Pokemon Fan Fiction / Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ Sin City ❯ Chapter 8

Philip leads me to a nondescript storeroom. It's not a very attractive space, covered with dust and filled with cold steel crates. I can still just about hear the music:

 

Nothing's true and nothing's right/So let me be alone tonight/You can't change the way I am/Are you strong enough to be my man?

 

When I turned to see who had lead me here I was shocked.

“You're a woman.”

“With those observational skills I have to wonder why you need my help” this obvious Goth winnable says too me with a lethal sense of irony. Her hair and the Slavic features of her face matched the darkness of her clothes. A clear goddess of gloom.

“But your called Philip.”

“Philippa. Philippa Marshall. I wish I could say I'm pleased to meet you but you've already told me you feel a mere woman isn't good enough to work under a gym leader.”

An Umbreon, beautifully sleek and dangerous, like Philippa herself, came through the door the door that lead to the place I hadn't been to yet. It joined it's master, standing at her side.

“This is my Pokemon, Lady Midnight, also female.”

“Whatever she tells you about me is a lie” I say to the Umbreon.

“Umbreon breon breon.”

“She doesn't like you.”

The Umbreon walks back to where it came from.

“That makes another rejection by a girl to add to my list.”

“We both do just what we want. It's a perfect arrangement. My gym uses dark Pokemon.”

“I really apologise for my apparent chauvinism. It was your name that fooled me” I say. I remember being teased at school for the polite attitude that I had and my fellow students didn't. I kept up my penitent demeanour anyway. I feel it's the right thing to do, even in front of this stone fox. However I find my self rapidly running out of patience.

“I forgive you. I was just testing you to see if you can cope with me. We'll be spending a lot more time together.”

“I know I smiled at you earlier but I think your being too optimistic.”

“I didn't mean it personally.”

I study my watch.

“Adam has arrived at my gym. See, it only takes ten seconds. Why do we need to spend time together?”

“Adam hasn't arrived at my gym yet. How long did that take?”

“More time than it will take me to walk out of here.”

“That lock is surprisingly stiff. Did you take that into acount?”

“This is the door. Watch me use it.”

“Fine but I hope you realize that's a broom closet.”

“What do you want?”

“I want a favour.”

“I'm not that desperate.”

“You really are proud of your sexual prowess aren't you?”

“I try not to fly in the face of public opinion.”

“I had a work related favour in mind.”

“I knew you were really a prostitute. Why do these things always happen to me? I hoped I at least had better taste.”

“I think we've been talking at cross purposes. I want you to get me a promotion. I want my own gym.”

“Remind me exactly when I gained influence on the Pokemon world. Oh, wait, I didn't.”

“I don't want someone who has influence. I want someone who can win a logical debate on behalf of his client.”

“I'm no expert on thinking on my feet. It takes weeks to prepare a court argument. I'm better at that. Meowth was always the one who could size up a person in a second and use his knowledge to his own ends.”

“You'll have a little while. I'll help you create your strategy.”

“Suppose I am capable of doing it, why would I want to? You haven't impressed with your motivational techniques so far.”

“Because if you don't do for me perhaps I won't do for you. I can do a lot. I can summon Meowth to my gym very quickly. You won`t have to wait for him to reach it on his own. Then, again, I can do nothing.”

“Some would call this extortion.”

“I can assure you everyone would call it extortion. So how about it?”

“If I want to find Meowth I assume I don't have a choice. It`s a deal.”

“That's what I like to hear.”

My cell phone rings, so I look around for some place in the room which would have afforded privacy. It's futile.

“If you want me I'll be in the closet.”

“I know you said you weren't interested in my body earlier but I at least assumed it was nothing to do with my gender. I suppose I was wrong.”

“Shut up.”

“Well that's an original sentiment.”

“I need to take this call.”

_________________________________________________________________ _______

 

I answer my phone amongst the janitorial products.

“This is Giovanni. I want to know about your progress.”

I tried to stall to avoid revealing the recent complication.

“What would you like to know about my progress?”

He laughed.

“Telling me what you've achieved thus far will be adequate.”

“I have succeeded in one way. I made contact with someone who knows where Adam might be in an indeterminate amount of time.”

“Surely you have a vague determination as to how long we're talking about.”

“Sir, did anyone ever tell you you sound more intimidating on the phone?”

“I need to sound tough in front of the junior personnel. I apologise for doing it to you. You don't need that type of motivation. So, progress?”

“Adam will be at a certain gym anytime between the next few days and the next couple of years.”

“I see. So when you said you had succeeded in one way, you meant you managed to pin point the length of your assignment to the nearest decade? Somehow I expected more.”

“I think he can be summoned to the right place quickly.”

“That's more encouraging.”

“Yes sir but there's a small complication.”

“I wonder, with a due sense of dread, what that can be.”

“The person I'm in contact with wants her own gym, so I have to argue on her behalf in front of the elite four. They're the ones who decide these things right?”

“Yes. Now sometimes I admit I can be too harsh. Of course some eventualities are out of your hands. I trusted you with a complicated assignment when you consider all the possibilities for human error.”

“Thank you for being so understanding.”

“Fine. Take all the time you need. This isn't a sinecure though, so if it takes forever I certainly can't continue paying you forever. Understand?”

“Yes. You've made it abundantly clear.”

“Just to keep you on track I've decided to come and personally help out.”

“That's very kind of you sir but perhaps you'd be more helpful once I've actually located Meowth.”

“I'm sure I could assist with the research.”

“I'm not sure that I can work well when…”

“…I'm breathing down your neck?”

“Of course not sir. I…”

“Good. I'll meet you in the Pikachu café, Pallet Town, tomorrow at 10 am. I turn up punctually. I admire others you do that also. Please let me admire you. You already work for me so it will be most convenient that way.”

“I'll be looking forward too it.”

“Oh, and drop the penitent act. I'm not that blinded by egotism.”

“Yes sir.”

_________________________________________________________________ _______

 

“How did your little phone call go?” Philippa asks as I emerge.

“Like the British BSE epidemic.”

“Did you enjoy the closet though? The decorator spent hours…”

“Do you want me to start planning the strategy for getting you a position as a gym leader or not?”

“No but since there's no one else…”

“I could go and get one of the winos who called me a “Homo” while I was waiting for you. I'm sure his persuasive powers are beyond reproach.”

“Fine. Let's just get on with it.”

“I assume I need to get the elite four to back you. Is that enough?”

“Yes but you don't have to reach all of them. Just Lance. He's their spokesman.”

“Fine. Well, first I need to know his weaknesses.”