Pokemon - Adventure 17 A Conflicted Individual.

"System. Is Charmeleon safe? Scan the area."

[Initiating Scan. Scan Complete.

Answering Host. Charmeleon is locked inside of its Pokeball and is being held by the tallest of the three men. ]

Listening to the System, I had another look at them and focused on the taller one. He was currently speaking with Norio about something.

"Can I eavesdrop on their conversation?"

[Answering Host. Listening is possible.

Activate long-range audio capture?]

"Yes. Let's see what these people are up to."

The System then complied, and I was able to hear their conversation in my head.

"Heh. You did well kid, I'm impressed... You even got the Pokedex. The boss will surely promote me!"

My Pokedex? c.r.a.p! I hadn't noticed!

"Not to mention this Charmeleon... Its a very rare Pokemon."

"But of course... Now it's your turn to follow through with our agreement"

"Alright, alright. Here's your Exeggcute..."

"Finally. I'm closer to my goal... Wait, what?!"

The Rocket Grunt smirked and retrieved two other Pokeb.a.l.l.s, sending out a Zubat and a Geodude.

The two Grunts behind him both released an Oddish and a Bellsprout respectively.

The Pokemon circled around Norio, leaving him no exit.

"This... This wasn't our deal!"

"Hahahaha! You expected us to follow our end of the deal? We're criminals, kid. Men... Silence him."

"N-NO!"

Norio could only watch in horror as Zubat pointed its fangs towards his neck.

Right before it could reach him though, a brown rat stopped it midway by biting into its body. Zubat screamed in agony as it profusely bled and fainted.

"Who's there!?"

The Rocket Grunts got into formation and looked around nervously.

"He's my target. Lay your dirty hands off my prey..."

"Raticate... Finish off the Oddish with Crunch! Nidorino, use Poison-Sting on Bellsprout! As for you, Nidorina, use double kick on the Geodude!"

Within a split second, all of the Grunts' Pokemon were taken down. It didn't even take any effort.

"Y-You're that kid that the Boss talked about!"

"I didn't know I was famous enough for the infamous Team-Rocket to have heard of me! I am humbled..."

The Grunt smirked and reached towards his back-pocket.

"Heh, I have your Pokedex here... You wouldn't want me to destroy it would- Where... Where did it go?"

The grunt panicked, and I smiled as my Mankey climbed onto my shoulder. It was holding both Charmeleon's Pokeball and my Pokedex.

It was also holding an extra Pokeball.

"No!"

"Get ready to say goodbye to freedom, you filthy sc.u.m. Remember it well as you rot in jail... It only took one kid to reduce you to this level."

Saying the words I always wanted to say as I played through the games back on earth, I commanded my Pokemon to knock them all out.

I then called upon Caterpie and Weedle to use String-Shot and tie them all up while I wait for the police to arrive.

I had them tie up Norio too, of course.

After recalling all of my Pokemon, I released Charmeleon. It let out a cry of joy and hugged me so hard I struggled to breathe.

"Nice to see you... Partner."

"Char!"

Smiling broadly, I lifted my head and looked towards the still-conscious Norio.

Charmeleon let go of me and placed its sharp claws on the former's neck, making a small drop of blood ooze out.

"Now... Explain. I want you to explain why you did this. Talk or you know what will happen to you."

Norio looked down on the ground and sighed deeply.

"I'm originally from Saffron. My father used to be the gym leader over there, and I looked up to him as if he was a G.o.d. Day in and day out, I would watch him destroy his opponents with ease. Not once had he given out a gym badge. Not once."

"As a kid, I thought that my father was the strongest on this planet. But I turned out to be more than wrong. The elite four caught wind of what he was doing, and sent an eviction notice."

"My father, being the stubborn trainer that he was, rejected the order. And that's where it all began. Two days later, the Indigo league sent in a replacement. The deal was that if he lost, he would leave."

"With confidence, he took on the little kid. I couldn't believe it at the time. A little girl my age was sent in as a replacement? 'My dad is going to destroy her team.' was what I thought."

"It turned out that I would be wrong once more. The little girl used her Psychic-Types and ran through my father's Pokemon with ease. So much ease in fact, that my father became traumatized."

"My father then left the gym and disappeared soon after. We later found out that he had pa.s.sed away... Much later."

"That whole period of my life shook me to the core, changing my outlook on things. Right, wrong... Those words mean nothing to me. I only strive for power, to take back what was taken from my father!"

"Until I reach my goal... I will stop at nothing!"

Looking at the determination on his face, I couldn't help but pity him.

The little Horsea ran up to its trainer and tried to comfort him to no avail.

I thus ordered Charmeleon to retrieve its claws.

"Your story is a sad one. But that does not change the fact that you are fundamentally wrong. I hope that some alone-time in jail will change your outlook on life once more."

"You have no evidence!"

"Oh really?"

With a smirk, I placed my Pokedex in front of him. A high-definition video of his deal with Team-Rocket was then played for him to watch.

His face lost all color and he fainted.

Serves him right.

I definitely have to be careful from now on. The big groups have their eyes on me, so I can't afford to run around leisurely.

"System, activate the radar at all times. Notify me of any inconsistencies or possible threats within a ten-meter radius. When I'm asleep, increase the range to thirty meters and wake me up if anything happens."

[Understood. Turning on the radar.]

With this, I should be safer. But I have to start choosing my acquaintances more carefully.

As I was thinking about all possible scenarios, The sound of sirens invaded my ears and a bunch of police cars arrived at the area.

A bunch of men, wearing full body armor and face masks ran out of the cars and lifted their s.h.i.+elds. Behind them were a ma.s.sive Arcanine and a Machamp.

Oh boy, I didn't expect a swat team.

"Pewter-Police! Everyone down!"

"Relax. I caught them."