Chapter 20

"Are you sure it will be safe?" Hurzer asked.

"Hey," Red said. "If you can't trust Bill the pokemaniac, who can you trust?"

They were walking along the outskirts of Cerulean City, heading to Route 5 while technically on Route 9. They trekked between the craggy, plateau-filled location of 9 and the lush grassland of 5. They were heading towards the meadow as they marched down the dirt road. Red had out all his Pokemon, Cinder included, heading towards Vermillion City where the S.S. Anne often docked. He smiled the whole way.

After leaving the route where Bill had given Red the ticket to the S.S. Anne, he cashed the nugget that Kevin should have given him as a prize. Now that he had the money that the Rocket punk had given him and sold the lump of gold at the Cerulean PokeMart, he was feeling pretty good about their odds of survival. Little could stop them from having a safe life if Bill was correct.

"Can we trust this Bill guy?" Selven asked. "Seems kind of fishy to invite us to a separate military, not a part of Kanto yet is somehow still legal."

"Bill's a good person," Cinder said. "I've met him a few times when he visited Professor Oak in private. Oak helps Pokemon and humans with his money. He is not stingy and very charitable. Most anyone in good relations with Professor Oak is a good person in my eyes."

The Ivysaur smiled.

"Good to both humans and Pokemon?" Selven asked. "Sounds like a winner in my book."

"Hey, why can't you just fly there on Cinder's back?" Leta asked. "He's strong enough to carry you, right?"

"I'm afraid I'm not," Cinder said.

You don't know that for sure. Red thought. But you're so angry with me right now you wouldn't do that for me. You hate me.

A harsh scream suddenly stopped their cheerful mood. Red and his Pokemon turned toward the cry as it continued. This time the young man could tell it was a young woman shrieking. Red looked at his Pokemon and nodded before pointing to the source of the sound. They ran down the path to find the screaming from the sea's edge along Route 9. Upon seeing the start of the loud noise, Red found a familiar face.

Kevin was leading a young woman with long brown hair and a man with a trim, black beard away with his Machop and Drowzee. The former was pushing them forward with its bare hands while the latter was doing so with transparent, colorless arms that were barely visible and extended from its body, both of the humans looking scared and having bruises along their body. Only when Red glanced at them from a certain angle could he distinguish the clear and well-camouflaged limbs ten times longer than a human's.

Confusion. Red thought. It's a Psychic move that doesn't contain a considerable amount of power, but what it makes up for in raw strength, it compensates for versatility. One of the many ways Confusion can be executed is the usage of incorporeal limbs grown by the user's body. They can retract and unleash at will. Using Confusion, the user can make an extension of their own body to perform superhuman feats, such as grabbing things with arms made of psychic energy. With the move at their disposal, Psychic-types are one of the most potent types a Pokemon can be.

Kevin was walking his two prisoners down the dirt road, obviously heading to the seashore was in plain view not far from them. Upon Red and his Pokemon rushing towards them, he turned to glare in anger. The couple turned toward Red with looks of relief on their face.

"Oh, thank goodness," she said. "I thought that we were too far out to-"

The Drowzee used one of its arms to slap the woman to the ground, making her scream in pain.

"I told you both to shut up!" Kevin shouted.

"Knock it off!" Cinder cried.

"Yeah!" Leta said. "Let them go! What are you doing with them anyway?!"

The Rocket member glared at Red.

"I thought we had an agreement," he said. "You leave me alone, and I give you the requested money."

"Requested money?" Cinder asked before turning to Red. "Deal?"

The trainer looked sheepish. He tensed up, turning away from the Charizard in fear of judgment. The last thing he wanted was for Cinder to know his deal with Kevin. As if the Pokemon needed any more reason to hate him.

"So," the Rocket member said. "Get lost now! Don't bring the police into this if you want my money."

The Charizard's curious gaze was now a full-on glare, giving Red only one option. Even knowing what he would be forced to do, Red still hesitated. He shook his head in disbelief at his luck.

I wish I never ran across these guys. He thought. Even if it meant saving their lives, I hope it'd never happen. Now I'll have to take him to the police for questioning. And it'll only be a matter of time before they get out of Kevin that I let him go, knowing he was a Rocket. But I can't make Cinder hate me any more than he already does.

"Leta," he said. "Use Sleep Powder."

The Butterfree lifted herself into the air before blowing green dust particles at her targets. The Drowzee took the opportunity to use its transparent limbs to wave the powdery substance away by waving its hands. However, while distracted, Red was able to use his next move.

"Gust on his Pokemon!" he ordered.

Leta flapped her wings again to create a large blast directed at the Machop and Drowzee. While a lesser experienced Pokemon might have hurt the prisoners behind them, the Bug-type had been trained over the past half year to concentrate the wind she whipped to such an extent it would only hit Leta's targets. Kevin's Machop was immediately blown off his feet and carried by the Gust as he tumbled along the dirt path behind him.

The Drowzee took this a lot better, maintaining its balance on the ground by keeping its feet planted. It then stared up at Leta and quickly turned one of its transparent arms into a wiry mass of dark violet energy that waved in the air a little bit before shooting at the Bug and Flying-type. The blackish-purple force created a blast that knocked her out of the air. Leta plummeted to the ground. Red quickly retrieved her Pokeball and returned her to it. With one of its psychic constructed limbs gone, the Drowzee simply grew another one in its place before making two more.

Psychic. Red recognized. While not as versatile as Confusion, it concentrates the psychic energy to be more powerful. Usually, it's used as a powerful, blast-like attack or wrapped around the target to prevent them from moving entirely. And his Drowzee must be trained to ignore the nervousness that Bug-type usually causes Psychic-types to experience on sight. That is very unusual as Psychic-types usually can't be prepared to ignore their weaknesses like Rock-types can be trained to ignore the pain of water erosion. Why would such a specialized trainer be in this secluded area?

"Grab them all with Confusion!" Kevin ordered.

The Drowzee then reached for them all, his Pokemon scrambling as he did such. Selven produced pink petals that moved in spiraling directions, forming a moving barrier that deflected the psychic limb away as it neared him. Hurzer caught the arm with one hand, more than strong enough to hold it back, but a Poison-type coming into contact with a Psychic move created a catalyst in his body. The Nidoking was shaking as he held the Confusion off, trying to prevent it from reaching him.

Cinder merely flew out of the way of the Confusion sent his way, the psychic limb more than easy enough to avoid with his speed. However, the arm that threatened to grab Red caused the boy to attempt to scurry away before realizing it was pointless. He looked up at Cinder to find that he didn't even bat an eye at his trainer about to be caught.

Wow. Red thought. Cinder really has given up on me.

Red was too busy staring at the fleeing Charizard to notice a vine extending from his Ivysaur to knock back the Confusion about to grab hold of him. He looked back at Selven to see that the Ivysaur had grabbed hold of two of the psychic-constructed limbs with several vines and begun squeezing them hard. The Drowzee was in obvious pain, wincing and crying in agony as the Grass-type had constricted the limbs that had reached him and Red. This caused the trainer to remember something he'd learned in Pokemon classes.

Despite Confusion's enormous flexibility and advantages, it gives Psychic-types… Red thought. It does contain many flaws. For example, if Confusion creates limbs that the user can feel, it could trigger pain. If the arms are brutalized and harmed, then the move will be significantly weakened.

"Hurzer!" Red ordered. "Do what Selven is doing! Attack the limb with Poison Sting!"

The Nidoking nodded before extending his claws a little, stabbing into the Confusion he was trying to force away from his body. The Drowzee screamed in pain as Hurzer dug his nails more profound into the constructions of psychic energy. The hand that threatened to grab him went limp, and the others weakened.

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"Vine Whip the Drowzee!" Red shouted.

The Ivysaur wasted no time in uncoiling the slender plants from the Confusion, slapping the Psychic-type numerous times with them all along the enemy Pokemon's body. The Psychic-type fell to the ground, its body bleeding from the open wounds Selven gave it. Kevin reached for a Pokeball, only for his arms to be bound by vines.

"Guess you weren't so sensible after all," the Rocket member said.

{}

"Attempting to escape in a submarine in the Cerulean waterway at the edge of the city," Tom said. "Not far from our house."

As medics bandaged their wounds, Tom and his wife, Carrie, sat in the police station. Red stood at the side, watching the young married couple recount their tale of Kevin capturing them. All of Red's Pokemon had returned to their Pokeballs, and the Rocket member was sitting in the corner, bound by handcuffs. Misty was also there as gym leaders usually had some responsibility for keeping their town safe from such widespread threats as Team Rocket. The Pokeballs full of Pokemon that Kevin had taken from Tom and Carrie were now around their waist again.

"We knew Kevin pretty well," Carrie said. "He came by often where we lived and asked us about the trainers in the area. We didn't know where he lived, but we thought it odd how he often came by us since we lived at the edge of Cerulean."

"Yeah," Tom said. "It wasn't until today that Kevin told us he had to get out of town and flee wherever he came from. The Rocket ran into our house, burglarized our house for money, and took the TM Dig with him. Kevin knew we had a fair bit of money from our conversations and wanted to grab up as much as possible before heading out of Cerulean. When he barged into our home and started demanding money with the threat of hurting us with his Pokemon...we thought it strange…"

"It didn't make any sense at the time," Carrie said. "But I guess someone found out he was a Rocket member or...or something, and he panicked. Since we're richer than most in Cerulean City, he knew to attack us as well as get Dig so that he could prepare an escape route wherever he was going."

"Apparently," Red said. "Kevin told me that most everyone in Cerulean knew he was Team Rocket but didn't care. Did you guys know? And why would he kidnap you?"

"No," Tom answered. "And not everybody in Cerulean would know that. I suppose he must have been talking about the local trainers because I certainly wouldn't associate with a man I knew to be a Rocket."

"Me neither," Carrie scolded. "But...Kevin did say something about us being good trainers. Our Pokemon are well trained, and Kevin said we would make use of our Pokemon better for his cause than just defending ourselves."

"Then why didn't you use your Pokemon to stop him?" the officer asked.

"He already had his Drowzee out just as he barged into our home and said if we made one wrong move, he'd kill us," Tom answered. "That's when he stole our Pokemon in their Pokeballs. Boy...I hate to think that no one would turn him in if they knew Kevin was a Rocket."

"And do you know that Red knew I was a Rocket?!" Kevin screamed.

He then turned to Misty and the two accompanying officers.

"We had a deal that I'd give him money if he kept his mouth shut about me!" he said.

Red felt sweat form along his forehead, glancing at Misty nervously. However, the gym leader looked nonchalant about the comment and glanced aside. It didn't seem to bother her, causing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

"I've heard of this problem before," she said. "A criminal getting caught and fleeing the scene is one thing, especially trying to weasel in as much money they could before doing so...but for Team Rocket to outright kidnap humans... it's both alarmingly underreported and yet very numerous."

She then turned to the female police chief sitting in front of the couple.

"Isn't that right, Jenny?" Misty asked.

"Certainly is," she said. "When Team Rocket is up to no good, they usually kidnap people and drag them away to unknown locations. They never reveal the location, but the rate this happens is alarming. We've tried investigating, but we have no luck on leads."

"Team Rocket kidnapping people?" Red asked. "I know they steal Pokemon, but why human beings that aren't as profitable?"

"Who knows?" Misty asked. "We've also seen Rockets scurrying around a cave that's hard to navigate due to harsh tides. They are interested in it, so they've been sending high-end trainers to scout it out. We'd investigate that cave, but it's closed off to the public due to how much of a labyrinth it is. Now, Jenny, get this scum away from me."

"With gusto," Jenny said.

She walked over to Kevin and took him by the handcuffs, lifting him as he sneered at Red. Now, only the other officer and Misty remained in the room. Red sighed as the gym leader fixed her eyes on him.

"So," she said. "What's this about you making a deal with the Rockets?"

He paused for a moment, not exactly knowing what to do. He could lie and say that Kevin wasn't telling the truth, but it would be unlikely Misty would believe that as there would be little incentive for Kevin to deposit money from his account than just give Red the nugget as a prize. Now that they caught Kevin, it would be best just to admit it rather than try to hide it, as they could check Kevin's financial records to see if it was true or not. If he attempted to conceal the information before being caught, Red would go to jail. And then his Pokemon would be seized and put into the hands of the military. And he only took the money to protect his Pokemon and provide them a better life.

If I can make it sound better than it is… He thought. Like Kevin tricked me or goaded me into accepting a bribe, less likely a chance to be branded a criminal.

Red pulled out the Pokedex in his pocket and opened his financial account. It showed not only the sum of money that Kevin had deposited into his digital bank, but Kevin's account number proved the Rocket grunt was the one who willingly made the transaction. The gym leader shook her head, visible anger spreading across her face.

"So you're telling me you discovered he was a Rocket, found out he had infiltrated a makeshift military examination, and told no one?" Misty asked.

"Um…" Red said. "I'm sorry! I-I didn't know the gravity of the...of the situation! I-I thought he was a low-level Rocket or...or just claimed to be or-or-"

"You told no one?!" the gym leader roared.

"I-" he said. "I was goaded into-"

"Do you realize how many lives you've jeopardized with your selfish actions?!" she yelled. "Team Rocket are not people you can play with! You should exterminate them on sight! And you just let one pass you by without alerting anyone else!"

"I'm…" Red said. "I'm very sorry! Please… doesn't bringing Kevin in this time make up for those past actions?!"

Misty inhaled rather deeply, her dissatisfaction growing increasingly apparent.

"Yes," she said on the verge of boiling with anger. "I hope you know that bringing Kevin in means you will not be charged as a criminal. However...you do have to fork over half your savings."

"Half my savings?!" Red shouted.

"Yes," Misty answered. "The damage to Tom's house caused by the break-in will be your responsibility. A fitting punishment for a greedy money-grubber like you."

"But fixing that little bit shouldn't cost around two hundred thousand dollars!" Red shouted.

"Take it or leave it!" Misty said. "Either pay up or find yourself a nice jail cell."

As the trainer glared at the gym leader he pressed a button that allowed him to withdraw any amount of money. He handed his Pokedex to Misty as he regretted his decision to confront Kevin. After she punched in an account number that his money would go to and decided the amount she wanted, she handed it back to Red so that he could complete the transaction by entering his own password. After confirming he accepted the amount of money that Misty chose, he lost more than two hundred thousand dollars.

"Heh," he sighed. "Lost more than I gained."

"Ever heard crime doesn't pay?" the gym leader asked.

"Oh, I'm paying," Red said. "But not for letting Kevin go. I think you're just doing this because you're still sore about losing your Starmie."

He turned to leer at her.

"Both Pokemon I used against Brock died in battle!" Red shouted. "Don't you think I feel bad about that?!"

He expected her to start getting even angrier and throw a temper tantrum. It might have gotten him thrown in prison, but he'd at least have the victory of upsetting her a little more. Instead, Misty's expression strangely became more placid.

"Sorry," she said. "But no... I'm still not mad about my Starmie's death."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"After you nearly killed my Ivysaur and Charizard with your Gyarados…?" Red asked. "I thought you'd be furious! You...you said you'd had your Starmie the longest!"

"Yes," she said. "But...Pokemon are not people, Red. I was angry but...as I told you at the Pokemon Center... I'm over it."

"I know," Red said. "I know you're over it but...I still can't believe it. Cinder...Cinder is the Pokemon I've had since I was ten. We've been through so much together. And now, all I want is to go back to the days when things weren't so complicated between us."

Her expression remained unfazed.

"Come on," he goaded. "There must have been more between you and your Starmie than just...battle. There had to be something more. Cinder is and always was my best friend."

Misty shook her head, smiling with amusement.

"Red," she said. "You don't seem to have grown up much. Our civilization needs Pokemon for our survival as a species but as friends? You realize they're unintelligent creatures incapable of building anything humans can, don't you? We had to invent technology in the Pokeballs just to allow us to communicate."

"But Pokeballs only provide the ability for translation!" Red replied. "It doesn't increase their intelligence even a little bit!"

"Even so," Misty said. "They're wild beasts. My Starmie was merely a pet to me...something I grew attached to like a child would its toy. Or a soldier would with their most trusted rifle or knife."

"No," Red said. "That wasn't what I saw when you ordered Gyarados to kill Selven straight up. You were enraged as a close friend died. You didn't see that Pokemon as a toy or something at that moment."

"I may not have," Misty said. "But I lost control of my emotions. And now I'm back to my normal sanity. On the other hand, you should never have thought of your Charizard as your friend."

She chuckled to herself a little.

"You know why Charmander are nearly extinct from the wild, don't you?" Misty asked.

"Because they make good sources for heat," Red said. "I know that-"

"No," she said. "Specifically, Charmander were captured because the idea of any of them growing into a wild Charizard was unthinkable. Charizard can melt boulders and make even the coldest of water evaporate. Not to mention their flight capability makes them near untouchable and fast. They're very close to being the strongest known Fire-type in existence. If one of those ever had a territorial conflict with us, there'd be little we could do."

She shook her head.

"Do you think a monster like that could ever be your friend?" Misty asked. "It's a thing for battle, a tool of destruction, and nothing more. So you can treat your beasts as playthings and pets all you want…"

Her eyes lit up with a dangerous sort of light.

"But don't ever confuse them for your comrades," she said. "Reserve that for your species."

What Cinder told him about seeing everyone around him as tools began to resonate in Red's mind. At first, when the Charizard mentioned it, the whole notion of not treating others with the respect they deserve wasn't something he gave much thought to, but after the speech Cinder gave him near Bill's house, it sunk in. Red realized how horrible a person he had been and hadn't learned.

But now Red understood why he didn't realize he had been horrid. Because the notion of treating Pokemon like tools was so normalized, even by those who knew them best, it rubbed off on him. Red used to think of Pokemon like they were equal to humans, but that mindset had passed as he'd grown more severe about battling. And inwardly, he decided against Misty's philosophy.

No. Red thought. My Pokemon have fought and died for my selfish and ultimately pointless ambitions. I should change my mind before anyone gets hurt for my vain gain.

"Sure," Red said. "That makes sense. I... I'm sorry I was thinking so childish."

Misty nodded, her face still stern.

"Glad to know you've seen reason," she said.