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Chapter 12
"Finding that Loophole"
Retreating to his apartment hideout in Manila, Ramzi attempted to take what he learned from the Philippine 434 bombing and use it to his advantage. But the big loophole was forcing Pokemon to use explosion and not self-destruction. To this end, Ramzi had an accomplice, a childhood friend of his named Abdul.
"Ramzi, you're back," he said in Arabic, hugging him and allowing him into the apartment. "I can assure you that the Golem resisted in…"
"I am well aware of that, Abdul," interjected Ramzi in Arabic, as he walked over to the refrigerator. "What matters now is strengthening the formula to increase it's power."
Inside the refrigerator were a couple of test tubes containing a greenish liquid inside. Ramzi took one of the tubes out and studied it. Then, he said in Arabic:
"That's because the soundwaves weren't strong enough. We need to increase the dosage from 150mm to 300mm. Bring it over to the table."
Doing as he was told, Abdul brought the tubes over to the kitchen table and placed them on it. Ramzi grabbed a syringe as well as Pokeball from a box of Pokeballs. Sticking the syringe into one of the tubes, Ramzi administered the dosage into the Pokeball's center before placing it on the table.
"Now we shall see," he declared and watching closely, the two men saw the Pokeball move around wildly for a few moments before stopping, much to their disbelief. "Foolish creature!"
Snatching the Pokeball off the table, Ramzi pressed the button and the Pokemon emerge which just happened to be a Jigglypuff covered in bruises.
"It's a Jigglypuff, they aren't known for their explosions," remarked Abdul.
"Whatever," replied Ramzi. "As far as I'm concerned, it's useless to me anyway and it is the last thing it will ever do. Kill it. I'm going outside for a smoke."
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So stepping outside on the deck, Ramzi smoked his cigarette as the Jigglypuff cried out in fear and pain as Abdul killed it. Pokemon like Jigglypuff weren't known for following orders and both Ramzi and Abdul felt that they needed to bring their game up.
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"It's another failure, Giovanni," Ramzi sighed as he spoke to Team Rocket's later that afternoon on video conference. "The Pokemon we used was insubordinate and resistant to the formula."
"Well, why not just up the dosage on it?" Giovanni suggested.
"We tried that, sir, but to no avail," Ramzi answered. "What we need is a Pokemon that can easily be controlled by the formula to use explosion."
"I'm sure you have a Pokemon capable of that."
Of course, for Ramzi, that was easier said than done and with the first part of their plot due to arrive in a matter of weeks, time was of the essence.
"We should sir," he promised. "We have a whole bag of Pokemon waiting to be used for our glory. The Pokemon we are using for his holiness has been selected."
"And who is that?"
Reaching into his pocket, Ramzi pulled out a pair of Pokeballs and as Giovanni watched, the Pokeballs revealed a Nidoran and Nidoriono, wearing collars that clearly meant that they were stolen like all the others.
"Ah, good choice, Ramzi," Giovanni chuckled in amusement. "The Nidoran and Nidorino have the ability to poison with just the stab of their horns. All you have to do is to have one of them cloaked and disguised to look like a child."
"Yes, and when his holiness reaches out for the child, the Nidoran or Nidorino will stab his hand with poison, leaving us to carry out the heart of Bojinka…which will need more time."
Of course, Giovanni wasn't exactly the most patient upon hearing this.
"And time is something you don't have," he warned. "Everything must be ready before the Pope arrives in Manila, Ramzi. You know that."
And Ramzi acknowledged this with a nod.
"Now, there is something I do want to report you on, Giovanni," he added. "It's the amount of United States flights we want to target that are flying over the Pacific Ocean."
"Indeed," Giovanni pondered with a sinister smile. "How many flights?"
"About 12, sir. In total, 4,000 people and Pokemon travelling across the Pacific will be at our mercy."
This made Giovanni smile for he knew that killing 4,000 people would honor not just his own ambitions, but also fulfill his mother's desires to one day truly take control of Team Rocket.
"I trust you admire the idea, sir."
"Admire it? I love it, Ramzi. Please have the list of flights sent to me by the end of the month for my approval, understand?"
"Of course. Allah Akbar!"
As he ended the virtual call, Ramzi wondered just exactly if he would be able to deliver the promise by the end of December. Of course, we would be right on his tail so that would make the pressure on his end more great.
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