Chapter Text
“See to it that this pest is dealt with Sierra. I will not tolerate any more failures,” Giovanni commanded in a deadly tone.
“Yes sir, this will be the last stop he’ll ever make,” Sierra responded with a deadly smile as the tv went blank. Sierra chuckled as she twirled her two Poké Balls in her hand. Her smile turned evil as she waited for her prey.
-
Ren looked amused as he stood in Celadon Square watching the battle unfold in front of him. After shopping for a new black and white backpack and clothing replacements (like blue jeans, black v-necks and a red hooded button up), he reunited with Red and met a young man named Chase who challenged his friend to a battle. Red’s Venusaur and Pikachu proved to be too much for Chase’s Pikachu, Poliwrath, Gyarados and Ivysaur.
“Espeon, Go!”
“Nidoking, Let’s Go!”
Red’s Psychic-Type appeared glistening in the sunlight as Chase’s Drill Pokémon materialized with a mighty roar. The crowd that had gathered shrunk back at Nidoking’s display.
“Nidoking, Poison Jab!”
“Psychic”
Nidoking rushed his foe with a brilliantly hued purple fist before being stopped dead in his tracks. Espeon looked on stoically as it floated Nidoking in the air before using its telekinetic power to strike Nidoking in the stomach and threw him on the ground. The dual type shakily got back to his feet and stared the Sun Pokémon down before falling flat on his face in exhaustion.
“Aw man, you’re really good Red,” Chase admitted as he recalled his Pokémon.
“Not bad yourself,” Red complimented as he pet Espeon on the head before recalling it.
“Well if you both have had your fun let’s get these guys to the Pokémon Center,” Ren chuckled as his stomach grumbled as well. “We should probably eat too.”
The other two young men chuckled as their stomachs grumbled embarrassingly, “yeah, let’s go.”
-
The trio, after dropping off Red’s and Chase’s Pokémon, stopped by a cafe and chatted about what everyone was up to or introducing themselves since Chase was a new addition to the group. The conversation was derailed when a new set of voices approached.
“You’re very sweet to offer Brock, but I’m afraid I’m a bit older than you think I am,” a woman sheepishly smiled at the Pewter Gym Leader.
Brock merely chuckled, “well couldn’t hurt to try right?”
The two shared a laugh and spotted the trio and the woman grew a face-splitting smile and hugged Ren tightly, “well if it isn’t my favorite nephew! Ren, how are you doing dear?”
“I’m your only nephew Aunt Sarah,” Ren chuckled while hugging his aunt, “and I’m doing fine. How have you been?”
Sarah, who looked similar to her sister Emily just with a bobbed cut, stood up and looked her nephew up and down, “I’m doing just fine. The salon business is going just fine here. It looks like you’re doing just fine by yourself to make it here.”
“It hasn’t been without incident, that's for sure. I wish I could introduce you to my Pokémon, but they’re all at the Center. Oh, these are my friends Red and Chase,” Ren smiled warmly as the two boys waved.
“It’s very nice to meet your friends and I can’t wait to meet your Pokémon! I’m sure they’re all adorable!”
“You have no idea,” Ren thought mischievously.
“Been awhile Ren. How’ve you been?” Brock offered a hand which Ren took in earnest.
“Doing great Brock! Three badges down, five more to go! What are you doing here?” Ren inquired.
“Well I’ve been trying to meet with Erika as part of my duties as a Gym Leader, but I haven’t been able to meet with her. Some of her Gym Trainers said that she’s been occupied with something very important so I decided to see the sights of Celadon,” Brock replies with a slight frown.
Ren looked at Brock’s expression with worry. What was so important that a Gym Leader, essentially the de facto protector of their respective town, couldn’t be bothered to do her duties.
“What’s wrong Brock?”
“Team Rocket that’s what,” Brock’s expression turned serious. “There have been reports at the League that the Rockets have completely taken over Celadon. I can only imagine they’ve strong-armed Erika into letting them run Celadon as they see fit. Of course, that’s only the theory I’ve come up with. I can’t get into the Gym to verify.”
Ren and his friends and family looked at each other in worry. If Team Rocket had blackmail against a member of the league, then it was only a matter of time before they started doing the same things to every other city in the Kanto Region.
“It would seem we have the same theory.”
The group looked over towards Agent Looker as he walked down the sidewalk holding his chin contemplation. Marble and Casey were either sent back to the IPHQ or on another errand in the city.
“My superiors tracked Team Rocket’s major operations to Celadon and yet we haven’t been able to tie any Rocket activity to any major business in the city. It’s as if they’re just pulling money out of thin air,” Looker explained.
“Well they can’t just print money out of thin air. We just need to figure out what business would benefit Team Rocket the most,” Brock contemplated with a worried expression.
Ren couldn’t really blame him given the situation. Erika was effectively powerless against the invasive force, they were amassing more wealth to fuel their illegal projects and their leader was still unknown to the International Police.
It looked pretty hopeless honestly.
Sarah suddenly snapped her fingers in realization, “the Game Corner! I remember there was a strong pushback during its construction, but there were rumors a generous payoff convinced the mayor to continue with the project. If Team Rocket is making money in Celadon then I’ll bet that’s where they’re making it,” Sarah spoke pleased with her deduction.
“That might actually be correct. I don’t know much about Celadon’s politics, but I do know there were League talks banning public gambling businesses all across the League Alliance Regions. The Team Rocket infestation hasn’t put any such bans in place however,” Brock mused as the rest listened in.
“The Rocket Leader must have their hands in Kanto’s political offices. I’ll have to contact Marble and Casey back at HQ to look into that possibility. At present, I suggest we look into the Game Corner and see if we can find Team Rocket’s base,” Looker suggested.
“Wait a minute ‘we’? I don’t think this is the sort of thing civilians should be doing,” Sarah argued, completely baffled that the policeman would even suggest such a thing.
“Your nephew, even if I’m still against it, has been a boon against our fight against the Rockets,” Looker countered with a completely stoic face.
Sarah looked at Ren like he grew a second head. She thought after Richard’s death Ren would grow up to be more cautious towards danger, but it looked as if ‘like father, like son’ applied to the boy.
The man was still giving her a headache from the grave.
“You what!? Don’t you know how dangerous Team Rocket is!? Are you trying to get yourself killed,” Sarah hysterically interrogated her nephew.
Ren for the most part held his own even though his guts were twisting under her gaze. Sarah was Emily’s opposite in that she had a fiery temper when pushed too far. His dad stopped pranking her after the Halloween incident when he was six.
“Aunt Sarah, I know it’s dangerous. I just can’t let them do what they want to people and Pokémon like that have been,” Ren declared lightly touching his right shoulder.
Red and Sarah softened at the gesture.
“What do you think your mother and Martha would do if they lost their only piece of Richard? If they lost one of the best things that they have? What about me? You are the son I never could have,” Sarah comforted with tears in her eyes.
Ren lowered his head in contemplation as Looker and Brock looked on. Both men nodded at each other and walked towards the Game corner. Red and Chase did the same and made their way towards the Pokémon Center.
Ren buried his head into Sarah’s chest and cried silently to himself as Sarah stroked his hair. The thought of his mom losing anyone else was too much to bear for the young man.
“Hey, why don’t we head to the Pokémon Center and head to my house,” Sarah asked with a small smile.
A silent nod was all it took.
-
The Rocket Duo walked from cage to cage taking inventory on orders from Sierra, mostly because she got tired of hearing Jessie sigh loudly in boredom and threatened to shave her head should they not find something to do.
“If that stuck up hussy thinks she’s taking anything sharp to my perfectly sculpted hair she has another thing coming,” Jessie seethed and an Abra in the cage slept without a care in the world.
“You know we wouldn’t be here if you could keep your attitude in check. She did single you out as a disturbance,” James retorted as a Mr. Mime pantomimed making a cup of tea.
Jessie shot her partner a glare that made the Vulpix she was inspecting cry and shiver in fear. James looked sheepish as Scyther glared harshly at the bluenette. Meowth was asleep on a cage containing a Clefairy who was crying.
“I’ll ignore your jab at my lovely personality just this once James. As much as Sierra is on my list for threatening my movie star good looks, she’s got the best track record for getting the job done. That twerp isn’t going to be bothering us again,” Jessie smiled evilly at the thought of Ren finally being taken out of the picture which spooked the Jigglypuff she moved on to.
“We should be able to get back on the Boss’ good side with him gone,” James exclaimed before getting startled at the aggressive Pinsir slamming its horns into the bars of the cage.
“Exactly and I can’t wait to see that,” the redhead laughed as a blue serpentine Pokémon curled in the corner of its cage.
-
“Here you go Ren. All of your Pokémon are fully healed,” the nurse on duty handed his Poké Balls back to him as he made his way back to Sarah’s house.
There was apparently an emergency at the salon so she had Ren meet her at her home when she was done. On the way over his eyes landed on the Gym. Ren began to wonder how the Gym Leader was feeling not being able to do anything for her town. Ren sat down on a bench near the Celadon Fountain and contemplated his next move.
He loved his family more than anything, but he knew Team Rocket threatened everything in Kanto. They went beyond normal morals to accomplish their goals: Lavender Town proved that to him.
“You always need to help people and Pokémon in need, Ren. That’s why I do what I do. I want to make a difference in the world. I know you’ll do just that son.”
Ren heard his father’s voice in his head and knew what he had to do. Ren shot up from the bench and made his way towards the game corner.
-
It looked like something out of a b-genre horror movie.
Everyone glued to the slot machines or other various gambling games looked like zombies. Everyone had massive bags under their eyes and were irritable if not outright violent to each other. Ren scanned the facility for anything that looked like it would lead to Team Rocket’s base and found nothing.
“Maybe we should go more towards the back.”
Ren turned around and found Chase and Red standing behind him searching as well. Red gave him a small smile and a thumbs up.
“Good thinking, there’s gotta be a doorway or something like that,” Ren agreed.
The group made their way towards the back of the establishment and found a Rocket member standing in front of a poster with a rocket flying towards the moon on it. The goon looked around all shifty like and wasn’t being subtle about it at all.
This group was just full of unimaginative idiots.
The Rocket standing in front noticed the group looking at him and started sweating a bit. He recognized the kid in front, but Sierra would kill him if he turned tail and he’d rather take his chances with the kid.
“Hey kids, arcade’s on the other side of the joint. Get lost and away from the artwork,” the grunt spat attempting to get rid of the kids.
“Maybe we’re just wanting to admire it.”
The group turned to find a blonde man wearing the goofiest grin Ren had ever seen in his life. He was twirling a Poké Ball in his right hand like he was initiating a challenge.
“Name’s Spark and I came here to play,” Spark winked playfully and he grasped the twirling ball. “You up for it?”
The grunt was sweating bullets at this point. He remembered Sierra complaining about some blonde dude who gave her trouble some time ago. “Great, now both of them are here with backup.”
“Oh I will…but I’ll need some friends for the game we’re gonna play,” the grunt spat as he whipped around and hit the center of the poster. A small rumble rocked the corner before an entrance appeared in the back corner. The villain ran towards the entrance and ran down towards the basement.
“Well that makes the search easier,” The group turned to see Brock and Looker looking at the entrance with purpose.
“Then we better get going. The sooner we beat their boss the sooner we can free Celadon,” Ren rallied his comrades and down the group of six went.
-
The grunt that ran down for backup didn’t stand much of a chance. Nor did his back up for that matter. The small raid began demolishing the Rocket Hideout’s security force searching for the office their boss was in and the elevator was useless to them without some sort of card.
“This place is weird. What is with the spin tile thing? How do they not get dizzy? Why would they install these things!?” Chase complained after about the seventh tile they had to bypass.
“My guess is for intruders like us. Remember, Team Rocket has full control over this facility. I imagine they can turn these tiles off and on at will when the grunts themselves need to move around,” Brock deduced wondering the same thing.
“Which means they can stall us long enough to mount a counterattack. We need to find that elevator card if we want to end this,” Looker cupped his chin in deep thought.
“Well if it’s anything like what they’ve been sending our way then we’ll get this done in no time!” Spark grinned, eyeing a new group coming towards them Poké Balls ready, “ Brock, Looker, wanna give me a hand with this?”
The two elder trainers ran to Spark’s sides, “why don’t you three find us that key card huh?” Spark threw his Poké Ball summoning an Electivire to the field. A Croagunk and Rhyhorn followed soon after.
The three younger trainers nodded and headed towards a downstairs warehouse area filled with cages, desks and paperwork. The lights were dim and even a few were flickering. Soft cries and whimpers could be heard from the cages. Chase looked into the closest cage and could see a Psyduck cowering the back corner of the cage.
“There’s actual Pokémon in here! Are they actually selling them out of this warehouse!?” Chase practically screamed while fumbling with the cage lock.
“Must be prizes,” Red calmly stated while checking in on a Cubone.
Ren walked towards the back of the room and saw the key card laying on top of the lone cage with a crown card on the side. Inside was a blue serpentine Pokémon looking at him with sorrowful and pleading eyes. Ren wasted no time in finding the keys to the locks and freeing the small Pokémon.
“Red, take these. You and Chase use any spare Poké Balls you have. We need to get these little ones out of here,” Ren threw the keys at Red who caught them and unlocked the Cubone’s cage in one fluid motion before throwing them to Chase.
“Well well, look at this James. A couple rats have made their way inside,” a smooth voice spoke in the doorway.
“I guess our trap worked perfectly Jessie. Use a couple prize Pokémon as bait and the twerp comes running,” a second person spoke.
The trio turned towards the sources and Ren’s face soured. Jessie and James stood in front of the only way out of the small warehouse they found themselves in. Jessie took out the Poké Ball containing Arbok and shot Ren a venomous look while James did the same with Weezing’s.
Meowth just looked bored to the whole thing.
“Today we finally get rid of you and the little party you brought in,” Jessie spat, sending the purple serpent loose.
“Well finally have the boss off our backs for all the times we ran into you,” James scowled with Weezing floating next to him.
Meowth just took a nap on one of the crates.
Ren stood stone faced against the duo before taking out Wartortle’s Poké Ball and summoning his starter who stood defiant against their oldest foes. Red and Chase stepped forward to join, but were stopped by Ren.
“I’ll take care of them. You guys need to get those Pokèmon out of here.”
“Fat chance of that happening,” James smiled amused that this little brat could stop them.
“You’d be surprised James with what I can do after you insult my friends and innocent Pokèmon. I’ve dealt with you two before and I’ll do it again,” Ren smirked.
Wartortle jumped into the fray with Arbok and Weezing lunging words their rival.