The next morning was fun. In fact, it was so fun that Yellow forgot that she was in Team Rocket for a hot minute.
Petrel gave them breakfast and chatted about whatever topic they wanted to hear. He told jokes; he told stories, and he told dirty versions of both. If it was any other day, they have beaten her down in physical training before getting beaten down by academics.
Even Lancelot was smiling. Of course, he was also smiling at Lixue when he thought she wasn't looking. The young boy had attempted to impress her with his mature conversation and steadfast nature, but Lancelot crumbled like a giddy toddler when Lixue acknowledged him.
However, a knock at the door interrupted one of Petrel's latest dirty jokes. He paused right before the punchline and got up to investigate. In seconds, Ariana came in looking as haggard as her colleague did last night.
"Nothing found." Her gruff report hit hard. "Everywhere we could find. None of the agents have a Banette on base either."
Petrel waved at the two children before sliding over to a corner where they could privately talk. Yellow felt a weight come back on her chest as Lancelot pressed his thumb against his medical wristband. He was also realizing that their free time was soon to be over.
"Do you think we'll stay here forever?" Yellow whispered, keeping an eye on the hushed adults, "Like if it's really bad?"
"No," Lancelot answered, ducking his head into his pillow as he sighed, "They'll just put us in a little room and watch us."
Better than physical training and being told she was stupid. Yellow wiggled her feet to keep herself distracted before the door opened again. Lancelot flung himself into a sitting position as Giovanni and Archer came into view.
Petrel and Ariana ceased their conversation as Giovanni cleared his throat. He gave a once-over to the forest children as all of his Executives stood by. Especially Archer, who appeared to laser-focus on each of Giovanni's footsteps like an obedient guard dog.
Lixue and the other Rocket agent made themselves small. Even Petrel stood up straighter, giving his lanky posture a workout.
"You two are doing much better, it seems," Giovanni stated, stiffer than what Yellow expected. "Recovered well?"
"Yes, Master Giovanni," Lancelot said as his gaze darted over towards Archer for approval, "We are doing better."
Yellow opted to remain silent as the Team Rocket leader crossed over to their beds. Archer kept his distance, but watched his charge like a hawk for any slip-up that Lancelot could do. Ariana motioned to Lixue to leave before taking her spot near Yellow.
Petrel leaned against the wall, staying out of Giovanni's way. "The kiddos are fine. Nothing wrong here. Just had breakfast."
"I can see that. They appear to be enjoying a lazy morning," Ariana said. "I think they are better off attending afternoon tutoring and training than wasting away here twiddling their thumbs. Don't you, Archer?"
"It would be wise to make sure the children understand they cannot use medical reasons to excuse responsibility," Archer agreed, perfectly capturing the beat of the conversation, "Lest they abuse our generosity."
Much to Yellow's surprise, Giovanni said nothing. Not even an agreement on their purported recovery. It preoccupied the man with some idea in his head, and obviously he was absorbing the background conversation.
If Giovanni really was a forest child and he knew something nefarious was afoot, then he could understand something that the others couldn't. Yellow didn't know if she wanted to know what it was or be blissfully ignorant.
"Well, we certainly can't have that." Ariana said as her elegant stride cut through Giovanni's pace, "Children will do anything to miss school work. I wouldn't be surprised if they concocted some silly scheme to miss tomorrow as well!"
Giovanni glanced over towards Yellow, taking an extensive study of her face. Yellow felt her master's long nails run over her hair, pulling it back for a makeshift ponytail. Something deep in her mind told her to be quiet and not speak up in her defense.
Archer hummed, short and authoritative, before re-entering the adult discussion.
"Lancelot would never do such a thing to me," Archer said, careful to pause before giving Lancelot a look. "Would you, Lancelot?"
Yellow squinted at Archer before Ariana quickly pushed the young girl's hair aside to feel her forehead. Lancelot tried to hide his discomfort as if some deep wound came to the surface at Archer's loaded question. Out of instinct, he embraced his pillow before immediately pretending he was rearranging it on his bed.
Why did all of this sound so… rehearsed?
"No apparent fever or chills," Ariana reported as she slid her hand further down Yellow's brow, making sure Giovanni heard it. "The boy doesn't look shabby either. I think we can take it from here, Giovanni, while you handle other business. Petrel has yet to do anything productive today and Archer knows enough medicine to be a glorified nursemaid."
Petrel slanted his gaze at Ariana. "I forgot. What was at the top of my priority list? Sucking your—"
"Archer. Lancelot appears pale," Giovanni said, ignoring the banter of his two employees as he scanned over a nearby medical chart. "He might faint. Check him."
Every part of the young boy's face bled into fear as Archer stared at him. Lancelot ran his hand over his cheek, trying to pinch some color into it. However, Archer followed with the back of his hand pressing against his student's forehead.
After a few seconds, he tutted. "He is cold. Room temperature is low. Some movement will put him back into shape. Lancelot does not like hospital rooms. He never did as most children feel the same."
Ariana's fingers twisted around the hemming in Yellow's pajama collar, fixing her up. Part of Yellow wondered why the hell it mattered so much that everything had to be alright. Or why Giovanni had to think everything was alright.
Lancelot focused on staring ahead and keeping a stiff posture. One breeze could have snapped his rigid back in half from how tense he was under Archer's careful observation. His master removed his hand and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away whatever miniscule dirt he saw.
Petrel shook his head. "Aw, leave 'em alone. Let them have a day off. Lancelot hasn't had a day off since he was born. He'll burn out before he turns thirteen. Or have a total meltdown."
Apparently, the Executive's criticism of raising Lancelot spurred Archer to twist his head and burn a hole through Petrel's head. However, unlike the others, Petrel didn't crash into a pit of anxious despair and held up against the icy glare.
It occurred to Yellow that Petrel was bold enough to take a stand against Archer. A small feeling of vindication swelled deep in her chest, making her glow with self-satisfaction. Taking on both Ariana and Archer was a feat worthy of the heavens.
"Children do not do well without routine and discipline. Getting back into school work and training would help them recover faster," Archer said, pivoting into his defense seamlessly. "Lancelot does better when he has responsibilities to focus on. Not aimless hedonistic pursuits."
Yellow forced herself not to roll her eyes. How would Archer know anything about the well-being of children when all he knew was how to abuse them? It was better for both students if they stayed far, far away from someone like him.
Giovanni watched the two men, making Yellow watch him. What was he thinking? Planning? Better yet, scheming?
"Lancelot doesn't even know what to do when he has free time, so don't make it sound like he's smoking cigarettes and picking up ladies in a hot rod." Petrel stated, "He's just a kid. Let him think there's something worth waking up for 'sides boring books and your approval."
"I'm aware, Executive, but since that's what you do in your free time–"
"Oh, you wanna talk about picking up hookers, Arch–?"
"Enough," Giovanni said, making the two men zip up their conversation. "The children appear alert and aware, fully conscious of our movements. However, because of last night, precautions against any hidden damages must be taken. You are all thinking of short-term solutions–even you, Archer, which surprises me."
For the first time, Yellow saw Archer's face appear crestfallen, like he got kicked in the ribs. "Sir…"
"Bring your students to my office in half an hour. You and Ariana claim they can attend their daily routines, so this should not be an issue," Giovanni said, watching two thirds of the Executives swallow their tongues. "Half an hour. Do not be late."
Ariana jumped first. "Giovanni, it's much too soon for Yellow. And you should rest from your—"
"Are you in disagreement with my order, Ariana?" Giovanni asked, watching her hesitate, "Is Yellow not able to leave and you take back everything you've said?"
Ah. So that was the game. And Giovanni cornered his crafty Executives with nothing more to say. Yellow wanted to be impressed, but she was too exhausted from being a spectator of this sport to care much.
"No." Her reply came short. "She will be there."
"Good," the boss turned to the other silent members, "Archer. I expect the same. And do not waste time prepping them. It's a long walk from here."
With that, Giovanni left. Exactly a minute passed before Ariana leaped at the two men's throats. Her heated tone blew apart the tension like an explosion, fiery and hissy. Even though she was a lady, Ariana was not the one for toying around.
"You both had to have a pissing contest!" She snapped, "Why didn't you just whip it out and start measuring in front of us!? It might have been more helpful! Now Giovanni has them in a room—alone! Alone! After last night!"
Petrel accepted her gauntlet being thrown down. "I didn't do a damn thing. Don't throw me or the kids under the bus. Giovanni knew what he was going to do before he walked in here. You and Archer had this kooky scheme, not me."
"For heavens—Archer, will you be useful today?!" Ariana directed her anger towards her other colleague, "Say something! Standing there, as you always do, with that ridiculous hurt puppy look—oh! If only I wasn't so surrounded—!"
Instead, Archer grabbed Lancelot's arm and pulled him from bed. In moments, the two walked out of the room and disappeared from sight. Ariana blew a hot sigh of breath before pulling Yellow from her hospital bed.
Cold tile hit the girl's feet, making her shudder. Yellow wondered what was in store before Ariana threw a uniform at her.
"Let's go, Yellow. Move quickly. It's a long walk from here."
x
The next ten to fifteen minutes were a blur. Hair pulling into proper places, uniform fixing, and dragged across the base with intense threats.
"If you so much as breathe out of line, Amarillo, you won't swallow solid foods for a year," Ariana said, "If you can do anything that will save your skin from me, you will keep your mouth shut and your head down while in there."
Yellow whimpered, "Mistress Ariana…"
"I don't expect you to understand," Ariana's reply came swiftly. "But I expect you to understand the gravity of this situation. You will be in Master Giovanni's office. Alone. I cannot help you down there. I want you to repeat that back to me."
The child looked up at her, unsure what to do next. Ariana curled her finger around Yellow's hair, pulling at it to elicit a cry of pain.
"Repeat it. 'You cannot help me down there'."
"You cannot help me down there, Mistress Ariana."
"Good. We're almost there. Keep silent."
At the end of the Executive's hallway, down the winding stairs and perplexing hallways, was a woman sitting behind a receptionist's desk. Surrounding her were computer screens and telephones, all organized to an odd standard that Yellow couldn't figure out.
The woman seemed young, but in the dim light, it was hard to tell. Her glasses caught Yellow's reflection early, drawing her attention to the small girl right away. Her lack of kowtowing towards Ariana showed a high status in Team Rocket.
Each screen held a different picture—many forests and oceans—while one telephone was nearby. Electronic maps with blinking lights flashed on and off, marking and beeping intermittently. Everything fit like a puzzle; sprawling and spiraling out over the lands like a watchful eye.
All the girl could think of was how much of a headache it must be to keep track of.
"Secretary Matori." Ariana greeted, her voice growing coarse at the sight. "Giovanni has requested to see the recruit alone in his office."
Another gaze, piercing right through Yellow. "She's still too much trouble. Isn't she?"
That appeared to irk Ariana, but she kept her grip on the child tight. Yellow's reputation reached the lowest pits of Team Rocket and the highest echelons. Nowhere to escape from—an attachment that Ariana so desperately wanted to be rid from.
"She'll be fine." Ariana lied. "We worked out the more troubling issues. Let us through."
"Let her through. Master Giovanni said alone." Matori reminded her, running a finger over one of the many telephones. "Handle the heir. He came by not five minutes ago, calling for his father."
Ariana seemed taken aback. "What is Silver doing here unaccompanied? And you did nothing except wait to tell me! Am I to be burdened with your incompetence as well, Matori?"
"Apologies, but Giovanni said you were to take him when Yellow arrived. Perhaps you should discuss your supervisory arrangements with him and not me."
Yellow thought that Ariana was going to jump over the desk and strangle the secretary. Her master's hand gripped the girl tighter, making the child whine from pain. Poor bones weren't strong enough to withstand a woman's fury!
"It is a simple matter. I can see why Giovanni would not want to waste time on it." Ariana thickened her business tone with apathy, stonewalling the other woman's efforts. "Upset children are not a priority matter right now. I will take the boy."
"So it is. Amarillo, through here. Executive, I will escort her back and send Silver up here." Matori replied, motioning through the doors. "Straight ahead. Master Giovanni is on the other side."
Yellow glanced at Ariana as if to gain permission before the older woman flicked her wrist in the same direction.
"Go, Amarillo. Remember what I said." Ariana said.
x
Yellow took two steps through the door and right away, she saw the dim light. Her boot heels dug into something soft, making her wonder if the forest floor transported into this room.
She bent over and stroked the fabric, astounded by the softness. It was like the softest grass in the darkest parts of Mother Forest. Memories of laying out in the open areas and watching the night sky slipped into Yellow's mind.
"Oh…" A soft murmur escaped Yellow's lips, making her stroke the floor more.
However, a loud commotion assailed her ears. Caterwauling, and from only one person in all of Team Rocket who would dare do it.
"Father!" Silver's voice echoed throughout the office. "I do not understand why you want to be with them and not me! I am your son, not those stupid mutts! Why can't I be here too? Father, it's not fair!"
"Silver," Giovanni chided, "We will be together later today. I will make time to be with you. Go be with your—"
A thrown book bounced off a wall and Yellow ducked. A thud later, Silver was rustling through random papers to tear out. Whatever tantrum he was having, Giovanni was allowing it to continue.
"I am special! They are not! And why Lancelot too? He's worse! Father, I don't understand! Why won't you be with me too?" Silver's voice tinged with crying. "I was born later. It's not my fault! Why can't I be here too?"
Yellow stepped towards the sound, uneasy as the scene came into view.
Giovanni was sitting cross-legged behind a large polished wooden desk surrounded by books and cabinets. Large fancy decorations with of a good deal of painted scenery hung on the walls, accentuating the status and power that he possessed.
His desk was neat, sorted into certain folders and containers that were marked with statuses. A large nameless book bound in dark brown fabric sat on a pedestal near him. It draped everything in hues of browns, reds, and blacks, with tints of green throughout.
The oddest thing was all the clocks. Ticking away with extreme precision at the same time. Yellow could not turn around without seeing some clock variant staring at her. Their faces were distinct, but all pointing to the same numbers like the alarm clock next to her bed.
Even little vases filled with sand trickling down at the same speed, weight, and grains.
Giovanni saw Yellow before gesturing to his son, making Silver stick his bottom lip out.
"I will come see you later. After your tutoring." Giovanni said, "We'll have dinner together in your room. I expect you to treat your new tutor well—don't argue with him. I don't have a deep well to draw from, Silver."
Silver pouted, ignoring Yellow completely. "They're stupid. I'm smarter than them. Why can't you be my tutor? You're smarter than them. I want to stay."
"That may be true, Silver. But you have to learn to listen. I can't teach you that skill until you learn it from others." The boss countered, checking his wristwatch. "Go on. And I better not hear you complain to—."
"I won't complain." He mumbled out, his answer now muddy.
"Good. She's been working very hard, and she doesn't need it from you either." Giovanni said, "I did not raise you to be disrespectful to women and you won't start today. Not a peep, Silver. Go."
She heard a loud huff before Silver whipped on his heel, glaring at Yellow. With every intention, he shoved her aside before storming out of the office. Giovanni sighed, tutting as he turned his attention to the young girl.
"Silver was unexpected," He said, "Amarillo. Come sit. Lancelot should be here shortly."
Yellow bowed before nodding, taking her seat. However, the chair was much taller than her and it took several tries just to hop into the leather seat. After some awkward adjustment, Yellow swung her feet over the high ledge and floundered at the thought of being stuck in this chair forever.
Only adults come in here—besides Silver, of course. Everything was mature and well-placed. Books with musky, leather scents and in different languages organized into shelves. Papers with long rows of numbers and lines, adding and subtracting into the hundreds of millions.
Giovanni had little decoration aside from the paintings. The only thing that seemed out of place was a small green pin in the shape of a leaf stuck to a velvet box. Yellow peered a little closer at it, noting the dark lines around the edges that made the leaf look quite crisp.
"Earth Badge." Giovanni picked up on her curious look. "I'm sure Lancelot has told you I am a Gym Leader for the Pokemon League, correct?"
Yellow was embarrassed he caught her staring. "Um. You win those in a Pokemon battle. With you?"
"Yes. It's quite difficult. I'm very good." Giovanni said, flashing a smile. "Interested?"
Immediately, the poor girl flustered under his charming question. "N-no, Master Giovanni! I'm not…"
"That's alright. I know how… challenging your battling skills are to overcome. Ariana tells me you don't turn around to face your opponents." Giovanni propped his chin up, watching her tremble. "And how you refuse to learn."
Yellow's cheeks grew red, and she withdrew into her shell. Of course. He knew everything. Everything was his domain here, and nothing escaped his notice. It was a surprise that he didn't bring it up earlier.
"You are having a difficult time adjusting to Team Rocket, aren't you?" Giovanni's question cut deep, forcing her to stiffen to protect herself. "You still believe you will go back to Mother Forest."
Her mouth fell open at his blunt observation. "Master Giovanni… I…"
"Mother Forest loves you very much. I can see that." Giovanni went on as his tone became much more gentle, as if he was speaking with Silver again, "But just because you love someone doesn't mean you know what is best for them. Mother Forest did not know what was best for you."
A rude and untrue statement. Yellow pursed her lips, feeling stung at his lofty judgement. He didn't understand Mother Forest like she did. Giovanni was wicked, and wicked people understood nothing like that. It was exactly why Mother Forest cursed them into oblivion.
Yellow was happy there. Yellow was herself there. What more could there be than being happy and free?
A stirring from behind Giovanni's desk before a loud, drawn out yawn. "Master, must you speak so loudly? I just fell back asleep after the child's tantrum."
In seconds, the girl could see a large, slender feline with a red jewel on the forehead stalk towards her. Sleek, glossy tan fur looked brilliant in the background of Giovanni's office, as if they produced it straight from a faraway kingdom.
The dim light caught the red pupils, adjusting quickly to the surroundings with intense precision. Two long stretches before the cat circled the small child. Giovanni kept a careful eye on the Pokemon as if he was alert for sudden changes.
"Gia," Giovanni said, "Do not scare Yellow. She is much too small and thin for your supper."
Yellow threw a look at the cat, making the Pokemon bristle.
"Too bony, Master," Gia huffed, as if eating Yellow was actually beneath her. "Must she look at me like that? She looks like a sad little bird with those gigantic eyes."
"Humph." Yellow wrinkled her nose, "I'm not a bird."
Gia threw her head back towards Giovanni, giving him a knowing look. "If I must skip my mid-morning nap, then compensate me for my troubles."
"Darling," The Rocket boss chided, falling into a familiar rhythm as if this discussion was commonplace, "You cannot eat now. The last thing I want is for you to get sick again. Archer still hasn't forgiven you for ruining his suit."
Yellow perked up. So Giovanni could hear Pokemon! He was a forest child! But how? He was wicked and…
"Perhaps Archer should not let those mangy mutts into my sanctuary," Gia scoffed, haughty at the idea that she had to obey a command, "I stress eat when those wretched pups are here. And dog fur—horrible on my sensibilities!"
"Gia…" Giovanni said, now chuckling, "You don't have allergies, darling. Off to your perch. I am busy."
The Pokemon purred at Yellow, catching her surprised gaze, "She still looks like a bird."
In seconds, Gia leaped above the bookcase and stretched out on an open ledge above Giovanni's head. Her nose nuzzled into what looked like a soft bed as she peeked out from the fabric, watching Yellow's every move.
Yellow's voice was scratchy now. "You understand Pokemon."
"Did you doubt me?" Giovanni said. "I am Mother Forest's child as well."
"Who…?"
"Gia. A Persian. She is my oldest friend and Pokemon. I've known her since I was a young boy—around your age, in fact." He answered, taking another look at the enormous cat, "She's quite beautiful, but with a vexing personality sometimes. It makes her quite special to me."
Gia said nothing, turning her head into her pillow for a well-deserved catnap.
Yellow thought back to ChuChu, feeling depressed again. Long gone by now. "Do you talk to Gia often, Master Giovanni?"
"All the time."
"And she talks to you like that?"
"All the time. I seem to collect troublesome women in my life. My one weakness," Giovanni said, refocusing on Yellow, "Must be from my mother. But I'd be careful about Gia. Nasty little temper and a habit of scratching people for the pettiest reasons. Temperamental, you know."
Yellow eyed the massive cat again. She couldn't imagine those long claws ripping her body apart. Might be worse than sitting at the edge of the Houndoom's teeth. Or at least, much slower and more painful than they would be.
However, something else was peeking behind the bookcase that Yellow hadn't noticed before. It was a room illuminated with fantastical natural light. Almost as if the sun had a special reserved seat in Giovanni's office. She managed to scooch a little more before catching the glint of reflected light.
Windows! Large, beautiful windows that glistened in the morning. Yellow tried to crane her neck to see it better, but Giovanni caught on quickly. He pushed a button and large, thick, metallic tiles slid over the windows to block the sunlight.
"I must have forgotten to shut the blinds." Giovanni said, irritated at his forgetfulness. "Silver interrupted my conversation before I could do so."
Yellow tried to look, but the dim office lighting made it difficult to see. Part of her thought she could get up and investigate the area herself, but she decided against it. After all, she wasn't about to cause a commotion in Giovanni's office or Ariana would beat her into a new shade of color.
The Rocket leader leaned back in his seat, smiling at her as if nothing was wrong. Silence grew between the two, and Yellow wondered if she should say something. She twisted her finger around the end of her ponytail, trying to count down the minutes until she could leave.
It also seemed that Giovanni was counting down quietly too, almost muttering. "Nine… eight… seven…"
The door swung open, and in a second, Lancelot was there. He quickly bowed before lifting his head apologetically. Yellow noticed that his hair was combed back again, as if someone had cut it quickly.
"Master Giovanni," Lancelot said, very meek.
"Lancelot, come take a seat next to Yellow." Giovanni greeted him, motioning to the free chair, "We have plenty of work to do."
Lancelot's feet hauled to his seat, but he still kept his head lowered. After a few seconds, Giovanni flipped over one vase filled with sand and quickly recounted some numbers under his breath.
"Both of you remember what occurred last night?" He asked, making the children nod. "Tell me what happened."
Yellow swallowed, her thumbs entwining into each other as Lancelot stared behind the Team Rocket boss. Both children hesitated before the older child finally spoke up.
"Something came into our rooms. I was dreaming." Lancelot said. "Yellow was there."
"Who tried to reach out to Mother Forest?" Giovanni cut to the next question.
That answer was obvious, but Yellow sunk into her seat. She could feel the hard look press into her mind as she crumbled under the questioning. Obviously, it took little to make Yellow break or falter into telling the truth.
Giovanni leaned forward. "Amarillo. Look at me."
"I'm sorry." Yellow's habitual reply came instead. "I didn't mean to."
"I told you to look at me, Amarillo."
She lifted her head, feeling her bottom lip tremble. What was this punishment going to be? Another Pokemon feeding? Getting hit? Or something far worse than Yellow could imagine in her small, delicate life?
Giovanni seemed to tattoo his disappointed look right into her soul. The burn seared deep into her spirit, as if Yellow craved nothing more than his approval. Even Lancelot was feeling the effects of it.
"It seems you lit a beacon of sorts." Giovanni surmised. "And brought something here that shouldn't be. Even stronger than the occasional riffraff. I underestimated both of your powers. I had assumed that you two had not yet grown into them and I failed to protect us."
Us? Yellow tried to find an answer in Lancelot's face, but he didn't offer any.
"Master Giovanni, it won't happen again," Lancelot said, "I—"
"I'm sure Archer coached you on saying that to me," Giovanni interrupted his apology, "Because he's worried about me. As all of them are. But even for this breakthrough, it was not strong enough to dismantle me. It stumbled across a treasure trove and was ill-prepared. However, we cannot allow this to happen again."
Lancelot swallowed his next apology before Yellow interjected.
"Master Giovanni, what was it?"
He hummed, "You both know what you are. Children of Mother Forest? Lancelot, I don't want to hear whatever so-called 'scientific explanation' Archer told you."
Both children nodded.
"We're very rare. With the exception of Amarillo," Giovanni motioned to the young recruit, "A child is born with her special gifts every ten years. She granted us immeasurable powers, iron-clad will, and ambitious destinies. Our powers may differ between us, but we share many of the same qualities—namely, the bond and communication of Pokemon."
This was a topic that Yellow knew most about. Her little face beamed with pride as her heart swelled. It was an opportunity to discuss something important to her.
"Mother Forest says it's because we are the bridge between humans and Pokemon!" She said, "To create lasting friendships and eternal bonds to better understand our world!"
Giovanni gave a hard snigger. "Cute. Just like Mother Forest to say that."
Yellow couldn't help but glare as Lancelot kicked his feet into the air. The topic was uncomfortable for him or that he didn't entirely believe it. Whatever he thought, the boy still patiently awaited the next order.
"It's true!" Yellow insisted. "It's why we can heal them! And—"
"Mother Forest's gifts are extremely valuable." He ignored her statement, moving on, "However, with every gift, there is a curse. And there are people who live off such curses. For every one of us, there is someone who preys on us."
Preys on them? Even Giovanni, who claimed he was so powerful? Yellow squinted, trying to discern if he was lying in the low light. Was this a ghost story like the ones Uncle Wilton would tell her? She hated ghost stories, but he sounded incredibly serious.
Besides, ghost stories weren't real. They were mostly full of tales of eating children or sending them to dark, evil places. No Pokemon actually did that. Right?
"Like a psychic vampire," Lancelot broke his silence, "Someone who drains us."
"Very good, Lancelot," Giovanni said, "Yes. There are people who do that. They also have powers, but they live endless lives because they feed off us. The stronger we are, the more energy they can consume from us and live longer. Stay youthful. Strong. Many psychics have died from them and I have taken great precautions to make sure this base was safe."
"How?" Yellow's mind spun. Someone wanted to eat her? Drain her? But she was so small…
"That's why I don't allow ghost types on base. Or allow agents to train Pokemon that could be used in a manner—"
"Like a Banette." Lancelot said, recoiling when he realized he interrupted Giovanni.
"Yes. Like that." Giovanni said, "Ghosts are their primary method of finding them out. They have a tendency to scout out psychic Pokemon as a method of hunting. It's how they can stay alive for longer than merely draining human life energy. These psychic vampire types, if you wish to call them that, are the same. They scout for these energies and attack when needed. They found you two when Yellow reached out to Mother Forest."
Yellow felt her stomach drop. "Are we…?"
"You're safe. For now. But," the adult leaned back, "I want to train you both on using your gifts. We have no other option at this point. I cannot protect you both forever, especially with how powerful you are, Yellow. Lancelot as well. Our powers are secret, even inside of Team Rocket. Now that it's become known, these attacks may get more prevalent."
Lancelot's eyes darted towards the bookcase again, as if he knew something Giovanni did not, but opted to remain silent. Giovanni furrowed his brow at the child's minute reaction, but continued on.
"It is important to keep us all safe. Even if it's just to save your own skin," He said. "No more trying to reach out to Mother Forest. I have placed blocks inside your mind to prevent this. If you try, I will know."
This time, Yellow's annoyance was heavy. "That's not fair! I didn't let you do that! And how do you have that power? I don't have it!"
Giovanni seemed testy at her statement. "I have cultivated my skills and powers through many years of training. And yes, I do. I may not be at the same level as some expert psychic users, but Mother Forest's gifts are not to be trifled with. Even this intruder knows that now."
"Then how come I don't have it?"
"We do not know the extent of either of your gifts yet. I know Lancelot has picked up on finding double agents and ill intent. And we know you have greater healing powers than we do." Giovanni said, "But we'll find out through training. I will work this out with Archer and Ariana. I expect you both to come on time and ready for the sessions. It will be hard and they can break you if you're not careful."
Lancelot seemed exhausted. Another thing on his plate, undoubtedly. But he didn't allow himself anything more than a simple "Yes, Master Giovanni."
Yellow was less enthused and more bold, "But we already have lots of tutoring, training, and physical stuff. We have to do this too?"
Giovanni smirked now. "My dear, powerful children are molded, not born. Survival is the most important quality here. Surely, you have learned that by now?"
After a few seconds, Yellow wasn't sure what she learned, except that Giovanni was serious about what he said. And absolutely nothing was going to convince him otherwise, not even her best protests.
x
Matori came to collect both children as they left. Somehow, she knew exactly when to appear and where to go.
"This way." Her voice was cool and unruffled. "Follow out."
Yellow ducked her head towards Lancelot behind Matori, keeping her tone quiet. "Lancelot, do you think we're really in danger? Or…?"
"Who cares what we think?" Lancelot muttered, his brow already scarred from the stress, "They decided already. We're just in this because they told us we had to be. We don't get a say."
Yellow frowned, "We could…"
"No, Yellow. For the last time. Just do what they tell you."
An aggravated sigh later and Yellow heaved her body forward to follow Matori. Was Giovanni telling the truth? Did she have more powers than simply healing and talking to Pokemon? Was there more to Mother Forest's gifts than she thought…and that someone craved to gobble her mind up?
This metaphysical knowledge was too much to bear. She needed to sleep on this.
As Matori reached out to press the button to the Executive hallway, the door shifted right before she put in the final numbers. Matori stepped back in surprise, as if she didn't expect that, and a flutter of fabric went right through the entryway.
"Ah, ah. My apologies. I did not realize someone was already on the other side."
Yellow could make out some tall, pale, purple-haired woman with these unusual ponytails sticking out from the top of her head. Her dark lips stressed her sharp looks and cut frame, as if she was born from glass.
A red "R" was over her left breast and in front of her belt, blending in with her long robes. Whoever she was, Yellow could sense that Giovanni's secretary knew exactly who she was, but that she was not welcome here.
"Sird," Matori greeted rather stiffly, "You are in the wrong place. If you are looking for the Executives, wait for them at their office."
"I came in this morning. I heard that my dear Executives could not greet me for a field report for some odd reason." The woman said, resting her fingers on her chin as if lost in thought, "Some commotion last night?"
"Ask Archer," Matori dismissed. "Giovanni is quite busy and has no time for a lieutenant's meandering story. You report to Archer and he can relay whatever nonsense to Giovanni if he has to."
Yellow could see the woman crane her neck as if to get a better look at them. There was something dark behind those gray eyes glinting in the fluorescent light, but Sird could not quite attain a proper once-over of the two children.
"Escorting two little ones around?" Sird's slithery question came out, "Is that why I was not welcomed? I was only out in the Sevii Islands for a few months, yet I see the replacements are coming in early."
Matori blocked her by putting her foot through the doorway. "Lieutenant Sird. Would you like a head start before I send the dogs after you?"
Sird held her hands up as if to provide a mocking surrender. "Ah, ah, ah. Easy, Secretary Matori. Only joking. I would never intrude on where I didn't belong. I will go find Archer. Poor me, where was he again?"
"Out."
Yellow shivered as Sird took one last look behind them, noticing that she caught sight of Lancelot's tall figure. She smiled, as if nothing was wrong, before turning around to head out the other direction.
Lancelot knew what Yellow was thinking and whispered, "That's Head Lieutenant Sird. She's been running the Sevii Islands field units for years now. She's hardly ever here."
"Why is she here now?"
"Nobody enjoys being out there. It's a dead-end job. They put people they don't like out there."
Something so bold like that? Team Rocket had no place for that here. Maybe Team Rocket would do Yellow the pleasure of sending her out there.
"How do you know Sird then?"
Lancelot looked puzzled. "I don't know her. I never even met her in person. Master Archer handles her personally and I am not allowed in the room when he receives field reports from his agents."
Yellow didn't have time to ask any more questions before Matori picked up the pace again.