Pokémon Red (Book 2)

Stratagem

Continuation of Catastrophe from Pokemon Red Part - 1.

~~~~~~~

Ben's POV

2011

After my bus crashed, I was taken captive by Team Rocket. I found myself in some hideout.

Only thing I could see clearly was the white metal tiled floor, a green couch on which I was lying.

The room was dark and there was a bright light beaming towards me.

'Ben, my dear friend, what a pleasant surprise', said a voice, and a man walked out of the darkness and put a chair in front of me and sat.

'Giovanni. You won't get away with this, the police will eventually find you'.

'I know they will. But first, you have to complete what you started. Your project, would you complete it for me ?'

'What are you talking about ?'.

'You know what I'm talking about. The Pokeball you've been working on, I want it. For something big'.

'No', I said. 'I will never help your organization'.

'Ah, you will make it for me. Or else', he said, showing a picture of my wife and my son, Red.

'No, you will not. You even touch my family, I will kill you'.

'I will not touch them if you promise to make the Pokeball for me'.

I took a deep breath. 'Why do you want it ?'.

'Twelve years ago, a Pokemon made from Mew's DNA escaped from the Research Lab', said Giovanni.

'Project Mew 2 ?', I asked.

'Yes, I want that Pokemon', he said. 'For some reason I don't want to share, of course'.

'You want to kill me, kill me. But I will not help Team Rocket to get such a powerful weapon. I know what you would do with it'.

'You don't know what I'm upto'.

'Whatever you're upto, it's obviously no good to anyone but you', I shouted.

'I am upto something good. Lately, I've been thinking, to shut down Team Rocket. I already have a son, he is about your son's age. And a new born daughter. I don't want to get my family in this poisonous organization', said Giovanni. His expression changed to sad.

'How do I believe you ?', I asked.

'You have to, I'm thinking about this planet, I wanna save lives', said Giovanni. 'So please, I have no other option'.

'Okay, I will make one Pokeball, uh, Masterball, for you', I said.

'Thank you', said Giovanni. 'I wanna see how this all pans out'.

'I have a condition', I said.

'What ?'.

'After I help you, you shut down Team Rocket', I said.

'Condition accepted', said Giovanni. 'Now, you'll be given a personal space to make the ball. Take as much time as you want and I promise, I won't even touch your family'.

'Personal space ? Where ?', I asked.

'Sevii Islands, of course', said Giovanni. 'A place where police can never find us'.

'Again, why do you want the Mew 2 for ?', I asked, curious.

'To protect the world from devastation', said Giovanni. 'Now, let's get started'.

'Ahem, you have to tell me', I said.

'Okay', said Giovanni.

He explained his plans to me in detail. I had a sudden feeling of trust for Giovanni and believed he was a good person after all.

'I believe in you', I said. 'Your plan is a bit complicated, if anything goes wrong, the planet is doomed'.

'I know', said Giovanni. 'That is why I need your help, can you help me with the frequency ?'.

'I can. I will have to reprogram your communication device', I said.

'Please', said Giovanni.

'Did it work the last time you tried ?', I asked.

'Yes, it did', said Giovanni.

'But how are you going to convince him, not to come here ?', I asked.

'I don't know, he is just like me, ambitious, and doesn't trust people easily', said Giovanni. 'I will figure something out'.

'When do I get to see my family again ?', I asked. 'I have to meet them'.

'Not now, maybe you'll have to wait for years, but you will definitely meet them', said Giovanni. 'I promise'.

So, as Giovanni said, I spent way too much time working on the Master Ball and reprogrammed the communication device side by side.

The Master Ball was still a prototype, a beta version. But I successfully reprogrammed the device.

'Here, it's done', I said.

'Is it working ?', asked Giovanni.

'Send some message', I said. 'I guarantee it will work'.

'Okay', said Giovanni.

He typed - Is it done ? I think this is a bad idea, I want to abandon the plan and don't work on it anymore as it is dangerous.

Giovanni looked at the device for a while, waiting for a reply.

'I think I'll have to work on it, a bit more', I said, taking the device from Giovanni's hands.

'Yes. I shouldn't have trusted that guy, he's upto something very bad. That's why I want Mew 2 to tackle him. He is way more powerful than me', said Giovanni.

'I bet we'll stop him, with Mew 2 or not', I said.

Suddenly, the device beeped. Giovanni stared at me.

'It's working', I said, looking at the device.

Giovanni read what the reply was - So you've figured that I'm not with you and you've decided not to work with me anymore. Fine, I'll do it on my own. Just a few more years and I will be ready.

Giovanni's face went blank. I had goosebumps everywhere in my body.

'Doesn't feel right', I said.

'I think I just messed up real bad'.