"Good luck Robert!"
"Show them what us small-towners can do!"
"Give 'em hell!"
The crowd roared as a girl in a bright red Kimono passed through the streets of Crimson City. Even if it was named a City, the place was barely bigger than a town, having nothing of value. The only thing that was worth anything was the Large Mansion just outside the city limits, belonging to a rich family that hailed from a long line of Pokemon Trainers. This Robert was the latest of the many trainers that came from that line. And every time people gathered to cheer them on, the only good thing about the City they all said.
But they were wrong. That family was what was wrong with the city. So much wealth, yet none of them even tried to help the people of the city. They stayed in their mansion all the time, cursing people of the City from their high seats as if they were royalty.
Skylark was sick of those people and their attitudes. He was sick of the people of this city.
The boy turned around and pushed himself out of the crowd of people who cheered the girl whilst she left for her journey. He scoffed at them all, especially those who screamed and cried for her attention.
There was absolutely no reason to do that. None of that elitist trash would ever notice the common people.
"Where do you think you're going?" a rough-toned man growled beside him.
Sky turned and stared at the fat balding man reeking of beer. He raised his pinky with a smile and the man grunted. Sky had learned his lesson about being honest about what he thought about those people. This city was a gone case, too lost in its worship for people with money.
He ducked into an alley and passed through the maze that was the alleyway of Crimson City. A small place it might have been, but it was still easy to get lost in the alleys. But Sky had lived in the city all his life and had walked these alleys since he could walk. He knew them better than he knew himself.
Traversing through the alleys eventually led him to the slums, a part of the city that had the cheapest but the worst housing. Mostly criminals and shady people lived here.
And Sky's father was the latter and sometimes the former.
The 'house' they lived in was the furthest from the entry to the slums, dirtier than the rest and more run down. Opening the door was a careful endeavour, considering how it might fall off its hinges. He closed it just as gently behind him.
"I'm back" Sky shouted into the place and found no reply. That made him frown, but shrugged it off. His mother was possibly entertaining clients.
He went straight to his room and dropped into his 'bed'. Sleep soon claimed him, waking when his mother was gently nudging his side.
He should have known something was up then.
His mother was never gentle with him.
"Wake up. There's someone here to meet you."
Curious the boy followed his mother to the living room, where a man in black stood staring out the window in disgust.
"The boy" his mother spoke, gently pushing Sky forward.
The man turned and grinned.
"A'ight, here's what was promised."
The man handed his mother a briefcase and his mother pushed him closer to the man. The man smiled down at him before ruffling his hair.
"Let's go kid."
"Go? Go where?" Sky asked.
"Ah, you'll see. It'll be fun, I promise."
Frowning Sky turned to his mother, who looked disinterested, smiling at the briefcase. He turned back and nodded to the man.
-X-
There was a black van waiting when Skylark came out of his home. H was told to get into the back, finding a very comfortable place behind. The floor of the back was soft like a mattress should be.
The man put the van into drive and told Sky that there was food and drinks in the freezer if he got hungry or thirsty.
But the floor was too comfortable for Skylark to not drift off to sleep. When he woke, the van had stopped and the man was gently shaking him awake.
"Come on, we're here," the man said gently.
Rubbing his eyes the boy stepped out of the van and stared dumbly at the building before him. It was built into the side of a mountain. There were no mountains near Crimson City. How far had he been taken? Well, far enough that day had turned to night.
"Follow me" the man did not wait for him to reply, already walking away from him. Sky broke into a run to reach him.
"What is this place? Why have you brought me here?" the boy asked.
"This is HQ. And we bought you from your mother. Remember the briefcase? Had the money we paid for you."
Skylark blinked his shock away. It made sense why his mother was smiling at it now.
"Not going to say anything? Beg me or anything like that?"
"What's the point? You bought me, no way you're letting me out" Sky shrugged.
"How about cursing your mother?"
"No us. She never really cared about me, so."
The man chuckled.
"What do you intend to do to me anyway? Prostitution? Some beggers scandal? Drug trafficking?"
The man snorted.
"You'll find out soon enough."
The man led him into the building through the front doors (which opened on their own when they got near). It was a busy lobby they had walked into, men and women in black running around doing their thing. None of them stopped as the duo walked towards the elevator, but all of them were sneaking glances.
The elevator went a few floors down before the doors opened to an underground facility of some kind.
"You're up! My job is done" The man pushed Sky out and saluted before the doors closed.
Sky stared at the closed door with slack jaws before turning. A woman stood before him, wearing the same clothes the man was.
"Follow me," the woman said monotonously, turned and began to walk. Sky fell in line behind her, following in silence but keeping his eyes on his surroundings.
The woman led him to a black room on the far end of the underground facility, nudging him in before closing the doors behind him.
Plunged into darkness Sky wandered, bumping into a few more people in the process. Suddenly the lights blared on, blinding Sky for a moment. There was a buzzing noise and when his eyes settled he noticed that there were multiple people around him, men and women of all ages and shapes and sizes. His eyes then shifted to the monitor that took up the entire wall. It fizzled to life and a man in a grey suit appeared on it, his face hidden by shadows.
"Some of you know why you are here, while others do not. Regardless of how you arrived here today, know this: You are now part of something far greater than yourselves. Team Rocket is an institution that commands respect and fear across regions. As new initiates, you will undergo relentless training. You will master the art of persuasion, the skill of stealth, and the power of strategy. You will be armed not only with Pokémon but with the knowledge and tools to outmanoeuvre any adversary. Our mission is singular and clear: to amass the most formidable collection of Pokémon and to impose our will upon the world. In Team Rocket, loyalty is paramount, and betrayal is met with swift and severe consequences. Those who prove themselves will find riches and respect, but know this: the path to greatness is paved with sacrifice and shrouded in danger. Power belongs to those who dare to take it. Welcome, to Team Rocket."
The screen fizzled off and Sky stared at the screen with shock and horror. He knew who Team Rocket were, knew of the kind of shit they got up to. And he knew for certain that he never wanted to be part of something like this.
But what choice did he have? He was sold into this life. If he tried to escape now, he knew his life would be forfeit. The man on the monitor said so.
"Alright! Line up people!" someone screamed over the speakers. "Right under the giant ass screen, you'll find a pen and paper. Each of you will fill it up. What happens after, we'll let you know. Now go!"
The line was long and by the time Sky's turn came up he was tired and his legs ached. It was a simple sign-up sheet before him, to collect basic information.
The only problem was Sky could not read or write.
"Hurry it up kid!" a man behind him screamed.
"I—" Sky hesitated. "I can't read or write.
The man who screamed clicked his tongue in distaste and pushed forward. He filled out his entry form and walked away. A girl no older than Sky walked up and smiled at him.
"I'll help," she said and Sky smiled back. She motioned for Sky to join her and the boy rushed over.
"Tell me your name."
"Skylark."
"Skylark…"
"Just Skylark."
The girl nodded.
"I'll mark the illiterate box for you" she muttered. "Your age?"
"I'm ten."
"Oh, the same age as me" the girl smiled. "Blood group?"
"I dunno."
"Not applicable" she murmured. She submitted the form before filling up one for herself before she and Sky stood to the side. "I'm Lily. Nice to meet you."
"Hello," Sky smiled.
One by one the remaining people filled in the papers before standing aside. When the last form was filled, the speakers blared to life.
"All right! With all that information we are going to divide you by age and gender. When your group is called, step through the door on the monitor's right."
The adults were called first (first the men and then the women) between the ages of twenty and twenty-four. The teens were next (between ages sixteen and nineteen) and finally was Sky's group, the children between the ages of ten and fifteen.
Sky bid Lily farewell before following those in his group (there were only five of them) through the door.