Discrimination

[Teal'c]

Discrimination
A continuation of Intolerance...

Book 1: Intolerance
Book 2: Discrimination

Prologue:
One month later...

It's good to be the king.

It's a wonderful feeling knowing that you control how the world works. That you control what can appear on TV, what jobs are on the market.

Which creatures live and which creatures die.

It's exhilarating to exercise your power over a personal little army which parades around your kingdom as "law enforcement".

The knowledge that you are the undisputed leader of the world. Knowing that any uprising would be futile with the resources at your hand.

And it is indescribable to even begin telling the feelings flowing through your body as you control the censorship and powers of the world. Most think that your power ends with your money and influence.

But they would be wrong.

Your power ends with the spheres hidden on your person. In these spheres contain the powers of nature. Ready to act at a single movement.

That is how it felt to be Hugo Lavir, who sat in the director's chair at KAPA HQ, pushing his slick black fringe out of his eyes as he watched the door at the other side of the office open. An older balding man in a suit was placing his bowler hat on the hat rack near the door when he noticed Hugo.

"Ah, James," Hugo smiled, getting up from the chair. "So good to see you again."

James didn't seem to agree as he watched Hugo stride over to him. "You said you wouldn't bother me again. That my leadership of KAPA would be uninterrupted by you."

Hugo's smile remained glued to his face. "Of course, my friend. I didn't come to bother you at all, and I would never dream of interrupting your leadership," he sat on a green chair opposite to where he had been sitting and gestured to his original chair. "Please, have a seat."

James reluctantly sat, still glaring at Hugo. His hands sat folded on the desk. "Well?"

"Well, what?" Hugo asked, his smile fading James's rudeness.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" James asked, not trying to hide his negative attitude.

"James," Hugo began, seeming sincerely offended. "Do I have to have any reason to come and visit my old friend?"

"We aren't friends," he stated bluntly.

"Oh alright," Hugo's smile reappeared and he stood up and began pacing. "I have heard of the five 'disappearances' of our KAPA agents. I was wondering if you solved that mystery," he picked up a stress ball off James's desk. "After all, I'm not financing this operation so that you can get people killed."

James remained silent.

"I also know that three were in pursuit of a Bulbasaur when the second incident occurred," he squeezed the ball tightly. "As you know when a Bulbasaur evolves into a Venusaur it can be very powerful."

James stared at his shoes.

"When you sent some of your 'best' men out there," he continued, his voice beginning to get louder. "We lost several rare Pokemon including a Magmar and an Electabuzz. The last thing we need is for those Pokemon to go missing if we have a freaking Venusaur on the loose!"

Hugo moved his hand back past his head.

"And I don't tolerate that sort of failure when it costs me and my company money!"

He threw the ball rather hard at James, who got hit in the head. It was now that he finally spoke up.

"I am sorry, Mr. Lavir," he whimpered. "I will get KAPA back into shape, sir. I will get you more rare Pokemon, sir."

Hugo growled. "I really should do something about your failure," he sighed and grinned. "But luckily I'm feeling merciful today. Get your team back into shape."

He walked over to the door.

"Mr Lavir, sir," James spoke up once more. "My people report that there have been sightings of a Dragonite being ridden by a man... these were around the same time frames and areas as the disappearances."

A Dragonite? Hugo frowned, still facing away from James. He would have to look into it. That kind of opposition could poke holes in his well played plans.

And what of the Bulbasaur? If it was being trained it could have easily evolved into an Ivysaur by now.

"Sir?"

"Have your team look into the situation. Train some Ice-type Pokemon to fight the Dragonite," he thought of a new plan and smirked. "Go with them to the training grounds to inspect progress."

"Yes, sir."

Hugo closed the door behind him and turned to a guard, who was armed with a rather large assault rifle. One of James's bodyguard's he assumed. But loyal not to James but to KAPA and their real leaders.

"When he gets to the training grounds, kill him. Have an Ice Pokemon freeze him so that it looks like an unfortunate accident. The media will have a field day if they think a Pokemon did it."

Hugo walked into an elevator to the bottom floor and proceeded out of the building. He climbed into a limousine which was waiting for him.

Hugo looked back to the top floor, to James's window and smirked once more.

When you feel fear the media can cover it up with lies.

Lies hide the truth.

Lies hide fear.

[Sarah]

Oooh scary.
Why do bad guys always have slick hair? xD
Anyway, good work. I like the last few lines. Very nice.
Keep it up. xD

[Teal'c]

Why not? xD

Thanks, Sarah. I will definitely write some more. If the kid I'm babysitting tomorrow doesn't keep me busy, expect a new chapter.

[Teal'c]

Chapter One:
Present day...

Joel recalled Solar into his Poke Ball once they had finally reached Pallet Town, feeling a little sad that he was now on his own again. He closed the GPS and checked the time on his phone before putting it away.

It was two in the morning.

Joel yawned. He hadn't slept well the night before and had ignored Sandra's advice about resting further before his trek. But he was too restless to consider sleeping in the day time. This also made him wonder whether he get any more time for rest on his adventure. He sure hoped so.

Pallet Town was much smaller than Viridian City and Pewter City, that was for sure, only having a population of 1100 people. There were no tall buildings or office complexes, and Joel figured he'd be lucky to find a globalised fast food restaurant. The houses were big, some two storey, but most just a single floor. All of them had beautiful gardens outside, save one or two with neglected lawns.

Joel remembered his task and frowned. Even in a place a fraction of the size of Viridian City, it would still be rather difficult to find a specific person here at this hour. Especially one that would most likely be considered a fugitive by KAPA. And how suspicious would it look if he, a stranger in the town, were to start asking random people if they had seen an ex-Pokemon researcher.

Still, it wasn't like Joel had much choice. Sandra had given him an address of where to find Samuel, but it had turned out to be a pub, which he was deliberating as to whether or not he should enter. Joel was underage after all, but then again, it wasn't like he was going for a drink.

Joel noticed that the lights to the Dying Pokemon were still on, so he figured that it was still open. Sandra wouldn't have sent him there if she didn't think that he would find answers. With his facial hair growing at the rate it was, Joel figured he'd be able to pass off for at least 18 years old.

He pushed the door open and let his eyes adjust to the slightly brighter light. The place was dank, and smelled of smoke and people who probably hadn't cleaned themselves for a week. Some were passed out on the floor, others were playing pool or darts. The ones left were in the process of drinking themselves so that they would be able to fit in with either of those groups.

Joel walked over to the bartender, a surly older man who looked as though he had fought his share of barfights. He perched himself on the stool and waited for the barkeep to walk over. His appearance seemed to pass off as at least 18, as the bartender didn't comment.

"What's yer poison?" he growled, obviously wishing he were anywhere but here tonight.

"Johto Jolt," Joel tried to recall any kind of beer that his friends had tried to get him to drink at their parents-are-out-of-town parties. Of course, Joel's mother was unaware that these parties were unsupervised. Despite this advantage, he had refrained from drinking, smoking or even hooking up with other girls.

The bartender gave Joel a look and then muttered something that sounded oddly like "pansy". He walked over to the beer tap and turned it on, holding a glass mug underneath to catch the beer. It didn't look washed.

Joel paid the barkeep the required money and gave him an extra tip- buttering him up for information- when he had received his drink. He took a whiff and tried to hide his disgust. How anyone could stand to get drunk on this stuff every night was beyond him.

"Say, barkeep," Joel began, trying to sound casual. He nursed the mug in front of him as if he was planning to eventually drink its content. "Don't suppose you know a Samuel Oak?"

The bartender stopped dead from wiping a glass, looked around and then hurried over.

"How do you know that name?" he growled at Joel, looking as though he'd be ready to pop his head off at any second.

Joel tried to remain calm and casual. "A friend told me to come and find him. It's important."

The bartender resumed wiping his glass. "You're lookin' in the wrong spot. There hasn't been a Samuel Oak here for years. You'd be smart to forget that name and move on."

Joel frowned. Was Sandra wrong. Had Samuel died? Or had KAPA finally taken him in? But then, the barkeep was also rather suspicious, perhaps he was actually Samuel Oak?

"Look, sir," Joel pleaded with him. "I don't have any time to mess around. It's important."

The barkeep ignored him. This left only one thing left.

"Would this help change your mind?" Joel pulled out one of the Poke Balls sitting in his pocket. He watched the bartender's eyes widen, dart around the place, followed by him racing over to Joel.

"Are you crazy?" he whispered, his voice getting high. "You can't just pull one of those out here! You'll get us both arrested!"

"Do you know a Samuel Oak?" Joel firmly questioned, one last time, the same way a cop would on one of the crime programmes he used to watch.

The bartender sighed. "Meet me at this address," he scribbled something on a small napkin and handed it to Joel, "late tomorrow night."

"Thank you," Joel smiled and got off the stool, leaving his untouched beer and a rather generous tip. Especially generous since he hadn't drunk the beer the barkeep at made.

"Oi, kid," the bartender caught Joel before he left the bar. "One more thing...

"Make sure you come alone."

[Azza]

I'm lovin' the story so far, Josh. Keep up man

[Keyblader Jahu]

...Odd. O_o Pokémon are illegal or something now? I haven't read Intolerance, but this is really well-written and understandable. Keep it up!
.:E4 Jahu:.

EDIT: Okay, now I read it. It explains a bit more about the overarching story.

[Teal'c]

Thanks guys. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the new chapter up, but hopefully it'll be soon.