It was a morning of a day after. I was at the lounge with Valery, playing pool with her after she challenged me. I was assigned to the stripes while she had the solids suit with her.
"Not bad for a beginner," complimented Valery while leaning on her cue and watching me thwack the twelfth ball into a pocket. I went on for the fifteenth, then the eleventh, until I did a blunder for the thirteenth ball that made me pass the turn to her.
"I've watched some men play before."
"Then you're quite the observer. I mean, you got the stance a little correct," she said, setting her sight for the third ball.
"A little?" I chalked my cue.
"Well, your other feet was somewhere around sixty degrees, usually it should be forty."
"Huh, I really have to do that?"
"Depends on whether you're comfortable with it, but most players stick with forty."
She said most, so that didn't mean all.
I was getting intimidated and worried. It had been four balls already, now going for her fifth, and I'm afraid I'll never have my turn again. She's excellent in the sport, that's all I could say. Her accuracy, precision, it was astounding. I would even consider her a shark pool. The only thing that was able to stop her was when my rocket radar rang.
"It's Madam Boss."
"Ooh! New mission?"
"Probably report analysis, and yes, if she hears that we succeeded, then a new mission, definitely."
"You just generalized my statement!"
"I'll give you the victory for this one, but it isn't over yet!"
"Okay, okay."
She and I went back up to our room and locked the door. We had to call Madam Boss back since we were unable to answer her previous. It was first time for our leader to see Valery and Valery's first time to see her. I could say by her face that she was avoiding herself to laugh. Her cheeks were expanding, her lungs were obviously filled with air due to its extensiveness.
"Luna. I'm glad. I thought when you didn't answer my call something up was wrong. Did you accomplish your mission?"
"Yes. With her help. Lieutenant Colonel Valery."
"Hi, Madam Boss," she stuttered.
"You stammer? So, you haven't known me yet?"
"I worked for Giovanni on his behalf."
"I see, you must be one of the agents that were abandoned after being classified as diseased. So, Valery, you're a lieutenant colonel?"
"Yes. I was responsible for claiming two of the fragments, Madam Boss." She showed the orbs.
"Good. In that case, I'll have your rank stable. My secretary Domino will make sure that your status will be placed active later. I guess I could allow both of you to work together. Both high ranks could play out together. For your next task, the location that Domino had spoken of is a faraway island known as Figaro Island."
"I know that place. We gotta board a boat from Amadeus Town."
"Yes, Valery, but to get there, one must past Haydn Forest as that is the quickest route."
We both gulped.
"I'm aware of its notoriety but going back to Wagner City and en route from there will take hours longer. Hey? At least you could catch new Pokemon, if any of that rivets both of you."
"Well, alright then, Madam Boss. We accept the mission."
"Also, do be careful. A ship is heading towards the archipelago. It is own by the Pokemon International Police and we were able to identify it on our radar."
"Must be Detective Looker or her assistant for that matter."
"Take them or her out. Your biggest threats are the Police and the Bureau. It would be a disappointment they happened to stop your good progress."
The call was declined from there. Valery lie on bed and bellowed an outburst of a never ending laughter.
"You alright?"
"I wasn't expecting... I was expecting her to have such a long hair. I'm, I'm sorry. I can't stop."
"You need a lot of catching up to do."
She stopped laughing an hour later and put on her determination cap. "So, what's the scheme? Figaro Island's a grave yard, or grave island for Pokemon."
"Ghosts? Dark types? Eh, okay."
"You're not scared?"
"I've been to Mt. Ember, the Pokemon tower, what could go wrong?"
"The ghosts don't bother me either, it's the name."
"Figaro? What's wrong with that?"
"Right, whoever came up with the decision of choosing one of the most famous arias to be the island's name should've chosen Requiem instead. Just sounds better to me."
"I have no knowledge about classical music at all."
"I suspect we're going to take long. I'll have to bring all my stuff. We set tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Alright. Get through Haydn Forest, depart at Amadeus Town and reach Figaro Island."
"And the police?"
"I've got some casual attire, and when it comes to lying, I'm the best at it, so don't worry."
She went to her wardrobe and took out a quiver, a set of arrows, and a recurve bow, all belonging to the property of Team Rocket.
"No way! You're a stealth agent!"
"Indeed, I am! Trained under Sierra, one of her acclaimed students. You?"
It was now clear to me why her accuracy was brilliant. Sierra was the strongest stealth and if was indeed trained by her, she would rise to become the next Stealth Pillar. Hopefully Team Rocket implements that, I would, if on the occasion I became leader.
"Combat! I worked with Cliff. Sadly, they're gone."
"What happened to them?"
"Well, Team Rocket had a weak point, a weak teacher, Arlo. He betrayed the organization, had to drown him."
"You really are merciless."
"What do you expect? He was a traitor?"
"So, if I left you stranded in the island, escaped, and managed to track me, would you rip off my bones and feed them to your Pokemon?"
"Maybe. Depends on your excuse."
"Yikes. Thanks for the warning. I'll heed it."
Hmm... Though Luna was colonel, Madam Boss could've sent a group of generals or higher ranks logically so that the percentage of the mission failing would be zero to none. Why let Luna in a lone mission I wonder? Is it trust, or is the true purpose not what it seems.