...the Pokeball stops moving. Lines move across it- fading from view. The Pokeball vanishes to his PC Box at his house in a locked room which no one can enter but him. Mallard continues to complain about his hurt ankle. Jack slides the door open, gets in, closes it, and turns the engine on again. Tires squeal as Jack makes a fast u-turn to head back to Cherrygrove City. Everyone must be at his house by now. Hopefully, the meeting hadn't started yet.
The loud engine shuts off in the garage of Jack's home. A few people appear at the garage door entrance, looking at the people having arrived.
Mik is the first to speak. "You found him."
"I want to go to the hospital!" Mallard yells loudly.
Disturbed from his constant yelling, Jack sighs. "I told you, there isn't one close enough by. Just put ice on it for now."
"Better yet," Mik begins to say, "we have a nurse with us that can heal him and put a cast on it." What are the chances a nurse would actually be at the meeting? And why?
Two other people help Mallard out of the car and carry him into the house. Carefully moving through the hallway, they set Mallard down on the leather couch.
The garage door closes and the few people walk back inside the house making their way to the backyard. A woman in her late forties wearing a nice white apron and red bandana kneels by Mallard and examines the ankle.
"Does this hurt?"
Mallard winces. "Of course it does"
After a while, she uses gauze to wrap around the injured ankle, and places a zip lock bag of cold ice on it while he lies on the couch. No cast for now, this will have to do until he can be taken to a hospital for a cast.
"It doesn't look that bad. Maybe a minor fracture." She smiles.
Mallard suggests that they take the couch outside so he can participate in the talk. So Mik and another guy pick the leather couch up and lift it outside.
"Man, you are heavy." Mik jokes to Mallard who ignores it.
The screen door closes, and now everyone is in the backyard, either sitting or standing. Three people around the Billiard Table, four sitting, Mallard on the couch, and three other people standing, talking at the �stage' spot. Jack stands at the screen door, looking around. There are quite a lot of people here and he recognized some of them.
The trio standing near the �stage' turn around and the one with purple hair moves out of the way as the other two gain the attention of the people. They both wear suits, no ties; more of a casual suit. Both guys, the smaller one with light green waves in blond hair and the taller with light red waves in brown hair.
"Ok, let's get this meeting started." The taller suit speaks to the group. Everyone calms down; the Billiard table becomes silent; and Mallard quits complaining about his ankle.
They guy with purple hair takes the �stage'. "Ok, welcome to the meeting of Team Elite. You are probably wondering why you are here. Hopefully, you've been partially informed which has caught your attention enough to come to this meeting. For now, I will explain what is really going on." He looks around the group of people, all watching him, waiting to hear what he has to say. "War has broken out among the different social classes and these two next to me have turned it into a competition. Different teams participate in this underground battle organization and the winning team gets ten million dollars split among the team members."
A hush goes around the people about this surprise amount of money.
"Yes, this is a great prize and I want to win it. But it's not just about the money. I want to join this war to calm down the fighting and protect the innocent lives that may get in the way. With a prize like that, there is bound to be some mischief from the evil organizations which will do anything to get what they want, no matter the outcome. Plus as a team of elite members, there is no way we can lose this war."
Silence. No one says anything.
"Ok then. Now I will go through each person and introduce them and why I chose them for this team." He starts on his left, which is where the couch is located and Mallard rests atop of it. "Mallard, age 30. A resident genius of Pokemon products and great new researcher in the world. His power of invention and engineering will give us a great opportunity at using items to help our quest. And with his knowledge of the business world, he can manipulate it so we profit enough to stay a team."
He looks at the group of four sitting next to each other. "Patricia, age 43. A nurse of Pokemon and humans alike, she can heal anyone. The most experience nurse of both kinds to exist today gaining her knowledge as a young adult in the World War as a nurse. She also has vast battling experience and loves to battle for fun. With her on the team, we won't need to waste trips at the Pokemon Center that much."
The next person he looks at wears a set of shades cooly across his face. Spiked brown hair and a clean set of new clothes, this is the next person to be introduced. "Kurt, age 20. He is a member of the Elite Four, the youngest member in it's history. With great battling strategies and a killer team of Pokemon, he has almost become unbeatable when challenged to Battle. His sense of style and cool manor keep him well prepared in this world. He does tend to shoot off first, and ask questions later, but that seems to work for him."
Next, he looks at a female, wearing a green sash around her neck, and a green dress down to her ankles. Her long black hair shines in the light. "Kat, age 36. A former Elite member having retired a year ago. She owns the most variety of Pokemon I have ever seen. She has experienced a lot through her years and knows what it takes to be a leader."
And the last of the four sitting together is an older fellow, grey hair with a red and blue striped corduroy shirt and button down brown pants. "Mik, age 51. Another member of the Elite Four and close to retiring. He dislikes most things but when I told him about this war, he couldn't wait to join."
Mik interrupts him with a monotone voice. "I hope this isn't a waste of my time."
"Don't worry, it won't be."
He then looks at Jack, still standing at the screen door. "Jack, age 22. A recent victor over our Elite's. He is fresh and knows what is going on. His battle style is very unique but it works for him. And in a growing world of new trainers, I think he is one we should look out for. There is something about him that all us Elite's find interesting, although we don't know what it is."
Jack reddens from such nice words about himself.
Now to the Billiard table. First up is a guy with flaming red hair and wearing a coat like a military general and stars across the jacket. "Kev, age 34. He ran the Johto League Organization and Brave Employees Now (ooc: put the initials together and you get JLO and BEN :P) back in the early 80's but now he is the Major General of Tactical Pokemon for Us (initials: TP4U :/). A real Major General of war, he is a master of the army and would be a great asset to have on our journey. With battle plans drawn up, we can't fail."
Scottie would be the next person. "Scottie, age 21. He has traveled to every league in our surrounding area and then some. He may not be as successful as most of us, but he has traveling experience and who knows where this war might take us. He knows every secret of the Leagues and will aid us in our search to become champion."
And the last person, the youngest looking, with fuzzy blond hair nicely uncombed. He smiles with a comical face, almost causing Jack to laugh. "Finally, there is Clark, age 16. Having been a Pokemon Watcher since he was 7, his experience in watching Pokemon without them knowing is spectacular. With that unique ability, he can spy on people and other things like that and not get caught. On a less serious note, he prefers a joke to anything."
Everyone looks at Clark, waiting for a joke.
"What? The only reason I'm here is because my Father is his brother," pointing to the speaker, "and when Father went to the Psychiatric Ward, I went into his custody. So keep listening to purple hair over there so we can get this carnival show on the road." A few chuckles go around. Clark rolls his eyes. "Yea, very funny. How about I laugh at your dead parents?" He smiles and everyone shut's up.
"Yes, well, I guess that's it." Mik coughs pointing to the speaker with the purple hair. "Oh, right. I should introduce myself. I am Mark, age 37, also of the Elite Four. My specialty is Psychic Pokemon and I have a unique link to the psychic abilities. I can use it to my advantage and shape the world how I see fit. With limits, of course."
Silence.
"Now we are finished with that, I leave for you guys to question or comment."
Clark mutters. "You guys talk, I'll observe while I play myself pool." He sets up the table.
"I got something to say." Mik stands up. "Is there anything those two people have to say. Why not introduce yourselves instead of standing there like corporate leader statues."
The two in suits look at each other in the challenge to talk. The red streaked hair guy goes first.
"I am Mr. E. and this is my counterpart, Kim." Kim smiles and nods. "With our vast fortunes of money, we combined to create a League of War. We are the sole owners and profiteers... I mean entrepreneurs."
Kurt continues the questions. "How do you win?"
This time, Kim steps forward. "The last remaining team wins. There are two ways to defeat other teams. One is to have the members eliminated which can be by death, but hopefully not, and the second is the members are captured as POW's(prisoners of war). The last way, which we hope doesn't happen, is for us to declare the winner. This happens if the Police become to far involved and the war is fully exposed. We don't want that. And of course, a team may pull out at any time and quit."
Jack speaks up after Kim finishes. "How can you profit from this if you two don't gain any money from the war?"
Mr. E takes this one. "Well, first off, for each member of the team, we must get paid $5,000 by the team leader. Which is why not just anyone can be a member unless the team can afford it. And the other ways we get money is our secret."
A roar comes from the Billiard Table. Red-haired Kev slams his fist on the table, not hurting it but moving all the billiard balls out of place.
"Hey, watch the table. I'm playin' here." Clark responds.
Kev speaks with a serious tone, "This is insane. I won't participate in something so illegal. I can't believe you convinced me to come this far." He points to everyone. "You can all rot and die for even considering joining a war. I should know." He growls at Mark for the invite and marches off around the right corner of Jack's house and vacates the area in his Hummer.
Mark is startled but knows what to say. "Anymore questions?" No one answers. "Very well. Decision time. Who will join Team Elite?" The remaining people sit and stare around the yard, pondering the question.
Mallard, "With part of ten million dollars, I could get that super lab I've always wanted. I'm in."
Scottie, "You already know my answer. I helped get this together."
Mik, "Team Elite must have elite members. Me and Kurt are in as we discussed."
Kurt nods in response. "Time to defeat all the new trainers out there and send them home crying to their parents."
Patricia, "I'm involved too far to get out. I enjoy you all so much I can't let you get hurt. I'll help."
Kat, "Can't do it. I'm retired from the world. I just want my peace and quiet."
Jack, "I don't know. A chunk of money is nice to have. But a war is terrible. But if this war becomes too big, I must protect the ones I love here in Cherrygrove City and Vermillion City. Maybe..."
Clark, "Like I have a choice. I guess this won't be so bad after all. This League of Extraordinary Gentlemen shall prevail."
Patricia smiles gently, "There is a woman part of this team. We are not all gentlemen."
"Ya, speak for Mik." Patricia chuckles as old Mik stares Clark down for saying that. "Ah, you know I'm just kidding."
Having everyone answer, Mr. E takes a piece of paper from his suit coat and places it on the coffee table in front of him. "Signing this makes this a legal team by our account of being here. Every member that wishes to join now must sign." Mark takes the pen, breathes in, and signs the paper. Following him, everyone but Jack and Kat sign the paper.
Jack looks down at Kat in the chair to his right. "Retired? I guess you have all the money you could want then." She nods. "It would be nice to not work as hard through life." He can't get out of his head that he has the possibility of dying. Why should he risk his life just so he can gain more money to spend on what he can only dream? Is he really ready to retire life this early?
"Are we finished yet? I want to play someone a game of pool."
A voice shouts from around the corner, "It's called Billiards you fool!" Everyone throws their head to the left side of the house where the voice came from.
Kurt runs to the side to see and pudgy man and a teen standing crouched by the wall, leaned against house. "Intruders." Without thinking, Kurt grabs a Pokeball from his belt and sends it out. It's a Raticate, and a slick looking one at that.
The man begs, "Please don't hurt us."
Now everyone, except Mallard who can't move much on the couch and Clark who doesn't care, look their way to the left side of the house, trying to see what is going on.
Marks calls, "Bring him over here Kurt."
Jack flips down his sunglasses to get a look at the spies. He quickly recognizes the two people and throws his sunglasses back on.
"I know them. That's Barry and his son Al. He works the sports store in town."
Barry waves his arms at Kurt, who is ready to sick his Raticate at them. "Please, I can explain. I heard about the meeting and wanted to see what it was about. Jack and I are close friends and I felt I needed to know."
The little teen Al with short black hair and a dark shirt and black shorts steps forward. "Jack is like family to us."
Mark takes control of the situation. "Please, let's get out of the sun. Inside." He points to Jack, Al and Barry to go in while the rest stay outside.
Struggling, the group retains it's original position under the patio.
The four wander into the empty television room, where the couch used to be. They each sit down in a circle of sorts.
Mark questions Barry. "Why are you here?"
*SIGH* "We went through that. I want to see what the meeting was about. And now that I know, I want to join."
Al jumps up, "Me too!"
Mark looks at Jack for an answer. This is a very awkward situation. "You guys really listened to the wrong conversation. This is not something for a father and a son to join. You have no idea what could happen to each other. Plus what use could you two possibly have?"
Jack speaks on their behalf, interrupting Barry from answering. "They come from the Hoenn League and have many Pokemon from there. With that element of surprise, the opponents wouldn't know what hit them. Al has the most knowledge about those Pokemon, and he has shown me in battles. Something like that is very helpful." Barry smiles uncomfortably and Al smiles.
"I don't know..."
"Well, here's an easy answer. You guys are only joining because I am. So I won't join this Team. I can't see you guys helping."
Mark shakes his head. "Jack, you have to join. You know what you did by having this meeting at your house? If word spreads where the meeting took place, the war will come to this city. You will be involved one way or another. So if you want to protect the ones you care about," he looks at Barry and Al, "then you must join to defend the innocent lives. That is what Team Elite is about. You are marked no matter what."
He is right. Jack can't escape this war. If it's going to be as massive as the two in suits were saying, then what hope can this little city survive against a war? Jack must do his duty to the town he has entrusted his living to. He must protect life. "You got me."
"Great," Mark smiles. "But what about these two?"
Jack takes a moment to think. "Well, they want to protect me and make sure I'm ok. But Barry has a business to run. Plus when I'm away, he can watch my house and inform us of any possible Teams in Cherrygrove city. Al's knowledge of Pokemon from that Hoenn League will be very helpful. Most likely, none of us know that much about them. He has to come along with us and teach us these new Pokemon. A team of elites should be the best."
Mark nods. "Agreed."
Barry stands his bulky body up, "I would be honored to be watchman. What about you, my son"
Al couldn't be happier. "An adventure, that's my kind of fun." The other three sigh and sweet drop.
Mark still has to think about it.
"Please! I will do my best sir. Jack needs someone to watch his back. Please!!!" Al's begging is good.
Barry also speaks. "Yes, Jack is his role model and he can't let him do this on his own. If not me, than except my son." Very persistent.
"Alright. You're in." Al claps his hands once. "But only Al will officially join. Barry won't actually be helping that much to the effort."
Barry has no problem with that.
The quadruple get up and wander back outside. Barry and Al stand next to the Billiard Table. Everyone stares at them. The two look at a smiling Clark.
"You guys aren't very good Pokemon Watchers like I am." Clark smirks at Al. "Even the C.S.I wouldn't know I was there eavesdropping." They ignore him.
Mark regains the �stage'. "Ok, another member. Al is joining our team."
Kurt pops up, "You're insane. He's a kid. I defeat people like him for breakfast."
"This is an outrage!" Mik wasn't too happy with it either. "We are the Elite's of Pokemon, not babysitters."
Jack knew this might strike controversy. A kid in a war is never a good thing.
Mark takes charge. "Hey, he can help. His knowledge of the Hoenn Pokemon can decide if we win or lose. I was skeptical at first, but they pleaded with me to let him join."
"There's nothing more pathetic than a grown man begging." Clark has no problem saying it. Clark doubles back. "Never mind, there is. Accepting a beggar is plain pathetic."
Psychic waves soar through the air and hit Clark's mind. "Behave yourself."
Clark psychically answers back. "Make me." Clark grabs his head as it begins to pound like a drum - louder and louder - from Mark's psychic energy. He falls to the grass floor. "Brain aneurism! Brain aneurism!"
Everyone turns to see Clark on the ground. "Ignore him, he will be fine in a minute." Mark directs Al to sign the paper and he does. "Since I don't who you are, please stat your name, age and information about yourself."
"Ok." He gulps and faces the crowd of older people. "I'm Al. I am sixteen years old. We moved here from Hoenn three years ago. I actually won two badges from that league but I lost them on the move here. My goal is to become a great trainer like Jack was."
"Is!" Jack says, to replace the word �was'.
The wind blows by for one second, almost taking the signed paper with it. In that wind Kat, disappears.
"So this is our Team Elite. Myself, Mallard, Kurt, Patricia, Mik, Al, Jack, Clark and Scottie." Mark hands the paper to the Al and Jack, as they both sign, Jack a little hesitant. Then he takes it to the two suits and they sign the very bottom of it.
"You are now an official team. There are no real rules, just don't overdo anything. Do not spread the word of this war. Keep those two that left under raps." Kim and Mr. E tread backward, toward the trees. "And now we leave you. Any new members to join, read the pamphlet I left in your mail box. You have one day to prepare yourself. When Team Elite is announced in the Team War Nightly News, you are officially official." The two disappear in style, going through the bushes and gone. Moments later, a helicopter lifts off and flies to the distance of the sunset.
Mark heads the group. "Break time. Everyone take a rest."
"That's all I've been doing since I got here." Mallard complains again. "And someone get me some more ice. These have melted."
"Right away." Patricia smiles friendly and gets up to go inside to the freezer to get more ice.
Everyone still outside shakes each other's hand, mingling with small chat. The meeting is over, and a new beginning is due to start. What they do during this war is completely up to them. The goal of winning at each of their hearts but different ways of obtaining it lie within.
Everyone separated very quickly. No one wanted to stick around and talk anymore that night. The next day they are all going to continue by figuring out what to do next. And more importantly, read what the pamphlet has to say. This is truly and new adventure, and one Jack is not sure about but knows he will do his best.
