Chapter 14: Checkmate

Section 14: Checkmate

Silence settles after the ship's departure.

But it's not over.

I follow my reasoning to the end.

The blind spots.

Where the beam doesn't reach.

Where Team Rocket didn't venture because it was too complicated for them.

They don't seek difficulty.

They seek efficiency.

I take another path.

I move into these forgotten areas, where the trees intertwine into a barrier so dense that even light struggles to pass through.

As I advance, my hypothesis becomes a certainty.

91% chance that I'm right.

The rest, I leave to chance.

I open my Poké Balls.

— Bulbasaur. Rattata. This time, it's your turn to play.

They nod, ready to participate. This fight isn't just about me. It's about all the Pokémon in this forest.

I write a message on the back of my map:

To Pewter City Police,

A ship flies over Viridian Forest every night. A man disguised as a policeman gets off. He kidnaps Pokémon.

The ship returns around 3 PM.

Catch them.

No signature.

No trace linking this message back to me.

Why 3 PM?

Because that's the time I first saw that man in uniform.

And everything lines up.

That's probably when they return the Pokémon they deem unworthy and take off toward another destination.

I'm sure of it.

I hand the note to Rattata.

— Take this to the police. Quick and discreet.

He takes the card in his teeth and darts off.

Now, I just have to hope he completes his mission before the enemy returns.

The operation begins now.

— Bulbasaur, Sweet Scent.

A gentle breeze stirs.

A sweet fragrance spreads between the trunks, caressing the air with an enchanting softness.

The leaves tremble.

And soon, they appear.

Caterpie. Metapod. Butterfree. Weedle. Kakuna. Beedrill.

Dozens of Pokémon drawn to the alluring scent.

But as my gaze sweeps over them, a different silhouette emerges from the bushes.

A golden shimmer, a rare presence.

I hold my breath.

A Pikachu… shiny.

I knew it.

From the beginning, I knew Team Rocket never targets humans who don't uncover their plans.

They target Pokémon.

It's no surprise.

That's their way.

They wouldn't take the risk of coming back every day unless it was for something exceptional.

A legendary Pokémon? Impossible. They would have scoured the entire forest with more sophisticated equipment.

A regular Pikachu? Too common for them.

No…

What they're hunting is a Shiny Pokémon.

The chances of encountering one are tiny.

And yet, here it is, standing before me.

But another question gnaws at me.

How did they know it was here?

My mind races, but I don't have time to dwell on it.

— Poké Ball, go!

The orb cuts through the air, but Pikachu dodges with a graceful leap, its golden sparks illuminating its path.

Yet, it remains drawn to Bulbasaur's scent.

I change tactics.

— Vine Whip, now!

Bulbasaur's vines coil around Pikachu, gently lifting it away from the Sweet Scent's range.

I stare at it, expressionless, though inside, a quiet excitement pulses through me.

It's the first time I've seen a Pokémon like this.

The first time I've caught one.

I pull out a treat and extend it.

Pikachu hesitates, then takes it, its golden cheeks crackling softly.

I crouch to its level.

— Stay with me. I'll protect you.

It stares at me for a moment, then lets out a cheerful "Pikaaa!" and enters the Poké Ball on its own.

Click.

A thrill of satisfaction runs through me.

But the game isn't over.

Rattata returns from his mission.

Without the note.

He delivered it to Pewter City.

Everything is ready.

From now on… they're trapped.

---

9 AM.

I decide to rest.

The plan is in place.

But at 2:27 PM, my instincts flare up.

I pack up my tent.

Then, a noise rustles through the vegetation.

At that moment, a cry pierces the sky.

I look up.

Fearow and Pidgeot, flying in formation.

The aerial police.

They've come.

2:56 PM.

A sinister hum rumbles in the distance.

The ship approaches, ready to drop off the discarded Pokémon.

But this time… it won't take off again.

A storm of Whirlwinds erupts around the vessel.

The air twists, the nets snap under the pressure, freeing the Pokémon without harming them.

Then, with a heavy crash, the ship crashes in the heart of the forest.

The men onboard stumble out of the wreckage, in terrible shape.

The police seize them instantly.

The plan worked.

But a second later…

BOOM!

An explosion shakes the forest.

The pilot sacrificed himself, leaving no evidence behind.

But they lost.

And I won without losing a single piece.

Suddenly, a bitter smell fills the air.

I turn my head.

A fire.

Flames creep between the trees, ready to consume everything.

But the police react immediately.

A Poliwrath is released.

Rain Dance.

Hydro Pump.

Water crashes down on the flames, extinguishing them before they can ravage the forest.

My eyes scan the battlefield.

The criminals, captured.

The ship, destroyed.

The Shiny Pikachu, saved.

Mission accomplished.

Checkmate.

I turn away and head toward Pewter City.