EPISODE 33: Task*

"Wake up! Wake up!" A high pitched tone buzzes over my drowsy body. Steadily, my eyes twitch, as the morning sun sends an array of warm sunlight to my face.

"Oh, Luna! You woke up late again, today is your first day as a Combat Agent remember?" Charlotte utters with high exuberance as she throws a small transparent bag to my bed.

"Combat agent... right! Giovanni told us to meet him on the top floor today." My drowsy voice disperses, as an abrupt one takes over. The sudden shift of energy through my vessels inflicts me to dash down my bed with full force.

"Silly, it's already eight in the morning. He's probably waiting for us already. Anyways, that's your new outfit. You are no longer a trainee remember?"

"A... A new outfit?"

"Yup, that's right. I was waiting for you to wake up so that we could change our clothes in the dressing room.

When I figured out that you were never going to wake up, I decided to do things manually." Her stamina exceeds her own limits, while ecstasy takes charge. Charlotte's face glimmers with excitement, as if she is a kid, eating a satiny cotton candy.

I am uncertain about whether I focus the excitement rushing through my bones, or should I just let anxiety take charge? Perhaps a little resentment will do the trick.

Xavier Kimberlite, a man who surely doesn't want to work with me, and I am very certain that I don't want to work with him as well. Team Rocket has a plethora of Stealth Agents, why was Xavier chosen?

A girl like me hates to be commanded with a spoonful of instructions, especially if the one commanding me is an authoritarian and strict individual.

As for me being a new agent of the Combat Category, I feel anxious about the results of our first mission today. Will the three succeed and meet the boss's expectations? Or will we fail, and probably get kicked out of Team Rocket? Even up to this point, I still wonder why Giovanni assigned me as an agent right away, without taking the required assessments.

"I've seen what I needed to see." These words utter on my mind as we walk to the dressing room. What did Giovanni see from me? What did he mean by those words? Is he trying to hide something from me?

Excitement, hmm... I'm not sure whether to include that in my current state, the only thing I fear is about the results of our first mission. Being a new member, I still don't know how missions are commenced in this organization, although, I do know a thing or two about the NCS categories.

Finally, a much more agreeable sense of fashion. A Trainee outfit is no match against the outfit recently given to me. The pigment of darkness can be found in the skirt and torso, while the gloves and boots are painted with a grey color. The cap has a similar color tone to the torso and skirt, while the orange team rocket logo, located on the upper part of the trunk gives emphasis to the organization's title. Out of all of these factors, I could say, the most astounding is no other than the metallic Pokemon Belt. This handy belt gives ease when bringing your Pokemon's Pokeball. All you have to do is to hang them on the little hooks, and you're all set to go!

Here comes the tough part for me, the closer we walk to Giovanni's abode, the harder my body quivers. Quiver with fear, quiver with anxiety, call it whatever you want to call it, the point is... I'm not feeling like myself again.

My mind is filled with nothing sheer cold, and overthought feelings. The clash between emotions just gives me a very bloated stomach, with the urge to release waste at times.

<Knock! Knock! Knock!>Charlotte volunteered to knock on Giovanni's abode. I wish I was her, confident and exuberant.

We are greeted by no other than Matori, probably the female version of the snobbish Xavier. She then welcomes us with an expressionless face, not even a single word uttered from her mouth.

"Pfft... I was hoping that both of you won't arrive." Xavier utters sarcastically with rolling eyeballs.

"Hmph!" My voice murmurs with clenched fists, while staring at him with a menacing scowl.

"Oh please, don't give me that look. I defeated you last night, be glad that I've challenged you, if not, you'll probably be a trainee up to this point."

"I was about to win, if it wasn't for your arrogant looks!"

"Woah, arrogant? I don't think that's the term I would use to describe myself, little miss softy!"

"Hmph, what term would you prefer then? Snob?"

"What was that?!"

The abode starts to heat up, two glaring forces argued upon each other, me against Xavier. He was the one who started it anyway, I have the right to defend myself.

"Silence!" Giovanni's shout echoes throughout the room. His feline companion gave us a glaring look while purring at the boss.

"Very good. Matori, give the instructions." Giovanni's high pitched voice, turns into a calm and intoned one, our attention, however, were still frightened by the boss's former tone.

"If you insist, boss Giovanni.

Listen up, the three of you! This will be your first mission, so do me a favor, and make the boss proud.

The logo seen on the screen above is no other than the Pokemon Government Council, or PGC for short. They are famous for their research on Pokemon Evolution and Genetics.

One of our spies has noticed that the PGC has kidnapped another rare Pokemon again.

Absol, a rare Pokemon only found in the depths of the Hoenn Region. It is also known as the Disaster Pokemon belonging in the dark category.

According to locals, Absols are known to bring terror to one's eyes, they are a bad omen for disasters to come. This led us to the creation of a new hypothesis, it is possible that this Absol has been kidnapped because of the PGC's belief on bad omens, despite being a science institute.

We want the three of you to rescue Absol, and bring it DIRECTLY to the boss himself. It is located on one of the PGC's laboratory established on the far west reaches of Viridian Forest.

Neuro Agent, you will be in charge of hacking the CCTV's mainframe, and switching the access to Xavier's laptop.

From there, Xavier will have control over the CCTVs, meaning he sees everything happening around the laboratory.

A combat agent like you Luna, will play an important role. You will sneak into the laboratory, and rescue Absol. You will be escorted by Xavier through a speaker which will be given later. Listen to what Xavier says, for he sees everything that you don't.

Of course, I am very aware that Charlotte knows nothing about hacking. Therefore I will give you a handbook, which contains the instructions of hacking the CCTVs through a laptop which will be given later.

Do not get caught Luna, if you do, make sure that you defeat them with your Pokemons.

That is your task for today, make me and Giovanni proud!" Matori informs while showing specific details through the large screen located above the boss and his feline friend.

"You heard that Lunar, you will follow my orders," Xavier utters with a serious voice.

"Hmph! It's Luna to you, Mr!"

"Stop arguing! Team Work is important, the three of you must cooperate with one another, or else the whole mission will be a total flaw.

As for the novice hacker Charlotte, make sure to follow the handbook precisely.

Team Rocket, what is our motto?!" Giovanni utters with conviction and an encouraging tone.

"To protect the world from devastation! To unite all people within our nation, to denounce the evil of truth and love, and to extend our reaches to the stars above!

Team Rocket, BLAST OFF to the speed of light, surrender now or prepare to fight!" Charlotte and Xavier dictates with confidence. On the other hand, I just stared at them, while trying to follow the words they were uttering. Forgive my impotence, my memorizing skills are not that profound.

Now, the first mission begins today, although I am not that comfortable working with Xavier. Our characteristics might collide once more, causing a brink of extinction to our cooperation.