Rust gnawed at the corrugated tin roof of the building in front of Rouge, a stark contrast to the prosperous Viridian city in the background. Rouge knew the landscape well, due to his time delivering parcels for a living.
For the past three months, since his arrival, he had seen the various posters promising jobs in the locality, even though there was no way to contact the so-called 'employers'. He had thought that the promises of new beginnings were nothing but a cruel joke.
However, on certain days he had seen groups of impoverished people very much like him converge in front of the abandoned warehouse. He had dedicated weeks to unravel the mystery, piecing together whispers and darting glances.
The truth when he finally unearthed it felt both absurd and yet logically sound. The warehouse was a recruitment nexus for Team Rocket - The evil team of Kanto and Johto from the anime and games.
With his face showing a clear hint of anxiety, Rouge decided to try his luck at Team Rocket. And today was one of the days of their recruitment tests.
He approached the warehouse ,each step heavy with apprehension . An elderly couple, dressed modestly, sat on a rickety bench near the entrance, sipping steaming mugs. A thin vapour curled from their cups, smelling faintly of bitter herbs. As Rouge entered their periphery, their heads swirled in unison, their calm eyes dissecting him.
"Lost your way, young man?" The woman's calm voice cut through the morning stillness. Her gaze lingered on the worn fabric of his jacket.
Rouge stopped, his heart beating like drum against his ribs. "No, ma'am. I'm… looking for an opportunity."
The man grunted, a low rumble from deep within his chest. "Opportunities are for those who know how to seize them. Not for dreamers." He set his mug down with a clink. "What kind of opportunity?"
"The kind they offer here," Rouge replied, a tremor in his voice which he fought to suppress. He gestured vaguely at the warehouse.
The woman's lips curved into a thin smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Ah. You have heard the whispers then." She took another slow sip.She continued, "Many hear them. Few understand."
"I understand," Rouge insisted, pushing past his fear. "I know what this place is. Who operates it."
The man leaned forward, his gaze hardening. "Do you now? And what makes you think you're worthy of their time, boy? This isn't some charity drive. The league will hunt you down. You still up for the job, kiddo?"
"I'm tired of scraps," Rouge said, his voice gaining strength. "Besides the league won't look at a rat like me twice. I am invisible in their eyes. I have nothing to lose. I'm ready to work. To prove myself."
The woman placed her mug carefully on the bench. "They don't want a hero, you know. They want a shadow. Someone who blends, who doesn't asks questions, who gets the job done."
"I can be a shadow," Rouge said, his voice flat, without a hint of emotion. "I have been one my whole life."
"You are desperate. catch this. Head to the forest outside Viridian and you will know where to go once you reach a Kantonian cedar split by lightning." She said while tossing him something.
He caught it immediately. It was just an ordinary stone, but he knew better that this was some key or token. Without it, even if he reached the correct destination nothing would happen.
Rouge obediently followed the directions of the old woman and arrived at the tree split by lightning. The atmosphere instantly turned sinister, as a pack of Houndoom surrounded Rouge. A man, weathered by the criminal underworld, entered Rouge's view his presence quite commanding.
The Houndoom pack cleared way for him as he approached the protagonist. It suddenly clicked for Rouge; The stone held a scent identifiable by the Houndoom. That was how Team Rocket recruiter identified the newbies.
The man stayed a distance and remained motionless for another few minutes. His eyes, however scrutinized Rouge in a condescending way. Rouge having lived two lives, steeled his nerves and stared back at the man.
"Alright kid, you've got some guts."The man wheezed as he motioned for the Houndoom to follow him and then turning to Rouge ,"Come on kid, don't make me wait for you."
While following him, Rouge thought of why he had joined Team Rocket. The league wouldn't accept a nobody like him as a Trainer nor give him access to resources he needed. His path to power lay elsewhere. His memories of his past life about the games and anime showed a clear path: Team Rocket.
In Kanto and Johto, they were the largest criminal team. Their tendrils also stretched to other region, its power and resources dwarfing those of other underground organizations. In some versions, the other teams had banded under Rocket to form Team Rainbow Rocket.
Also, its leader - Giovanni was a man of of charisma who was also shrewd with knack for spotting potential. For a nobody like Rouge, Team Rocket offered a ladder, not a pit. While he was thinking of this, the Team Rocket grunt had stopped in front of a wooden shed in the middle of the forest, which he held open for Rouge.
"Go ahead."He grunted. The door was open, but the inside was pitch black, like a black hole swallowing everything. Rouge walked into the dark cabin without hesitation. The moment he stepped inside, the door was shut behind him. A hulking figure with shadows obscuring his features, reached for the token in Rouge's hand.
As soon as Rouge handed it to the man, Rouge realized that the wooden floor beneath him had mysteriously disappeared, and he was plunging into a deep darkness. In an instant he lost his consciousness.
A searing light pierced his eyelids. The brightness was unbearable. Rough stone scraped his cheeks. The next instant Rouge pushed himself up and looked around. He found himself in the middle of a square stone platform, with several people around
These people briefly glanced at him as he woke up, then quickly lost interest and refocused their attention on the platform in the middle of the square. Several Rocket grunts were positioned around the edges of the low platform forming a encirclement around the newbies
"So this is how Team Rocket recruits newcomers? They sure leave no trace. Now, I don't even know how to get back. I'll just have to accept whatever they throw at me from now on," Sato thought, his expression darkening as he recalled the events that transpired after entering the forest cabin.
Soon a man wearing an elite Team Rocket uniform appeared on the platform, sitting leisurely in a chair. It was apparent he was the top dog in the room from the way the grunts visibly stiffened on hearing his voice.
He sat, not rising, in a stark blck chair. Scars, like lightning, crisscrossed his face making it seem as if he was always sneering.
As his gaze swept over the crowd, both the Team Rocket grunts and the newcomers, including Sato, couldn't help but shiver. The atmosphere in the square immediately became tense and silent, with no one daring to make a sound.
"Good, I welcome you all," His voice, a low rumble effortlessly filled the the underground room effortlessly, asserting absolute authority."My name is Simon and I am your instructor. Now, listen carefully. I won't repeat myself." He paused his eyes piercing each recruit. "Bring them out."
A sharp clap of his hands echoed , and several Team Rocket members with practiced efficiency brought out racks placing them in the open space in front of the platform. The racks were neatly filled with red-and-white PokéBalls.
"I won't waste time with small talk. You see these? These are the initial benefits we give to newcomers. Go ahead, choose one." His voice hardened , a steel edge creeping into calm voice, "But remember, you are not allowed to release the Pokémon inside, and once you make your choice, you cannot change it."
As soon as the Rocket grunts moved back to their positions, the first few people in the crowd moved to obtain their Pokémon with hesitation. After a few minutes the initial crowd returned to the square and the remaining people, including Rouge, slowly went to take their picks.
Rouge looked over the remaining PokéBalls. Only 8 Pokémon were offered. Rattata, Psyduck, Cubone, Spearow, Geodude, Zubat, Koffing, and Ekans. The choices narrowed further when he noticed the gaps.
Most of the Ekans and Koffing were gone. After all they were the most powerful among the bunch. Meanwhile, none of Psyduck were taken, due to their constant headaches which made it impossible to train them regularly. He ran his fingers over the cool surface of an untouched PokeBall.
"Pick me, human" An unfamiliar voice rang in his head,"I beg you."