarp to do Splash when I tell him to. This worked… a couple of times… Or, maybe, it was just a couple of coincidences – I don`t know. But that actually planted some more doubt in me about this pokemon.
I decided to finish this quickly and returned back to my room somewhere near 10 P.M. Leaf was drinking tea and watching TV at that moment, and I managed to pass near her unnoticed. If she likes to consume the crap from this zombie box then the bed will be mine and she will have to sleep on couch! The bed is single and she will definitely not slip to me in the night to make me worry in the morning. Ha! How genius my evil plan is.
As I was all ready to enjoy my nightmare, the PokeDex called. This appeared to be professor Oak, and such important call I just could not miss. I grabbed the ringing device and hid in the kitchen.
"Yes?" I replied to the call.
"Vengeance, my boy. I have some news for you!" Professor went straight to the topic. I like straight people.
"Whoa! Did MEE-Three evolved finally?" I played dumb a little to make fun of the old man.
"Wha… No!" This worked and made him lose speech for some seconds. "He is still being observed, I did not try to evolve him anymore. This is about your request."
"Yes, I`m listening with all my eyes." I placed myself on a hard wooden chair to hear what this man is going to tell me.
"So… This was really hard to define that pokemon even for my colleagues." The beginning of his story didn`t sound good enough. "But just one of them succeeded in that."
"Yes? That is good!" The sudden news raised my mood a bit.
"Professor Sycamore from Kalos said this sound a lot like the pokemon from his region – a Noivern. But meeting this pokemon in our Kanto is… unlikely."
"A Noivern? Never heard of that pokemon before… Or maybe I heard and just didn`t care." I replied.
"In Kalos these pokemon aren`t very rare, and Noibats – their pre-evolved form – can be easily caught. So…"
"…that means we are dealing with someone from Kalos." I concluded seriously.
"I don`t know what you got yourself into, boy, but I hope you know what you`re doing." Professor Oak suddenly showed some care for me.
"Don`t worry. I do not." I sarcastically calmed him down. "Thank you for your help, I`ll think through all this information."
I turned off my PokeDex and stared at the blank screen. The pokemon from Kalos region… How interesting. If I can learn more about the courier from Viridian City and find his connection to Kalos, then I will be a little closer to my goal. Well, the connection looks pretty obvious – this just has to be.
I took away the PokeDex and headed back to the room. When I returned there to claim my right on that bed, it was already taken by this nasty female conqueror. Damn it.
With nothing else to do, I slowly headed to couch and laid down closing my eyes and thinking about everything at once. About my chances of defeating a psychic-type gym, about the future battle against Team Rocket and about phone calls being a very bad thing that takes away our beds!
Maybe I just need to keep balance on sleeping in beds and on the floor. Beds make me too soft. So I slowly fell from my coach on the cold floor, wrapped myself in greatcoat and tried to ride the wondrous land of dreams…