"Grunts One and Two, the subject is approaching. Move into position," Mars spoke softly into her comm device from her vantage point atop the Jubilife Condominiums. She could see Professor Rowan and his aide nearing Jubilife City. She could also see two of her Grunts stealthily stalking the pair. As Rowan crossed into Jubilife, Mars issued the order. "Grunts One and Two, engage."
The two Grunts leaped out from behind their cover and stood in front of Rowan and his aide, impeding their process. Mars could see the Grunts mindlessly saying what they'd rehearsed so many times, 'Now, now, Professor, we demand you comply with our demands.'
Suddenly, a young boy, maybe ten or eleven years old, approached the confrontation. "Damn it," Mars said angrily. "Deal with that kid. We don't want him interfering with our operations."
It seemed that the arrival of the young boy emboldened the professor's aide, for they teamed up and challenged the Grunts to a battle. Mars watched in horror as the two Grunts were effortlessly defeated. "Damn it! Grunts One and Two, retreat. This operation is a failure," Mars spoke bitterly into her comm.
Suddenly, a red light flashed on her comm indicating an incoming message, and she tapped the button. The voice of Commander Cyrus came through the comm. "How goes the operation, Commander Mars?" Cyrus asked.
"Commander, the operation was a failure. My operatives were defeated by mere children," Mars spat.
Instead of speaking in anger, as Mars had expected, Cyrus spoke calmly. "Interesting..." he mused. "Do you have the footage?"
"Yes, Commander."
"Send it to me now."
Mars pressed another button on her comm device. "Footage sent, Commander."
Mars could almost hear the gears turning in Cyrus's brain as he watched the footage. "Mars...I want to know who that boy is. Who he is, where he lives, everything. He is an obstacle. And all obstacles must be removed," Cyrus said coldly.
Mars swallowed. "Yes, Commander," she said, and severed the communication.
Floaroma Town, I read: The city of flowers. An apt description. Also believed to be tied somehow to the Pokemon Shaymin.
Floaroma Town, which might've been interesting if you liked flowers, had nothing that interested me and frankly, the road here had been boring ever since the strange encounter with the ones who called themselves Team Galactic. That was in the past, though. I could only keep moving on.
I walked out of Floaroma and was promptly stopped by a young girl, maybe 6 years old. "Hey, person, help me! My papa was trapped in Valley Windworks! Please help my papa! I MISS MY PAPA!"
I figured I should probably help this person, whoever she was, but I wasn't going to stick around long enough for the sparks to start flying. I made a beeline out of there to Valley Windworks, where I was promptly stopped by another member of that Team Galactic organization.
"Hey! We're pulling a big operation here, and if you don't scram, kid, I'll make you pay!" The Grunt snarled.
"Oh, yeah?" I challenged. "Muscle Man, show him who's boss." Muscle Man, a new addition to my team, is a complete boss. His Fighting attacks knock everything out of the sky. Within no time, Muscle Man had made quick work of his Glameow.
Trying to preserve his dignity, the Grunt said, "Well...you may have beaten me, but I'm going to lock myself in the Valley Windworks with the only key except for the one in Floaroma Meadow so you can't get in! Who's the loser now, punk? Hahahaha!" The Grunt ran inside and promptly locked himself in.
How.
Little.
He.
Knows.
Thanks to him, I now have the location of his partners in Floaroma Meadow, so I can proceed to beat the crap out of them, too (All the while training Muscle Man!).
Sure enough, the wimpy little Grunties get smacked around until they scream for their mommies.
"Oh, however can I thank you? You saved me from that horrible Team Galactic. Here, take my Honey, take the whole lot!" said the guy whose life I just saved. I save you, you give me honey. Crappy trade-off.
Within no time I was back at the Valley Windworks, unlocking the door. And, of course, there's the idiot Grunt standing there gawking at me.
"Damn, I am the loser after all! Curse you!" Then, like all losers, he runs to tell his superior. I can beat any superior he has, so I don't really give a crap. Soon enough, I end up before the superior.
"Hhh! You!" the woman who stood before me turned red with anger. "I know you! You ruined our operations in Jubilife City and made me look bad in front of Master Cyrus! You'll pay! But I'll make you a deal. If you win, we'll leave. If I win, you leave! Face the wrath of Commander Mars, insolent child!"
She tossed her Poke Ball into the air and a Zubat appeared. I'd dealt with enough Zubats before, but Zubat was not in Muscle Man's skill area. So I decide to have Maelstrom deal with the pathetic bat. "Go Maelstrom!"
Let's do this! Maelstrom said.
"Maelstrom, Bubblebeam!" I ordered. Maelstrom had received a significant STAB upgrade in Bubblebeam, and now virtually nothing could withstand its mighty blows. Zubat was no exception. It perished in a flurry of bubbles.
Furious, Mars called on her last Pokemon. I wasn't sure to expect, but I knew it wouldn't be good. "Go, Purugly!" Mars yelled. "Prepare to lose, kid!" Purugly hissed in agreement.
I wasn't sure Maelstrom versus Purugly would be a fair matchup, but I was fairly confident that Muscle Man could handle it relatively well. I made my decision. "Maelstrom return! Go, Muscle Man! Finish this up!"
Muscle Man pounded its chest in challenge. "Purugly, Fake Out!" Mars ordered. Purugly rushed forward and sandwiched Machop's head between its paws, causing it to flinch. Purugly, in effect, had gained a free turn without taking any damage. I was ready for its next move, though, because I knew Muscle Man could take whatever Purugly threw at it and retaliate harder.
"Purugly, Scratch!"
"Muscle Man, Karate Chop!"
Purugly landed its blow first, but Machop was ready and took the hit like a champ. With Purugly still in close quarters, Machop executed its Karate Chop attack and critted the obese cat.
"No!" Mars screamed. "It cannot be! A Team Galactic Commander, defeated by a child? It is not possible!"
"Calm down, Mars," said an old man I hadn't noticed before. He wore rounded orange glasses and a lab coat. "We've already gathered the necessary energy for our plan to come to completion. We can--"
"Shut up!" Mars screamed. "Master Cyrus may trust you, but you've only joined recently! You have yet to earn my respect, and until you do, you cannot order me around!" Mars took a deep breath. "We will retreat...for now. But be warned, this is not the last you will see of Team Galactic: you can count on that."
And without another word, Team Galactic left.