Pokémon: Master of the Rain Team

At roughly the same time Danny discovered the contraband hidden below deck, Riku’s brother was still in the captain’s cabin with a pair of binoculars pressed to his eyes. The storm ahead was getting worse by the minute, and he had to skirt the edge of its eye without straying too far from the ship’s planned route.

The cargo ship rose and fell beneath him as waves struck the hull. Charts covered the walls around the dimly lit cabin, while indicator lights flickered across the instruments with every violent shift of the sea.

A knock came at the door while he was watching the storm.

”Come in.”

Two people entered without saying a word. Riku’s brother ignored them at first, but after several seconds of silence, something began to bother him. He hadn’t summoned anyone, and only a handful of people aboard were allowed into the captain’s cabin without permission.

When he finally turned around, he didn’t recognize either of them.

”Who the hell are you two?”

The pair exchanged a look, and then, to his growing confusion, launched straight into an elaborate introduction.

”Since you asked so nicely, we’ll make an exception and tell you!” Cassidy announced.

”Protecting the world through perfectly honest villainy!” Butch added.

”Cute, charming, and absolutely not suspicious!”

”Cassidy!”

”Butch!”

”Team Rocket, racing across the universe toward a shocking pink tomorrow!”

They finished with ridiculous poses that looked even more absurd in their worn sailor uniforms.

Riku’s brother stared at them for a moment before giving a dry laugh.

”Well, that’s one way to introduce yourselves.”

Cassidy and Butch immediately tore open their sailor uniforms, revealing Team Rocket’s black uniforms underneath, complete with the large red R across the chest.

Cassidy frowned at his complete lack of surprise.

”That’s it? Nothing? We went through all that and you don’t even look impressed.”

”I know who Team Rocket is. Why would I be impressed by two grunts?” Riku’s brother turned back toward the storm. ”If Viper came here himself, maybe I’d bother listening. You two?”

He glanced over his shoulder.

”Not worth my time.”

Butch’s face went red.

”You wanna say that again? We could blow this whole ship to pieces!”

”Go ahead.”

Riku’s brother didn’t even turn around.

Compared with the storm outside, the two Team Rocket agents barely registered as a threat. He didn’t need Tyranitar or Slowbro for people like this. One Pokémon from his second team would be enough.

And judging by the fact that they were running around with a Raticate, they weren’t exactly hiding some terrifying lineup.

Butch gritted his teeth, but Cassidy caught his arm before he could make the situation worse.

”Knock it off. We’re here for a job.”

Riku’s brother finally lowered the binoculars and poured himself half a glass of wine.

”Then get to the point. Did someone send you with a message, or do you actually want something?”

He dropped into the captain’s chair, crossed one leg over the other, and took a slow sip while Cassidy and Butch visibly struggled not to lose their tempers.

Cassidy stepped forward before her partner could say something stupid.

”We were sent to recruit you. Team Rocket wants you in.”

Riku’s brother actually laughed.

”You broke into my cabin to ask me to betray the Black Ship captain and join you?”

The Black Ship captain had given him almost everything he had. Whatever trouble he was in now, turning on that man for a couple of Team Rocket grunts sounded absurd.

Cassidy raised one finger.

”You’d get a pseudo-Legendary.”

That stopped him.

”And you wouldn’t be signing your life away either,” she continued. ”Help us out when we need something, that’s all.”

Riku’s brother’s expression changed immediately.

He already owned Tyranitar, so he knew exactly what a pseudo-Legendary was worth. Raising Tyranitar to Elite Four tier had consumed an enormous portion of the money and resources he’d accumulated over the years, on top of the cost of raising three other Pokémon to the same level.

A replacement of that caliber could shave years off rebuilding his team.

”What about training resources?” he asked. ”You’re not seriously offering just the Pokémon.”

Butch grinned.

”That part depends on how cooperative you are, Captain.”

The respectful title didn’t match his tone in the slightest.

Riku’s brother didn’t care.

”What pseudo-Legendary?”

Cassidy folded her arms.

”Pick one.”

”Any one?”

”Any one Team Rocket can get.”

Riku’s brother swirled the wine in his glass.

”Hydreigon?”

He watched Cassidy carefully. Team Rocket’s influence was concentrated in Kanto and Johto, while Hydreigon came from a region far outside its usual sphere of control. He had thrown out the name mostly to see where their limits were.

Cassidy didn’t hesitate.

”If that’s what you want, we’ll get you a Hydreigon.”

For the first time since they walked in, Riku’s brother went completely quiet.

He had underestimated Team Rocket.

Cassidy and Butch didn’t interrupt him. They had already seen the change in his face, and both knew that once a Trainer started seriously imagining himself with a free pseudo-Legendary, the hard part was usually over.

Several minutes passed before Riku’s brother drained the rest of his glass and set it down.

”All right. Where is it?”

Butch burst out laughing.

”Come on, Captain. You really think two grunts are walking around with a spare pseudo-Legendary in our pockets?”

The amusement vanished from Riku’s brother’s face.

”You’d better not be screwing with me.”

His voice had gone cold enough that Butch stopped laughing almost immediately.

Cassidy stepped in before things turned violent.

”Easy. We’re only here to make the offer. Say yes, and one of Team Rocket’s Elite Four-tier executives will deliver the Pokémon personally. You tell us which pseudo-Legendary you want, and we’ll make sure it reaches you.”

Riku’s brother leaned back again, but his mood had changed.

If an executive was handling the delivery, there would be no easy way to take the Pokémon and disappear. Team Rocket would expect something concrete in return, and once he accepted, backing out would become much harder.

This needed more thought.

Eventually, he looked at Cassidy again.

”I’ve got three conditions.”

She waited.

”First, if things go bad, Team Rocket gets me safely out of the Orange Archipelago. Second, I want enough resources to properly raise the Pokémon you’re giving me.”

His expression hardened before the last condition.

”Third, kill Reiji from Mikan Gym.”

Cassidy and Butch exchanged a glance.

”Give us a second.”

Cassidy pulled out her communicator and sent the conditions to Matori. The reply came back shortly afterward, and whatever she read made her smile.

”The Boss agreed.”

Riku’s brother raised an eyebrow.

”All three?”

”All three. But there’s one thing Team Rocket wants from you.”

”Which is?”

”Help us expand our influence in Trovitopolis.”

That caught his interest.

”How exactly? And what are you planning to do about Reiji?”

He already knew Team Rocket had business interests in Trovitopolis, including a presence in the underground market. If they wanted his help pushing further into the city, they were clearly aiming higher than a few shady storefronts.

Cassidy smiled.

”Reiji is already on Team Rocket’s kill list. Even if you hadn’t asked, we’d have dealt with him sooner or later.”

That was better news than Riku’s brother had expected.

”As for Trovitopolis, most of what we do there is perfectly legitimate business. The problem is that every now and then, someone decides to get in the way.”

She pinched her thumb and finger together as though crushing something tiny.

”All we need from you is a little help making those problems disappear. Use your contacts, pull a few strings, clear the road for our people. Nothing complicated.”

Riku’s brother smiled.

”So that’s the game.”

He stood and walked toward them with one hand extended.

”Fine. Deal.”

Butch immediately stepped between Cassidy and the captain and grabbed the offered hand himself.

”Then we’re partners.”

Riku’s brother laughed and tightened his grip.

”So we are.”

Neither man let go.

Within seconds, what should have been a handshake turned into a childish contest of strength. Both men’s arms tensed, their faces reddened, and neither seemed willing to admit the other had squeezed hard enough.

Cassidy stared at them in disbelief.

Before she could tell either idiot to stop, a shrill alarm tore through the cabin.

The alarm was followed almost immediately by pounding footsteps in the corridor. Someone hammered on the metal door hard enough to rattle it, finally putting an end to the ridiculous standoff between Butch and Riku’s brother.

”Captain!”

A sailor shouted from the other side.

”We’re under attack! We’ve got an intruder aboard!”

The tension in the cabin changed instantly.

Riku’s brother released Butch’s hand and turned toward the door, all traces of amusement gone. Whatever deal he had just made with Team Rocket could wait.

Someone had boarded his ship.

[End of chapter]

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