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Chapter 22
"The Child Catcher"
Back in Ryme City, I was just three days removed from my life nearly coming to an end at 30,000 feet over the ocean. Still, I had a job and a responsibility to report the news about the aftermath of the Philippine Airlines 434 bombing attempt. Just before I went on the evening newscast that night, I was stopped by Roger who summoned me into his office.
"Listen Lucy," he said. "I know you are going on in a few minutes, but there's something that just came into me out of the Philippines."
"What is it?" I asked as Roger handed me a small parchment of paper. Reading the paper, I was surprised and somewhat dumbfounded to read what was on it. "A Child Catcher? Isn't he that creepy looking guy from that movie with Dick Van Dyke? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?"
"Apparently, Team Rocket has decided to bring him into the world of reality."
"Why?"
"They seem to be trying to forcefully recruit children in the Philippines to carry out plans to kill the Pope."
Reaching into his desk again, Roger handed me a picture of the Child Catcher: creepy looking with a long nose, black suit, top hat and wielding a butterfly net designed to capture children.
"Something tells me that the guy isn't cosplaying as the character or whoever he is," I sighed. "Still, I can add it to the newscast, even though some people may refuse to believe it at first."
But our goal and mindset was to give the facts out to the public and if the Child Catcher was being used in this plot, then the public had to know.
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"Good evening," I began the newscast. "We're coming on the air with breaking news out of the Philippines where tonight, reports of a mysterious figure known only as the Child Catcher have reportedly been targeting children between the ages of 10 and 15 ahead of Pope John Paul II's visit to Manila for World Youth Day. This news comes days after a Philippine Airlines jet was bombed flying between Cebu and Tokyo killing one person."
Sure enough as my broadcast aired on the big screens of Ryme City, the citizen and their Pokemon watched with some fear and reluctance.
"Reports are also saying," I continued. "That the Child Catcher is more than likely an agent of Team Rocket, either he is an agent disguised as the Child Catcher or if it is really the Child Catcher in the flesh. If you see him in the Manila area, you are advised to call the Philippine National Police or the International Police immediately."
Of course, my broadcast wasn't only reserved for the people of Ryme City. At his headquarters in Viridian City, Giovanni was having dinner in his bedroom with Persian and was delighted to hear that the Child Catcher was being featured.
"Yes, yes, share the message that he is out there," he chuckled. "The Child Catcher is the most feared character of that foolish Dick van Dyke movie and now…I bring him back to serve me. The more children, the more likely my plans to assume control of the Church will come to fruition."
Just then he heard a knock at the door and Dr. Namba stepped into the office.
"What is it, Namba?" Giovanni asked.
"One of our cells in Manila was captured by the authorities," he answered, much to Giovanni's annoyance. "They tried to fight back, but…"
"Did they use their Pokemon to fight them off?"
"No sir, I'm afraid they didn't."
Grunting, Giovanni was forced to accept the fact that one of his cells in Manila was dismantled. To him, the Child Catcher was the one weapon he had to ensure that his protege's plan would be carried out.
"Well," he said, cutting into a piece of meat. "Then we need to target those children with broken backgrounds, children that yearn for a life with Team Rocket. We need to hit those types of children. Inform the Child Catcher to focus on the ghettos and orphanages around Manila at once."
"Yes sir," said Dr. Namba and left Giovanni and Persian alone. Now Giovanni felt confident that his protege's plan would not have anymore speed bumps…or so he thought.
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