I spent several days in the cove training with Sneasel and Houndour. Dratini is looking better each day, he's started to move and make small calls. It has yet to come out in a way I can understand him but at least he's being vocal. I assume he's saying 'more' primarily because it was during the time when I fed him.
It took Sneasel, Houndour, and me only a few moments to pack up. Recalling Houndour after promising to let her out later. Sneasel and I left our hidden cove headed back to the Outpost. It only took a short thirty minutes and on arrival I was greeted with an empty exchange counter. I frowned looking around. Was I forgetting something? Why would no one be here? My eyes widened when I realized it. This morning marks a week of being here.
I turned tail and booked it to the clearing with the Trail Stone. Sneasel kept up with me even after I had increased the burden she carries to nearly 15lbs. She's nearly used to it but increasing it now would strain her unnecessarily especially today. Arriving at the clearing I spot Vincent setting up a table. I move over and start to assist him with it.
"Good to see you didn't die out there kid. I take it you went to the exchange counter and saw no one there?"
"Yeah, I got concerned. There was only two things I could think of that could have the exchange counter empty and I'd have known if it was the first one." I say taking a clipboard he handed me setting it on the table in front of the three chairs for likely important individuals overseeing the testing. Other Rockets are scrambling around, setting things up. It's odd, last time around there wasn't this much motion. Something must have changed due to my absence in the places I'd been before or the fact I hid away in a cove off the shore and was incapable of being found. "How much will you charge me for what's going on to have you guys so frantic?"
"I'll give ya this one free of charge considering your giving me a hand setting up," he subtly glanced around leaning closer and lowering his voice. "Several of your competitors are turning up dead and fast. One of the kids that was sent here by one of the higher ups got killed. They aren't happy according to what I overheard. A team was sent out and their body was found hacked to pieces by a bladed weapon. It was rather interesting though... It's like they wanted the body to be found. Cause the body was heavily sprayed by Super Repel. I don't suspect you'd be stupid enough to do that would ya?"
I was floored at this information, with a grimace I shook my head no. Sneasel and I helped with the rest of the set up and even if he said he was giving me the info for free, I still forwarded 1,000 points to him before waiting for the evaluation time. The other kids showed up trickling in in pairs or trios. Felix like myself arrived on his own and he didn't look at all okay. He looked normal but the number of Pokéballs on his belt was at three. He was too far away to figure out what he had but one had to be Koffing. A head count had me realizing we were down to just fifty when we were at nearly a hundred at the start of the week. Half of us were either murdered or cut down by dangerous wild Pokémon.
"Attention! Line up for inspection!" Sergeant Viper said as he entered the clearing. All of us lined up in 5 rows of ten. I decided to stick to the end of the second line keeping Felix in the corner of my eye. I don't want to turn my back to him any time soon. I suspect he has something to do with the culling of the competition. Likely because Houndour was stolen but I don't have any proof. Only speculation based on my past life.
"So these are the fifty that remain." I felt my blood turn to ice. I know that voice. What in the HELL is boss Giovanni doing here?! I had only seen him a hand full of times and I know that the Mewtwo Project is currently underway. Whoever died was really important for it to get the boss here. I do my best to suppress my nerves and place my hand on Sneasel's head to keep her grounded. She seemed to pick up on my discomfort and was getting aggravated. "Begin... I don't have much time." All fifty of us got to see Giovanni take a seat in a comfortable looking chair. Viper was clearly rather shook up by the Boss being present even if he was hiding it well. In quick succession our numbers were called until mine was next.
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"Number 034 with Sneasel."
"Let's go Sneasel... We will show them just how powerful you got." Sneasel agreed following me to the stone. I reached in my vest pocket and with a click of a button turned the weight off. "Flash Freeze." Sneasel nodded jumping back her body glowing with Quick Attack she rushed ahead her claws cloaked in Ice energy leaving a trail along the ground. All that training with Ice Beam really helped her control and gathering speed of ice energy.
The impact of Sneasel's Ice Punch was accompanied by the explosive sound of shattering ice. The face of the Trial Stone froze over only for a second strike from her left claw being that of Brick Break to connect shattering the ice that froze the stone. Sneasel leapt back and felt multiple sets of eyes on me but I did my best to ignore it. "Six hundred and forty-five!" Sneasel sharpened her claws against one another a look of superiority on her smug face. Putting a look of determination on my face, my body falling into an old routine when under the eyes of a superior. My heels snapped together in a crisp motion and saluted Giovanni. I didn't move, even at the prompting of Sergeant Viper to get me back in line. I kept my eyes locked with Giovanni's even if my instincts are screaming at me to move and follow Viper's directions to escape Giovanni's gaze. Five whole minutes I stood there without flinching or even moving from my place. I would stand here until told I was dismissed by the head authority present as per Team Rocket rules. Knowledge of how the rules work even if I'm not officially a Rocket yet shouldn't be overlooked. Ignorance can only be acceptable by the weak willed and weak willed I am not.
"Number Zero Three Four, you and your Pokémon are dismissed. Go to the point exchange station and await further instruction."
"Yes sir." I lowered my arm and gave a bow before moving with a purpose towards the exchange counter with Sneasel trailing behind me.
----
Giovanni the leader of Team Rocket, and the most powerful Gym Leader in Kanto looked out at the prospective Team Rocket special unit recruits and he couldn't help but feel disappointed. None of them seem to be anything particularly special. The recruit that was selected by Surge had ended up being butchered two days ago and he's insistant on finding out who. Surge however is on a important mission and Giovanni finds himself interested due to the increased level of fatalities. Exactly half in under a week.
Watching each unimaginative child after the next go up and have their Pokémon attack the stone with equally disappointing numbers. That was until Number 034. Her file was exchanged for the last one and he glanced over it expecting to find another unimpressive child and the file depicts that it will be the case. Sneasel one of the few of good potential that were intended to be given to a random. More or less they were supposed to end up becoming a follower of one of the recommended.
With a single order of 'Flash Freeze.' The Sneasel shot towards the rock and obtained a score of six hundred and forty-five. She took about three steps then turned to face me and snapped a salute. It seems she's realized his importantance and unlike the rest who have gone before her and shuffled back in line like a sheep she stood forward. She is so sure of herself that she is blatantly ignoring Viper's directions to move. A sharp glance at Viper made him stop talking before meeting the girls clear and determined icy blue eyes again. She did not move nor look away, she just waited for my response. Tapping a finger on a knee in contemplation the time ticked by. Perhaps she could be of use considering how eager she is to present herself before him and willingly ignore Sergeant Viper who was put in charge of this island for the Trial. Very well, she will be tested. If she can find who killed Surge's recommendation she'll be considered for something better than this. I sent her off to the exchange counter and watched the rest that remained attempt to gain my favor. A shame for them, he has no interest in copycats. Ignoring them until the test was finished.
"Viper keep everyone here. They are not to leave this clearing." He commanded getting up and brushing a hand over his suit to straighten a wrinkle from sitting for so long. Gesturing for the two subordinates he had came with to follow him, he went to the Outpost exchange counters. There waiting for him was Number 034 and her Sneasel. The slightly too large green vest fluttered slightly as she snapped another salute upon my entrance only this time her Pokémon Sneasel copied her action, standing back and to her right. He couldn't hold in a smirk. The girl knew enough to ensure her Pokémon showed the proper respect as well, interesting.
