"Hey, time to get to work," the squinty-eyed man called out toward the exterior of the bus.
He had clearly taken an antidote beforehand, as the sleeping gas hadn't affected him in the slightest. Several figures clad in the standard black Team Rocket uniforms boarded the bus.
"Officer Tyron, what brings you out here personally?" one of the grunts asked, bowing slightly in a flattering manner.
"I had business nearby and heard the organization was short on bus drivers, so I figured I'd play the part," Tyron replied casually. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and expertly flicked a lighter. A thin wisp of white smoke rose from the tip.
However, Tyron didn't actually smoke it. He held the cigarette upright, gently wafting the rising smoke toward his nose to catch the scent.
"My apologies," Tyron said calmly. "Members of the Special Operations Squad aren't allowed to carry lingering odors. When the craving hits, we just light one and take a whiff of the aroma."
"Understood, completely understood," the grunt replied, bowing even lower.
The key difference between this grunt and a common member was the three stripes on his sleeve. Within Team Rocket's rigid hierarchy, one stripe denoted a Squad Leader, two stripes a Company Commander, and three stripes a Captain. To reach the rank of Captain, one needed more than just merit; they required overwhelming combat prowess and exceptional command skills.
The fact that a Captain was bowing to Tyron made it clear that Tyron occupied a rank far above him.
"Officer Tyron, everything is in place. You only need to observe their performance," the Captain said. "After all, these people aren't even Reserve Members yet. They have to pass the trial to earn that title—those are Boss Giovanni's rules."
Tyron didn't respond, simply waiting in silence until the cigarette burned itself out.
Nearby, the cowboy Meowth was stirred awake by the faint scent of tobacco. It let out a sneeze and shot Tyron a dirty look, as if blaming him for the disturbance.
"Sorry, Meowth. Long-distance driving is exhausting; I needed the scent to stay sharp." Tyron scooped the Meowth into his arms, giving it a few strokes before stepping off the bus. As he moved, he threw off his outer jacket, revealing the stark white uniform of a Team Rocket Elite.
The Outskirts of Viridian Forest.
Feng Che had inhaled very little of the gas, so he was among the first to regain consciousness. He found himself lying on the forest floor with a letter and a palm-sized box placed beside him.
Greetings, Rookies.
Allow me to call you the lowest of the low, for currently, you aren't even worthy of being called Team Rocket Reserves. We have no room for trash; even our reserves are the elite of the elite.
You are currently in the outskirts of Viridian Forest. This area is home to Rattata, Ekans, Koffing, Spearow, Bellsprout, Caterpie, Weedle, and more. Do not underestimate them. Even the weakest Caterpie can strike with at least 10 kilograms of force. Every year, plenty of people suffocate to death after being trapped by a Caterpie's String Shot.
The box beside you contains one Poké Ball. Yes, as you've guessed, Team Rocket does not provide starter Pokémon to those who haven't proven themselves. Pick up that ball and use any means necessary to capture a Pokémon from this forest. It might be your only chance at survival.
The rarer the species and the higher the quality of the Pokémon, the better your chances of passing. We are only accepting 100 Reserve Members. The rest will become menial laborers, destined to spend their lives within the base, never to see the sun again.
To pass, you must capture a Pokémon and locate the Team Rocket Base. The first 10 participants to find the base will be crowned the "Kings of Luck." Even if you capture nothing, those first 10 will automatically become Reserve Members.
Of course, we've hidden plenty of "goodies" throughout the forest. It's up to the lucky ones among you to find them.
Good luck. — The Team Rocket Instructor (The Handsome and Brilliant One).
Feng Che set the letter aside and opened the small box. Inside was a scuffed, secondhand Poké Ball.
A used ball like this has a pathetic catch rate. They're basically forcing people to go looking for the hidden items, Feng Che thought. He knew the drill; those items would be hidden in the most dangerous spots—either on treacherous terrain or right in the middle of a Pokémon nest.
The letter outlined three clear paths:
Capture: Use any means. Rare and numerous captures lead to better rewards. The Race: Find the base. The top ten are safe regardless of their strength. However, Feng Che knew that entering Team Rocket without a Pokémon would leave a recruit vulnerable and powerless. Scavenging: High-risk, high-reward treasures are scattered throughout the woods.
"Wilderness survival... with the items I already have, this shouldn't be a problem," Feng Che said, his voice steady.
"Finally, I can catch my own Pokémon. I've been waiting for this moment far too long."
Breathing in the crisp, wild air of the forest, Feng Che exhaled the frustrations of the past few weeks. He was ready.