victory_road

Hey, guys. Riku here. Most of you guys probably won't remember, but years ago, there used to be a group called the PGC- that's Pokemon Guardian Corps, and we were dedicated to keeping the peace and fighting Team Rocket.

Back then, the Rockets were actively causing crimes every few months. Bomb threats being their bread and butter. Pretty sure that particular Rocket's long gone, but with these recent crime waves... well. I'm starting to think we need to be more proactive again.

Not sure how many have taken matters like this into their own hands. There's already a post up that gave some info on the recent crimes. That tells me that we're dealing with at least one or two Psychic type Pokemon, so if you can, I recommend getting your hands on some Dark Types for your own safety. Pokemon with the abilities Shadow Tag or Arena Trap are good options, too- to prevent the teleporting. Mean Look if you don't have the ability, preferably on something fast like a Haunter or Gengar.

Personally, though? We've got a lot of tough trainers. Aurora League members, longtime residents, but... I know a lot of you "newer" trainers are competent in your own right. I haven't taken enough steps to really get to know a lot of you, but I don't think this is something we need to restrict to people with teams of level 100's.

There's strength in numbers, and if the cops aren't gonna pull their weight, then I think a concentrated effort to push back is the way to go. So if anyone's interested in a PGC revival, lemme know. Maybe we can hash things out from there. And if you've got any more intel on the crimes, I think this is a good spot to share the details and maybe hash out some strategies.

There's... also some sensitive info I got from a former Rocket back in the day that might be worth discussing, but that's something I wanna keep to a private line. I already know Rockets hide in plain sight- and not all of 'em are willing to turn on the organization like he did.

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Actually, that's not a bad idea. We already got someone volunteering to make costumes, but as for aliases...

Gonna need to do some thinking on that. Nicknaming Pokemon's one thing, but me? Ha. Best I ever got was "Foofyku" from an old friend, and that's not exactly flattering.

I'd say the intel's still pretty useful, though. Location of the Rocket base, for one. Kinda doubtful they've changed it when the Jennies see it all as baseless rumors.

But the old PGC infiltrated once, and that was back when we still had people like Cobra Commander and that one weirdo who gave out poisoned cookies on Christmas Eve.

I'd be willing to help people brainstorm. If nothing else, I read a lot of superhero comics as a kid, so I'm familiar with the conventions of the genre.

[It's a good thing he's doing this via text, he think, staring down at the screen. He doesn't have to hide his appalled expression when he reads that Riku knows where their base is located.]

Ah. Off the record, is it okay for me to ask *where* it is?

Genre savviness, huh? Not a bad thing to have. Especially in a place like this.

[Riku's been around the block long enough to pick up on the social trends here. Friendship, love, positive thinking, adventure, all that... Wouldn't be that outta place in a comic, come to think of it.

And some of his old friends did say there were games like this.

As is, he's none the wiser that he's talking to a Rocket.]

Goldenrod Radio Tower. We've known about it for years. ...well, I say "we" but I think only a handful of the old guard are even around anymore, if that.

Part of why we haven't made many moves since. It's risky business as it is. Not the kinda thing we'd wanna jump right into.

[No. No no no no no no no no fuck.

Okay. Okay, shit. This is... this is really not good. It's not just some random base under one of the other big cities that Riku knows about. It's Steven's own base. The one he turns his quota in to. The one he brings his heist pokemon to. The one he met his live-in boyfriend through. The one that gave him employee health care and a company credit card.

Fuck.

Oh shit and he's publicly admitted to working for the Radio Tower multiple times. To all kinds of people. This is just... fuck. Fuck.

Okay. Okay, no, he can handle this. If nothing else, text conversation hides a multitude of sins. And if he's going to pull this off, a long, shocked silence is perfectly in character.]

I

Fuck

Riku? I *work* at the Goldenrod Radio Tower. In the newsroom. Are you saying...

Oh Jesus fucking Christ.

[He can do this. He was a damn fine actor in college. He's played the bewildered yet good-hearted young man more times than he can name and even if he's aged out of those roles, he still knows how to play the type.]

Riku? I think... I think I might be working for Team Rocket.

[To Steven's credit, Riku has no reason to suspect him. He reads the message carefully, and...

The seeming surprise? The dread? Sold. It might be a Ren situation.]

...Shoot. Figures they'd keep it all under wraps, too. Put on a show. Make it seem like it's just business as usual in Goldenrod's premiere media hub.

For what it's worth- I doubt that's your fault. Team Rocket's got everyone fooled. Even law enforcement.

But I'd be careful. I've seen the Rockets at their worst. I know they don't pull punches, even if some of the local grunts are a joke.

Yeah. I... yeah. I get it. I mean, sure, it's easy to laugh them off when people post vids of Jennies chasing them with Yackety-Sax (or whatever this world's equivalent is called) as the soundtrack on Staryutube, but some Rocket assholes gave my friend *a goddamn concussion*.

Jesus, Riku. The Radio Tower owns a lot of the property on that block, not just the Tower itself. How many of the businesses inside are just fronts for Team Rocket? God, I've got *friends* who work at places who rent from the Tower. And I *like* my boss. I like my coworkers. They're-- I *thought* they were good people. Some of them *have* to be, right? Not everyone at the Tower's got to be a goddamn Rocket. *Some* of us have to be just-- normal people just trying to work in their field, right?

*God*.

Do you-- Shit. Do you need me to... I don't know. Keep my eyes and ears open at work?

I'm sure there are good people who don't realize what they're doing. I've known ex-Rockets who didn't ask to be part of their gang, either, and had to work under the radar. From what I understand, Rocket's cutthroat, especially when it comes to potential traitors.

Ren was... cautious for a reason.

If you can keep an eye out, that's great, but only as long as it doesn't jeopardize your own safety. We don't know each other that well, so I'm not gonna demand you dive right in and start leaching all their top secret intel.

Even small leads are important, and in a position like yours, I'd say keeping a good rapport with you bosses is crucial in these early stages.

Yeah. Don't worry. I don't want to get the world of pokemon equivalent of cement shoes anymore than you do.

My bosses *do* like me. I'll just-- make sure they keep liking me.

(And I'm so glad that Tyler's leaving his job to concentrate on running Fight Club next and training his team for Kanto. His data collection was in one of those Tower-owned buildings.)

Edited 2020-08-21 04:56 (UTC)

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