All right, here's the sixth chapter of Servant of the Pokémon. Since I'm back at college now, the updates might slow down a bit, but I remain committed to telling this tale, just because of how much fun I'm having. I hope some of you will provide feedback; I haven't gotten any reviews yet, and I'd like to know what I could improve on.
There's not much else to say, really. I'd like to thank all my readers thus far. Enjoy!
Current music: Sell Out - Levellers
Given that Ash had been awake pretty much all night yesterday (even if "awake" is a bit of a stretch), you'd be forgiven for thinking that his body would want to catch up on the precious commodity known as sleep. That it would try to compensate for its lack of rest.
You might think that, but you'd be wrong.
Ash tossed and turned all night, moving from one side of the bed to the other every few minutes. Drifting off was not as easy as he'd imagined it would be, to say the least.
When the President did sleep, however, at least his rest was mercifully free of dreams. He usually didn't remember them anyway, but when he woke up the following morning, Ash was certain that his mind had been quiet the whole time.
If only the day can be so peaceful as that, Ash thought bitterly as he climbed out of bed. He was alone in the bedroom (Serena had insisted on using a different bedroom, since there were so many options to choose from in the palace.)
Pikachu, on the other hand, relaxed in his beanbag chair, curled into a ball and drooling slightly. The yellow mouse was, for now, oblivious to the mortal hell that would be made of today's events in the media.
But he could not remain so forever. Indeed, he couldn't remain blissfully ignorant for very long at all.
"Time to wake up, Pikachu," Ash insisted.
No answer. The Electric-type was still out for the count.
In the end, Ash resorted to tickling Pikachu on the nose in order to rouse him. This was a risky strategy, because if you did it too forcefully, you risked getting shocked by an electric sneeze. Ash had been on the receiving end of these before, and they were far from pleasant.
"Pika pika…" ("Morning.")
Ash smiled sadly. "Good morning, Pikachu. Sorry for waking you so early."
"Pika pika…?"("What's going on today?")
The President sighed. "I don't think you want to know, but you'll have to before long. Today's the first day of confirmation hearings."
"Pika pika?"("You mean, for your Cabinet?")
"That's exactly it. I made some phone calls last night to announce my nominations, and now they'll have to be confirmed by the Senate. There'll be hearings every day, starting today, until all my nominees are confirmed or rejected."
"Pika pika" ("That sounds like a lot.")
"Oh, it is," Ash admitted. "Some of the Senators like to bring books onto the Senate floor, or they'll play some game like Pokélife on their phones. But I think they should take these hearings seriously - they impact the future of our country, after all."
Pikachu did not respond; instead, he curled back up and closed his eyes again. Soon, the deep, even breathing suggested that the yellow mouse had once again fallen fast asleep, and that anyone who didn't want to incur his wrath should leave him alone.
Ash sighed, realizing that he was again, for all intents and purposes, alone.
In the dining room, Serena sat at the head of the table eating pancakes. She daintily cut each flapjack into handheld slices, eating them delicately so as not to get syrup all over herself. She didn't acknowledge Ash as he entered said room.
"Nexus to Serena" the President muttered.
His girlfriend looked up from her pancakes. "Good morning, Ash," she said coolly.
"Morning," Ash responded with an awkward smile.
"Today's the first day" Serena mouthed.
"Indeed it is. The first hearing is for my nominee to be Kanto's Secretary of State."
"Is that the guy with the weird last name? What was it, again? Thief?"
Ash snorted. "His name's Banditt. Michael Banditt. And yes, it's an odd name, but I'm hiring the best people. I promise, Serena - I chose the best people for every department in the Cabinet."
Serena frowned. "With a name like Banditt, I think the general public has a right to be a bit sus, don't you?"
"Sus? Who are you, some random troll on Pokécord?"
"It doesn't matter. I think you should withdraw the nomination unless you want to get brutally mocked in the media."
"I've got news for you, Serena," Ash muttered, putting his head in his hands.
"Yeah?"
"That ship has sailed."
By now, the video of Ash's drunken rant in the Red Light District had achieved several hundred million views. News traveled very quickly these days, at a velocity that would make a raging pandemic jealous. And it had only been a day.
"Well, just because you're already the butt of a million jokes doesn't mean you should be the butt of two million."
"Serena, it's his name that's the issue. And anyone so terminally online as to see this as a dealbreaker…they weren't going to vote for me anyway."
"This isn't about an election, Ash. It's about running the country. Those two things don't have much in common, at least not as much as you'd think."
"Trust me, I know. Just look at the failed former President, Fiddlesticks."
"Whatever" Serena responded eventually. "So you're going to put Banditt in front of the Senate, he'll answer all sorts of questions, and then the Senate will vote on his nomination?"
"Why, yes. That is how it works."
"I can't wait."
"Was that sarcasm?"
"Of course it was sarcasm, Ash. This is going to be the biggest humiliation of my life since - ".
"We don't need to go there. Just tell me, please…do you think I'm an idiot?"
Serena looked away from her boyfriend. It was plain to see that she didn't want to talk anymore.
I can't keep pushing her buttons like that. How long until she leaves me? Regardless of the reason, that would make bad PR for a President.
The pancakes settled at the bottom of Ash's stomach as though they were made of cement.
The Senate of Kanto met in one wing of the Capitol building, an ornate structure that put yesterday's courthouse to shame. It should have been quite the architectural wonder to behold - and it was - but it also added to Ash's sense of not belonging.
More than once, Ash had to pinch his leg in order to remember that this was really happening. He had really been dropped where his eyes were telling him, and that wasn't fake news.
From the balcony high above the committee room's floor (which, it was explained to Ash, was where the President always sat during important legislative proceedings such as this), the President had a near-perfect view of the hearing.
Ash's nominee for Secretary of State, Michael Banditt, sat at a desk in the center of the chamber, a bottle of water on either side of his notes. Exactly what he'd need to take notes on, Ash had no idea, but it was always better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.
Banditt was a tall, thin man with a rather small chin. His short hair spiked upward near the front of his forehead, and he frequently smiled to reveal two perfect rows of teeth. He was dressed very well - clearly, he'd come to this chamber determined to make a positive first impression.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations presided over the hearing, seated in a semicircle around the nominee. One of the Senators, who occupied such a prominent position Ash felt certain she was the chairwoman, read notes from her own sheet of paper.
"Welcome to the first Cabinet confirmation hearings for President Ash Ketchum. The Chair recognizes Michael Banditt, nominee for Secretary of State, who will be taking questions from myself and several other Senators."
Banditt nodded hurriedly, as though he couldn't wait for this all to be over with. Nonetheless, Ash had to give his nominee credit; the man did not appear worried in any way. At a minimum, he was very skilled at maintaining a good poker face, so if he were worried, even the President of Kanto wouldn't know.
"How are you doing today, Mr. Banditt?" the committee chair, whom Ash recognized as longtime Senator Wellington.
"I'm thrilled, Your Honor" Banditt responded. "I've done a lot in my thirty-six years on this planet, but never could I have imagined that a President of Kanto would tap me for a Cabinet position, let alone this one."
"It's surely a great honor" Senator Wellington said.
Next to Ash, a Secret Service agent (not Leatherman) whispered into the President's ear. "You won't get a good picture for a while."
Ash frowned. "I don't follow you. A good picture?"
"Of which way the hearings are going" the agent replied matter-of-factly. "You don't know until the formalities are over whether they're likely to confirm or reject your nominee."
"And if they reject Michael Banditt?"
"Then it's back to the drawing board for this position" the agent told Ash. "So hopefully you've come up with a choice that can get at least sixty votes."
"Why sixty?"
"Because that's what it takes to overcome a filibuster. Yes, filibusters can be broken,or the minority party might decide it's not worth it to filibuster, but it's still best to have a nominee with widespread appeal."
"Makes sense," Ash muttered, turning away from the Secret Service guy to focus on the hearing.
"So you're thirty-six years old, Mr. Banditt" Senator Wellington announced. "While there's nothing inherently wrong with that, I'd generally prefer that someone in such an important position not be so green, for lack of a better word."
"Oh, believe me, Senator," Banditt replied with a perfect smile, "I might be younger, but don't underestimate my abilities or experience."
"That was not my intention" the chairwoman snapped. "I was merely pointing out that some people might want an older Secretary of State. Then again, youth can bring a valuable perspective as well."
"It sure can."
"In any case," Senator Wellington told Banditt, "I'm not trying to shoot you down. If you're truly the best person for the job, then the Senate's job is simply to give President Ketchum advice and consent on nominees. Just know that I take my job very seriously."
"As do I" Banditt asserted. "Even if I don't have the job yet."
Senator Wellington glanced up from her notes. "It says here that you do not have any official diplomatic experience with the Government of Kanto. You haven't been an ambassador, or an embassy official, or anything else."
"Oh, it's not as simple as that - ".
"It isn't?" Senator Wellington enquired. "Then what experience of yours is relevant to the job you're applying for? More to the point, why does President Ketchum think you're one of the best people for this position?"
"There are other sectors besides the government" Banditt stated calmly. "I worked as an International Coordinator for the Silph Company. In fact, I still serve in that position, though I have promised to resign if I am confirmed to be Secretary of State."
"What does the Silph Company do?" the man to Senator Wellington's left blurted out.
"Please do not speak out of turn, Senator Antioch" the chairwoman snapped at her colleague.
"It's no problem, Senator," Banditt replied, giving the committee another toothy grin. "The Silph Company is on the cutting edge of the Pokéball business - we're always looking for new ways to go the extra mile. From making the interiors of Pokéballs more comfortable for those kept within, to giving them a wider range so that bonds are less likely to be broken - that's what we do."
"I see" Senator Antioch responded over the chairwoman's glare. "What happens if the bond between a Pokémon and its Pokéball is broken?"
"That will induce a sense of impending doom in the Pokémon. Quite frankly, you don't want to witness it, as it's considered one of the most unpleasant things either the Pokémon or its trainer can experience."
Senator Wellington hit her gavel against the desk. "That's enough" she mouthed, glaring once more at Senator Antioch. "In any case," Wellington continued, "we have a lot more ground to cover, so let's get right into it. Mr. Banditt, what was your salary at the Silph Company during your career there? There's no need to lie."
"Wasn't planning on it" Banditt said. "You can ask me whatever you like. I made a lot of money. I still make a lot of money."
"Give me a number."
"My salary changes from year to year, depending on how successful Silph is. Right now it's just over two million Poké a year, not least because I make the best deals. The best, believe me."
The man to Senator Wellington's right, sitting there like a buff Praetorian guard, took off his orange hat and smiled. "I'm glad to hear that you're successful, Mr. Banditt. But please, tell us about these 'best deals'. What do they entail?"
Banditt gave a rather annoyed smile - you know, the type of smile that involves stretching one's lower jawline forward and narrowing one's gaze. To the casual observer, of course, he might have appeared happy, but look a little closer and you'd be well aware how thoroughly pissed he was.
I hope he's not getting flustered. We can't afford that. We have to get all my nominees confirmed as soon as possible - anything that would jeopardize this process is no good.
"Well, sometimes the Silph Company would need to invest in another company overseas. On multiple occasions we purchased smaller corporations to complete mergers, and in the process…".
"You were at the helm of these decisions, I presume?" the buff Senator interjected.
"Indeed I was," Banditt replied. "I'm the International Coordinator, and that's part of the job description. Silph Company acquired Lack-Salt Holdings last year for seven point nine billion Poké, which sounds like a lot of money, but it was practically a steal."
The Secret Service agent playfully nudged Ash in the rib. "You could say that he made out like a bandit."
Ash smiled, grateful that he was largely hidden from view of the Senators. Of course, they knew he was watching the hearing just in case something occurred that he'd need to know about.
"Like I've said, Senator Wellington," Banditt continued eventually, "my deals were always as favorable as possible to the Silph Company. I'm an expert negotiator, and if we're ever at war with another nation, Arceus forbid that should happen, I'll be the one in charge of any prisoner swaps that occur."
"Indeed, let's hope there aren't any major conflicts during your tenure" Senator Wellington told Banditt. "If there are, you know who's going to get the blame."
The chairwoman didn't specify any names, but it was blatantly obvious who she was talking about. Ash felt as though a giant gong had been struck just five feet from him.
It didn't take long for Ash to conclude that hearings such as this were like baseball. Most of the time, nothing really happened, just formalities; the action, the most important moments, were concentrated in just a few instants. You had to be just alert enough to know when such a moment had just transpired, but it was hard.
After about ten minutes, Ash had resorted to picking his nails. Yes, it wasn't very professional conduct for a President, but it was one of the only ways he could think of to stay occupied. His attention was fading fast.
A few minutes later, Ash had been zoning out when he felt another small nudge from the Secret Service guy. "Did you hear what he just said?"
The President gingerly shook his head. He might as well have been fast asleep, judging by how clueless he was about this.
"Michael Banditt said," the Secret Service agent continued, "that he will recuse from any official business with the Silph Company, or any other Pokéball manufacturers."
"That's great" Ash murmured, but his legs were already twitching. It wasn't even a matter of needing exercise; the President genuinely felt that he'd burst if he couldn't do something else, anything else, besides watch these hearings.
Not these hearings, Ash corrected himself. All the hearings. This is just the first one.
Twenty minutes passed, and by now the President was battling the urge to fall asleep. His eyelids were leaden weights being held up by nothing but silken strings (an odd analogy, admittedly, since silk is pretty strong.)
At another point in the hearing, Senator Antioch said, "I haven't seen this many women since I went to a baby shower."
There was copious laughter in the chamber, and it roused Ash from a slight daze. He almost cracked up as well, because let's be honest: Everything is funnier when you aren't allowed to laugh, isn't it?
"This is a serious business, Mr. Antioch" another Senator muttered. "Please don't make Kantoese politics a farce."
"You mean, any more of a farce than it already is?" Senator Antioch bellowed, beating his chest like a Rillaboom. "Face it, Mr. Malachi, we are a global laughingstock, and who can blame them?"
Senator Wellington banged her gavel again. "Order in the chamber, please! This hearing is nearly over, and then we'll vote on the nomination. We'll either send it out to the full Senate or let this nomination fail in committee."
Please let him be confirmed. I can't handle another few hours of this, Ash thought, reclining further in his chair and closing his eyes.
Maybe Ash fell asleep; maybe he didn't. Most likely, he was somewhere in between those two states, but soon enough, it wouldn't matter. Either Michael Banditt would become his Secretary of State, or he wouldn't.
The next thing Ash knew, the Secret Service agent gave him yet another nudge. "Hey Mr. President, wake up. Snap out of it."
"Yes?" the President asked sleepily.
"You should pay more attention, Mr. President! The Senate's vote will have a major impact on the future of the country, and you're just sleeping the day away!"
"Sorry" Ash said groggily.
"Sorry doesn't cut it. Promise to do better next time. The committee voted to send Banditt to the floor, and the whole Senate's vote will be in a few minutes. Just…wait, what's that sound?"
Ash frowned. "What sound?" It must be said that his ears still weren't fully "online" yet, so he couldn't hear anything outside the committee room.
"Oh, I wear hearing aids," the Secret Service dude explained.
"But you don't look that old" Ash blurted out, before realizing that this was probably a pretty tactless thing to say.
"Well, no. I'm not" the guard replied, as though Ash's comment hadn't been out of place. "But it's important that I hear any threats close by, and having an enhanced sense of sound really helps with that."
"Thanks," the President responded. "Glad you're looking out for me."
"No problem, that's my job. Anyway, I'm not sure what I heard - maybe something spraying and some people shouting. But it's probably nothing. Let's head to the Senate floor."
As Ash strode alongside the Secret Service agent down the corridor, he couldn't help but blush at the knowledge that he'd let himself tune the hearing out so thoroughly. Perhaps Kanto really did deserve better than him; at a minimum, the trust placed in him since yesterday must have eroded considerably.
The first sign that something else was wrong was that a man (evidently a police officer judging by his bulletproof vest and other riot gear) stood stock-still, clutching a shield in one hand and a rifle in the other.
Ash's bodyguard grimaced. "That's not a typical procedure, is it?"
The police officer shook his head. "This riot gear is because we've had reports of the public being extremely agitated today. I guess some degree of unrest is normal with a new President, of course, but…".
Ash's throat felt hot and sick. "More than usual?"
"Yes" the cop replied instantly, automatically. "They're angry about something, though I can't fathom what that something might be."
Just then, an alarm started blaring, and Ash stuck his fingers in his ears instinctively. It might have been a fire alarm, but it was far louder even than that.
"They're coming!" the cop yelled, pulling out a Pokéball and tossing it on the ground. In a flash of cyan light, a Persian materialized and scampered down the hallway.
"Who is coming?" Ash shouted, struggling to make himself heard over the alarm.
"It doesn't matter!" Ash's bodyguard announced. "We have to get you to safety! Persian will hold them off for a while, and might even survive! But you will not if you don't get out of here, NOW!"
There was the sound of glass shattering into a million pieces and it seemed to be nearby.
"Run for cover!" the cop shouted. "Mr. President - Ash - you have to survive today, no matter what! Kanto is counting on…".
A gunshot.
The cop crumpled to the ground, his bulletproof vest having been no match for the weapon. The door opened behind him, and Ash barely had time to process what happened next.
From behind said door, a bespectacled woman, also in riot gear, stepped out into the corridor.
"You!" Ash exclaimed, unable to come up with another word.
In response, the woman put her hands up, and the guard pointed his weapon at her. However, neither of them could have anticipated the next few seconds.