EPISODE 30: Threat*

It is a grand structure molded to the center-left of the stage; all shiny, pitch-black until the pianist lifts the fall. And then the row of pure ivory keys march into view. They shimmer in the sparkling stage light as if they are the moon on a starry night; bright, beautiful, and breath-taking. And the sound they create--oh the music they sing, stirs wonders in Giovanni's mind. It is a beautiful structure that stands center-left of the room, in physic and in purpose.

Very sweet, very solemn, the sound of the piano is, giving a soothing relaxation to the boss and his feline pet. What could be better than listening to a pacific hymn, while staring out at the window with full glory?

<Knock! Knock!>A sudden interruption broke Giovanni's peace, as if the calm pacific ocean forged into a plethora of stormy seas.

"Come in!" Giovanni's infuriated tone, killed the squirming harmony.

Matori, Giovanni's secretary entered the room, walking with a subtle pace. For a loyal woman like her, she is certain about the boss's attributes once his peace has been disrupted.

"Boss Giovanni, my purpose here is for an urgent matter," Matori utters with a subtle voice, placing down a small yellow folder on the boss's marble desk.

With such a curious mind, Giovanni flips the yellow folder to see what 'report' her secretary has to offer. Inside the folder, he sees an image of a boy, wearing a crimson red jacket and a red cap. The boy in the image certainly has black hair. His eyes speak of determination, while his posture utters words of enthusiasm.

"A boy? What do you want me to do with him?" Giovanni questions.

"Sir, this is not just an ordinary boy, his name is Red, and based on the results gathered by our spies, he lives in Pallet Town.

He disrupted our missions at Mount Moon and Cerulean City." Matori utters with a gentle tone, while giving her glasses a little twitch.

"A boy... a boy disrupted our missions?! This is gobbledygook! How could a boy with a mere age of ten defeat one of Team Rocket's famous agents?!

Where is he now?" Giovanni's anger has exceeded the boiling point. He tries to resist the urge to throw the folder off his desk.

"We are not certain sir, some Stealth agents say that he's on his way to Vermillion or Celadon city. If he reaches Saffron City, then our whole plan will be a failure."

"I am certain of that. How is, Luna's assessment. I've a feeling that I must use her for defeating that boy."

"Use the novice? She doesn't have the skills of a Pokemon trainer, she failed all three assessments, plus she's too soft when it comes to Pokemons.

You have four executives, dozens of elites, but why choose the girl over them?" Matori questions.

"I've known the girl's parents for a long time. The blood of a Pokemon trainer flows through her vessels, she may be an unripe mango, but I have high expectations for her.

Who knows, maybe one day she'll know the real truth behind her parents, although, I have no intentions to tell her yet." Giovanni's voice decreases, as he stirs his latte with a metallic teaspoon.

"Her parents are traitors, she may turn out like them," Matori warns with a slightly higher pitch.

"She won't, that's if the truth remains a secret. As for Team Rocket, continue operations on Saffron City. Not a moment to forfeit." Giovanni utters with a malicious scowl while looking unto the deep horizons of Viridian City.

The light has run away, and the silhouettes came to play. The dusk of the day has finally arrived, slowly seeping out the remaining energy of the sun.

What could better than a glass of warm milk before eating dinner at the cafeteria? Just like what we've planned, me and Charlotte will be participating at the training siege tonight.

"Hey... are you going to drink your milk, or just draw random Pokemons?" Charlotte giggles as she watches my steady hand, slowly scribbling on my sketch pad.

"It is my hobby to draw." Charlotte's complaints remind me of Jenny and her Pikachu. How I wish to meet her once more, I sometimes wonder if my disappearance still bothers her mind.

"Hmm... can we do something fun instead?" Charlotte suggests with a bored look.

"It depends... it depends on your definition of fun," I reply with such an impetuous giggle. These are the same words I've uttered upon Jenny after asking me the same question.

"Why don't we run around the halls, or maybe battle again, or perhaps playing with our Pokemons? We can groom our Pokemons if you'd like!" Charlotte throws dozens of suggestions to my face with a fast pace tone. I barely couldn't think of anyone else except for Jenny and her beaming exuberance.

"Your definition does not suit mine. It is fun to battle, but I'd prefer it to be at the very bottom of my list.

I'd rather draw and picture sceneries."

"Drawing? Photography? That sounds boring to me. I have no interest in those types of hobbies, but it is quite shocking to see a person who doesn't like Pokemon battling. Are your parents trainers? Artists? Or perhaps photographers?"

"I do not know, for I am a mere orphan. My parents abandoned me because I had a disorder." Uttering or even explaining my backstory raises my temper beyond my boiling point.

"I'm really sorry for asking. I never knew that you were once an orphan." Charlotte apologizes with a solemn tone.

"It's fine, it's not like I'm going to meet them anyways. They're probably dead by now." With an intoned voice, I utter as I continue to draw on my sketchpad. Charlotte's words reminded me of my real parents, parents who abandoned their own daughter. Just by hearing the word, it makes my temper rise up to its boiling point. Never do I wish to see them, and if I do, I'll spare no mercy for what they have done to me.