Chapter 16: Officer Jenny

Don't forget to drop some power stones!

*****

As Ricky and Lillie made it back down to the main airport lobby, Ricky was able to spot a couple blue-haired women patrolling around, making sure everything was fine and secure. Officers do patrol around more frequently during the evenings, so it made sense as to why Ricky saw them moving about. If there was one thing to point out, it was that these officers had the exact same appearance as the next!

"You really weren't kidding when you mentioned the police officers here all look the same. They actually do.", Lillie mused.

"Right? Call it a Kanto specialty. I do believe a couple other regions also have Officer Jenny patrol around, but you'll mostly find them here.", Ricky explained. Of course, these couple of figures patrolling around were Officer Jenny. No matter where he looked, they all sported the same look!

"Haha, we get that reaction a lot. You see, all of us are actually cousins.", The nearest Officer Jenny suddenly said, as she approached Ricky and Lillie. Lillie's eyes turned wide in surprise.

"You all are part of the same family?", Lillie asked with a surprised look.

"We sure are. I take it you're not from around here. Looks like you just came out of the latest flight?", Officer Jenny asked.

"We did. I'll be staying here in Kanto for the time being. We just arrived from the Alola Region.", Lillie explained. Officer Jenny raised her eyes after hearing that.

"The Alola Region, huh? That's a pretty far away region. Isn't that the one with the special greeting too?", Officer Jenny asked.

"It is. The greeting is mostly used only at Alola though. I feel it would be strange to greet you with it, Officer Jenny. And it is as Lillie said, we just came from Alola.", Ricky explained.

"I did recall there was a flight coming in from Alola, so that checks out. Do be careful out there, alright? We have been getting more and more reports about Team Rocket lurking about. Isn't that right, Growlithe?", Officer Jenny asked as she looked down at the fiery red-orange dog standing beside her.

"Grow!", Growlithe responded, wagging its tail happily.

"Team Rocket?", Lillie questioned. Seeing as she was in the Alola Region for the past five years, she probably hadn't come across Team Rocket that much.

"That's right. They're a nefarious bunch. They especially like to target individuals who wander around alone, during the night. They won't hesitate to kidnap your Pokemon. I would advise against having Pokemon out at your side while you're walking around at night.", Officer Jenny said, warning the two.

"Has it gotten that bad?", Ricky asked with a frown.

"In reality, it hasn't, but one wrong turn could put yourself in danger. Take it as a necessary precaution alright, you two?", Officer Jenny asked. Ricky and Lillie nodded their heads.

"We will. Thank you for the warning, Officer Jenny.", Lillie responded with a smile.

"Yeah. We will be careful. We'll be on our way.", Ricky also said with a nod.

"Good. I will go ahead and resume my patrol. Safe travels.", Officer Jenny said.

"Growlithe!", Growlithe barked with a fervent nod, and resumed walking alongside Officer Jenny. In the next couple moments, she vanished from sight, leaving Ricky and Lillie to their own devices.

"Security is a lot tighter here, isn't it?", Lillie mused after taking a moment to ponder the conversation she had just shared with Officer Jenny.

"Yeah. Kanto isn't like Alola. Not only is it a much bigger region, the crime rate is pretty bad too. I would take Officer Jenny's warning to heart, but try not to let it gnaw at you too much, alright?", Ricky warned Lillie.

"Now you're making me even more worried about it...", Lillie responded with a frown.

"Haha! We just need to make it seem like we're not some sort of lost animal. As long as we have a clear destination in mind, we should be safe for the most part. It's not like we'll be alone either. We'll be traveling in a group. I don't think you need to worry about it.", Ricky replied, smiling.

"Well, alright. What about tonight, though? We will have to come back here at midnight.", Lillie asked with a doubt.

"We'll be driving back here directly, so it'll be pretty safe.", Ricky answered. "And seeing as we don't have any more business here in the lobby, let's go to the garage. It's parked pretty close too.", Ricky continued.

"Okay!", Lillie happily responded. Looks like any last shred of doubt and worry was now gone, thanks to Ricky's reminders.

As long as they steered clear from Team Rocket, Ricky thought his companions should be safe for the most part as they journeyed throughout the Kanto Region. There were a couple cities to take note of to be extra cautious. And that was Viridian City, Celadon City, and Cinnabar Island. In Viridian City, that was where Team Rocket's boss, who went by the name Giovanni, liked to hide out. And he was even registered as Kanto's 8th Gym Leader! That still seemed to be the case, despite the passing years.

The events to trigger Giovanni setting out on a journey of his own, haven't happened yet from the looks of it. It was highly likely Ricky could battle Giovanni at the Viridian Gym. But since Viridian City was one of Kanto's biggest cities, that likewise meant there were plenty of Officer Jennys placed around to keep up the peace, so Ricky didn't have much worry for the most part.

Ricky's interest was drawn more to Celadon City and Cinnabar Island. In Celadon, Team Rocket had a black market they operated underneath one of its casinos. It was where they kept most of the Pokemon they stole from Trainers. And in Cinnabar Island, Team Rocket held a private island, which was their research laboratory. It will be the same laboratory that will eventually give birth to Mewtwo.

Seeing as Giovanni hasn't started his own journey, it is likely the events of the first movie have yet to take place either. Ricky wondered if he would get the chance to see Mewtwo's birth. He is directly linked to Mew now, so it is very possible that will get sent his way, in one way or another.

As Ricky wondered what could potentially happen once their journey begins, Lillie spoke out to him again, which ended his thoughts. While Lillie began to speak, they were now outside. The air was cool, but not too cold. Even the sun could presently be seen descending beyond the high-rise buildings in the distance. The airport's garage wasn't far either, it was within viewing distance right as they stepped outside.

"Say Ricky, the Pokemon next to that Officer Jenny was a Growlithe, wasn't it?", Lillie asked as she recalled the cute dog Pokemon that was with Officer Jenny.

"Heh, did Officer Jenny's Pokemon attract your attention?", Ricky asked.

"Uh-huh. The evolution of Growlithe is Arcanine, is it not? I hear it's one of the strongest Pokemon that you can catch.", Lillie mused.

"Well, you aren't wrong on that part. Arcanine is a very powerful Pokemon. I wouldn't put Arcanine in the top ten strongest, though. Lots of new Pokemon have gotten introduced in these last few years. There's over a thousand of them now.", Ricky said.

"That is also very true. Growlithe is such a cute Pokemon. I wouldn't mind catching one, hehe.", Lillie responded with a giggle.

"Haha! I also had a similar thought.", I responded with a laugh. Perhaps it ran through the blood? One of Gary's Pokemon was an Arcanine. And it was a very powerful one at that. He even continued to use his Arcanine in more than one series, and even used Arcanine in Journeys!

"It might not be best for us to keep catching the same Pokemon over and over, though...", Lillie said with a doubtful look again.

"You doubt quite a few things, Lillie. It'll mostly depend on a Trainer's interest, and their luck. If we end up catching the same Pokemon, then so be it.", Ricky said.

"Well, if you put it that way, it will depend on the Trainer themselves raising their Pokemon, if we do end up catching the same ones.", Lillie responded?

"Right?", Ricky said with a smile. His eyes then shifted toward a rather low-rise car before them. It was a sleek, black convertible with no detachable roof. Lillie realized that Ricky had stopped walking since they left the airport. Just having that short conversation already caused them to reach their destination. But what Lillie was surprised about was how sleek the car was.

"Surely this car isn't yours, is it?", Lillie frowned.

"Wanna make a bet to see if it is?", Ricky asked with a playful grin.

"Knowing it's you, that's a losing bet. So I'd rather not.", Lillie immediately answered with a shake of her head.