The mission file sat on the metal frame of the bunk bed.
Alex sat cross-legged on the mattress, peeling an orange he had bought from the cafeteria.
"Mt. Poles huh," Alex muttered, popping a piece into his mouth.
"I guess luck sometimes shines on me."
The geography of the island was a mess of distorted regions, If Team Rocket's scanners were picking up the specific radiation signature of Moon Stones coming from those peaks, then the stones should be there and Captain Viper wanted them.
"Bring it to me," Alex comically mimicked Viper's gravelly voice in deadpool sound. "Not the quartermaster..... Me."
Alex swallowed the orange slice and wiped his hands on his pants.
"Sure, dear Captain," Alex whispered to the empty room. "I'll bring you something, a pebble or maybe two.... that is If I am feeling generous."
But the real haul? The real moon stones? Those were going to stay in his Inventory. Nidorino needed one to evolve into Nidoking, that was non-negotiable and if there were leftovers, they were going into the stockpile for future trades or sales on the black market.
He wasn't going to be a loyal soldier for team rocket, he is a selfish bastard who is gonna use them as a stepping stone to thrive in this world.
He stood up and grabbed his jacket.
"Let's gets some necessary supplies ," he muttered. " And more importantly some proper meat shields."
The Quartermaster's Exchange was quiet. Most recruits were broke after the evaluation, licking their wounds or mourning the dead pokemon or people.
Alex walked up to the counter, the grunt on duty straightened up seeing the rank insignia on Alex's arm, a single chevron denoting "Provisional Squad Leader ", commanded a modicum of respect now.
"I need a bulk order," Alex said, tapping his watch against the scanner.
He had the lots of points from the survival bonus, plus some nice points advanced for the mission.
"Give me ten standard Pokeballs," Alex ordered.
The grunt raised an eyebrow. "Ten? Planning on catching a zoo?"
"Planning on missing," Alex lied smoothly. "I'm a bad shot."
Beep....
"Two Escape Ropes make it large, 5 Max Repels ."
Beep.....
"And food, high-calorie ration bars enough for three people for three days."
Beep....
Alex pocketed the shrunken items, the ten Pokeballs went into a separate pouch on his belt.
"One more thing," Alex said, leaning on the counter. "Do you have any TMs in stock? Cheap ones."
The grunt checked the list. "I have a cracked disc of Rock Tomb and a dusty copy of Mud-Slap..... nobody wants them."
"I'll take Rock Tomb," Alex said.
It was a Rock-type move, it lowered speed and created obstacles which has tactical utility.
Beep....
[ Balance: 0 Points ]
"Broke again," Alex sighed, turning away. "Easy come, easy go."
The courtyard was buzzing with the survivors of the Evaluation, the atmosphere had shifted. The weak had been culled or cowed and the ones remaining walked with a swagger that hadn't been there a month ago.
Alex stood on the steps, scanning the crowd.
He needed two recruits.
He didn't want the smart ones as the smart recruits asked questions and they wanted a fair share of the loot, also smart ones might stab him in the back if they found some moon Stone or some good stuff.
He needed some dumb muscle guys who had ego, those that the wild Pokémon would attack first.
His eyes landed on a pair of boys sitting near the fountain, they were loud and were laughing as their Pokemon, a Machop and a Mankey, bullied a smaller kid's Rattata, stealing its food.
One boy was big, wearing a sleeveless vest to show off his biceps, with a shaved head and a tattoo of a Geodude on his neck while the other was shorter, wearing a backwards cap and a chain that looked like it was made of soda can tabs.
"Gangsters," Alex diagnosed. "Perfect."
He walked over and the shadow of the Nidorino fell over them. The boys looked up and their laughter died when they saw the spikes.
"You two," Alex said, his voice flat and authoritative. "Names."
The big one stood up, trying to puff out his chest. "I'm Jax and this is Kruger. What's it to you, Ares?"
Jax...Kruger.... ironic names straight out of a bad action movie.
"I have a mission," Alex said. "Resource extraction, high danger but high pay."
He paused, letting the greed set in.
"I need a vanguard, two guys who can handle a fight and captain Viper said I could pick the best."
Jax exchanged a look with Kruger and they grinned as being picked by the top recruit meant status and protection.
"We're in," Kruger said, standing up and recalling his Mankey. "What's the split?"
"You get the mission completion bonus from Viper," Alex said. "I just want the mission objective."
"Deal," Jax said, cracking his knuckles. "We were getting bored here anyway, beating up Rattatas is for chumps."
Alex looked at them.
Jax: Level 16 Machop.
Kruger: Level 16 Mankey.
They were decently leveled, strong enough to fight off the initial waves of Zubats, but weak enough that they wouldn't pose a threat to Alex if they tried to mutiny.
"Pack your gear," Alex ordered. "We leave in 30 minutes, meet me at the North Gate."
As they scrambled off to get their things, Alex watched them go with cold, dead eyes.
"Don't spend that bonus yet, boys," Alex whispered.
(Scene change)
They Approached to Mt. Poles, the journey to Sector 5 took three hours.
Mt. Poles was a really ugly mountain. It wasn't a majestic peak; it was a cluster of crushed, grey spires that looked like broken fingers clawing at the sky. The rock was dark, almost black, and the vegetation around the base was withered and grey.
"Creepy place," Kruger commented, spitting on the ground.
"Keep your eyes open," Alex said from the back.
He was riding Nidorino while and Kruger were walking in front.
"So, Ares," Jax asked, looking back over his shoulder. "Is it true you took out an alpha Arbok solo? I heard captain Viper gave you some good rewards."
"It's true," Alex said.
"Man," Jax shook his head. "My Machop is strong, but an Arbok? That's crazy, you gotta teach me some tricks."
"Sure," Alex said.
"Trick number one.... Don't get hit."
They reached the cave entrance which was a complete fissure in the rock face,
"Torches," Alex commanded.
Jax and Kruger lit their torches.
"Duskull," Alex muttered slowly. "Perimeter."
He felt the cold shiver as his shadow detached slightly, sliding along the wall, the two thugs didn't notice.
"Ladies first," Alex gestured to the cave mouth.
Jax grunted and stepped in, Machop leading the way and Kruger followed.
Alex waited a beat, then followed.
Inside, the darkness was absolute.
Screee....
The sound of Zubats echoed from deep within.
"Just bats," Kruger laughed nervously. "Free XP."
"Keep moving," Alex said. "We need to go deep, the map says the deposits are in the lower caverns."
As they descended into the throat of the mountain, he looked at the backs of Jax and Kruger and mused internally. Lore says Moon Stones attract Fairies especially Clefairy and clefable and if there is moon stone there should probably be the Clefairy....they are cute little buggers, maybe he should catch one.....
"Hey Ares!" Jax shouted from ahead. "I see something glittering! Is this it?"
Alex rode forward. Jax was pointing at a vein of some stones in the wall.
"No," Alex said. "That's Worthless."
He looked deeper into the tunnel.
"But you're being loud," Alex noted. "And in a cave, loud is a like a dinner bell for all."
Rumble.....
The floor beneath them vibrated.
"What was that?" Kruger asked, his Mankey jumping onto his shoulder in fear.
"That," Alex said, backing Nidorino up a few steps, " is trouble."
From the darkness ahead, two pairs of eyes opened which weren't Zubat eyes, they were wide, rocky, and angry.
[ Graveler ]
[ Level: 18 ]
And behind them, the slithering sound of rock grinding on rock.
[ Onix ]
[ Level: 18 ]
"Well you asked for trouble and you got it.," Alex said calmly. "Jax, Kruger, it's time to earn your pay."
The two thugs paled, a Graveler was a massive step up from a Geodude and a freaking Onix?
"Fight!" Alex ordered, his voice cracking . "Or run back to Viper and tell him you quit."
Jax roared, terrified but trapped by his own ego. "Machop! Karate Chop!"
Kruger screamed. "Mankey! Low Kick!"
Alex just watched from the shadows but didn't engage. He watched as his meat shields charge into the pokemon.
"Let's see what this mountain is hiding," Alex whispered.
Authors Note:-
Well guys ...
We get a fight ahead, and excavation starts.
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