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Chapter 21
"Alexander, The Reluctant Team Rocket Agent"
Upon our arrival in Manila, our mindset was the belief that airliners were going to be the main target as well as a plot to assassinate the Pope. However, as we would soon find out, there were other possible targets as well. No sooner did we step out of the Manila Airport were we met by members of the Philippine National Police as well as the members from the International Police.
"Um, guess we weren't expecting you?" I remarked, looking over to Tim and Pikachu.
"Detectives Harry and Tim Goodman?" one of the International Police officers asked to which we responded that we were. "Come with us. We were expecting you."
Okay, well that was somewhat awkward. Still, we were briefed on what was happening at that current moment.
"I'm sure you guys have been following what's going on with the Flight 434 bombing," I said, trying to break the ice. "Our guy is believed to have been responsible."
"Yousef? Of course he is," replied one of the Philippine National Police officers. "We've known all along. But we wanted to wait until the moment came for us to move."
"Wait? Why would you do that?" Tim asked as Pikachu let out a confused "Pika."
Just then, we turned over to the right and proceeded towards the police station in Downtown Manila. Something told me that our brothers in law enforcement had made a pretty big catch.
"A few days ago," said the commander as he led us into the prison. "Our men had broken up a Team Rocket cell here in Manila. They claim to know nothing about the planned plot, but they're nothing short of liars."
"How long have you been tracking them?"
"Since November," answered the Commander, leading us into the prison's secured wing reserved for the worst of the worst. There sitting in their carefully lined up cells were members of Team Rocket still wearing their Team Rocket uniforms. "But since you are heading the investigation, I guess we wanted to wait."
One of the captured agents stood up and proceeded towards the door of his jail cell, giving us a rather grim expression on his face almost as if to say that Team Rocket was never going to surrender.
"What are you looking at, pal?" I asked in a sarcastic tone. "If you are looking for a get out of jail free card, I'm not the Monopoly man. Why? Do I look like a bald old guy with a white moustache and a suit to you?"
The agent said nothing, but he kept his gaze on us closely as we walked by all the captured.
"Now," said the commander in a loud commanding voice. "Detectives Goodman and son are tracking down your commanding officer, Ramzi Yousef. If you wish for the judge to go easy on you in terms of sentencing, I suggest you come forward and confess."
Naturally, not all of the agents were willing to confess, but one did.
"Me!" cried the agent, much to the annoyance and aggravation of his fellow Team Rocket agents. "Please, I can't take anymore of this. I want to go home to my Mama!"
Stepping forward, we could see that the agent was clearly a young boy under the age of 16. Right away, I could see that I had some level of pity for him. In a way, he kind of reminded me of Alexander, the boy turned jackass from that Disney movie, "Pinocchio" who could still talk.
"Take him to the interrogation room," sighed the commander to a couple of guards as they led the fearful Team Rocket agent out of his cell. The rest of the prisoners gave lowly scowls at their now treasonous colleague.
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Sitting in the interrogation room, the agent was still trembling probably because of the fear that was inside of him. Looking at him, I could see that any forceful interrogation techniques were out of the question.
"What is your name, son?" the commander asked.
"Alex…Alexander," he answered. "Please, I didn't want this to happen. I didn't know that people were going to be killed!"
"It's all right son, it's all right," I said, bending over to touch his hands in an almost fatherly manner. "No one is going to hurt you."
"How old are you dude?" Tim asked.
"14," Alexander answered. "Please, you gotta help me. I'll say anything, I didn't want any of this to happen."
"What happened?" I asked, trying to be gentle.
"I…I was kidnapped," Alexander explained. "Team Rocket kidnapped me because they needed new agents. They tried to force me into believing that what they are doing is for the good of Team Rocket. Please…"
Holding back tears, Alexander could feel the weight of his situation build down on top of him.
"When were you kidnapped?" asked Tim.
"A month ago. I tried to escape them, but they said that I was their property now."
Just then, I noticed a gold chain around Alexander's neck and I could see that he was around the age of where children like him would be attending the Pope's World Youth Day in a matter of weeks.
"They wanted me to…to go to the World Youth Day celebrations and use a Pokemon…to kill the Pope. Lord, I didn't ask any of this to happen! Please forgive me!"
Clearly this was a frightened child, not someone cut out to be a member of Team Rocket.
"Listen to me, Alexander," I whispered. "I know you are frightened, but we need you to calm down and tell us everything you know about what happened during your kidnapping. In fact, we'll make sure the judge shows mercy towards you."
Calming down slightly, Alexander began to relate everything that transpired during his forced recruitment.
"Team Rocket…" he confessed. "They needed a boy around 14 or 15, just a random boy who has no desire to be a Pokemon trainer to attend the World Youth Day celebrations in Manila."
"What were they planning to have you do?" Tim asked.
"They wanted me to carry a Poison type Pokemon while I was disguised as a pilgrim," continued Alexander. "When the Pope would reach me, the Pokemon would strike the Pope in his hand and poison him badly. I was scared, you got to believe me!"
"We do believe you, son," replied the commander. "Did you object to anything about this?"
"Yes, but they threatened to kill my mama if I refused to go along," Alexander confessed. "It wasn't until you guys came did I…did I…"
Exhausted, Alexander bent down on the table and sobbed loudly. From the looks of it, he was not going to go back to his cell and that he needed help right away. Stepping out of the interrogation room, Tim and I summed up the questioning while Pikachu stayed in the room with Alexander until medical services would come.
"Kid has no desire to become a trainer and look what happens," Tim sighed. "Selected and forced to serve Team Rocket by killing the Pope. Dad, who knows if there were others targeted?"
Tim did have a point. What if Alexander wasn't alone and for that matter, were there other young boys that had no intention to be a trainer forced into serving Team Rocket against their will?
One also wondered if they were also being trained to bring explosive Pokemon on transpacific flights between Asia and the United States. Still, it was worth looking into while for Alexander, he needed to get as far away from Team Rocket as possible.
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