Silver walked into Giovanni's private office again. It was cool, dim, pristine, just like the rest of Rocket HQ.
As the sliding doors sealed behind him, he exhaled quietly. He opened his Rocket-encoded device his upgraded League phone, now transformed into something far more advanced. The interface was red. Customized overlays. Encrypted signals. Private access.
He scrolled to the Personnel section first.
His gaze landed on one name.
----
(Agent Coulson)
Real Name: Phil Coulson
Rank: Tier 7 Grunt – Assigned
Status: Initiated and cleared by a higher-up
Starter Pokémon: Nidoran♂ – Ability: Hustle
Background: Orphaned, Street-Level Survival, High Battle Potential
Assigned to: Commander Ego
----
Silver leaned back into the chair in front of Giovanni's desk, his eyes flicking across the profile.
'Could I have done better?' He thought to himself, but after a while, he shook his head.
That wasn't the point.
There could have been others more talented, more intelligent. One was a pickpocket with experience in stealth tactics. Smart, charismatic, dangerous. But Silver didn't want someone like that, he would be too sly and not trustworthy.
A snake just waiting for a chance to bite the hand that fed it.
The second had been a girl who knew tech and probably knew how to hack into League systems, possibly even into Rocket infrastructure with time. He could respect that kind of intelligence. But she could be too aware of her own worth. The kind who played games with allegiance. He wasn't going to risk it.
Then there was Coulson.
Weak and grateful.
Most importantly, obedient and loyal.
Not stupid, just simple. The type who never had anything, and now suddenly had food, a bed, a Pokemon and a commander who believed in him. That was more loyalty than any IQ test.
"I don't need brilliance," Silver thought.
He needed an Archer of his own.
Now back in the present, Silver swiped to the next tab: Asset Registry.
He wanted to check his Pokémon now that his official trainer record had been logged under Rocket systems.
Each name appeared neatly, ordered by battle priority.
----
[Beedrill - Low Ace]
[Gliscor - Veteran]
[Excadrill - Low Veteran]
[Rhydon - Low Veteran]
[Gastrodon - High Adept]
[Hippowdon - High Adept]
----
He selected Gliscor.
The file opened smoothly with line after line of data appearing in clinical white text against a matte black background.
----
Pokemon: Gliscor
Item: Poison Orb
Strength: Veteran
Type: Ground/Flying
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Poison Heal
Moves: Poison Sting, Sand-Attack, Harden, Knock-Off, Quick-Attack, Fury Cutter, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Thunder Fang, Poison Jab, Acrobatics, Night Slash, U-Turn
Egg Moves: Cross Poison
--{}--
History: Stolen from Nathan Cross at Hearthome City (Sinnoh)
Feeding Protocol: None
----
After being impressed by Gliscor's stats.
Silver soon went back and clicked on his Ace's profile.
----
Pokemon: Beedrill
Item: Assault Vest/Life Orb
Strength: Low Ace
Type: Bug/Poison
Nature: Docile
Ability: Sniper
Moves: Poison Sting, String Shot, Bug Bite, Harden, Fury Attack, Fury, Cutter, Laser Focus, Focus Energy, Venoshock, Assurance, Toxic Spikes, Pin Missile, Poison Jab, Agility, Endeavor, Fell Stinger, Protect (TM), Giga Drain (TM), Double Team (TM), Brick Break (TM), Aerial Ace (TM), Facade (TM), Roost (TM), Swords Dance (TM), U-Turn (TM), X-Scissor (TM), Substitute (TM), Defog (TM), Drill Run (Tutor)
--{}--
History: Unknown
Feeding Protocol: Classification:
Synthesis: Daily Allotment – Research Division
Formula: Perfect Beedrill Nutrient
FormulaCode: GEN-RKT-BETA
----
Silver blinked. His thumb hovered over the screen.
"…Wait."
He looked up at Giovanni, who sat calmly at his desk, fingers laced, unreadable.
"Did you hire a breeder for Beedrill?"
Giovanni raised a brow, mildly surprised. "No."
Silver turned back to the file, scrolling again.
"Then who's making his food? It says that the food my Beedrill has been eating is some sort of perfect formula?"
Giovanni's response was calm, as always. "We have a science division. We developed our own method years ago. Nutrient saturation. Hormonal balance. Caloric efficiency optimized per kilogram of Pokémon mass. Better than any breeder could ever make."
Silver looked back at him again, silent.
It took Silver a moment to respond.
He wasn't the kind of person who felt touched easily but that's honestly cool as hell. To be fair that specific research team was able to make Mewtwo, a Pokemon who could probably solo an entire region and is a legendary Pokemon.
With ridiculous feats by himself.
Is the scientists being able to make a perfectly modified formula for a Pokemon for peak potential growth really that out of hand?
Not really.
It was more believable than creating a near-god entity from the DNA they somehow got without ever seeing the Pokemon. Then combined with a human's DNA.
Silver tilted the screen slightly, more to himself.
"Can you make this for Gliscor and my starter too?"
Giovanni who heard this just nodded and looked at Matori which made her get a serious look.
"I'll put the word in."
Simple. Final.
Silver leaned back, thoughtful. For once, he allowed himself a breath of satisfaction.
"I've been thinking."
Giovanni gave a slight nod, indicating he was listening.
"Team Rocket's got a foothold in Kanto. But what about expanding beyond Kanto? We could plant roots in Unova. Hoenn. Kalos."
Silver's gaze didn't flinch at his father's now smirking face.
Giovanni sat back, expression unreadable as usual. But inside, a rare pulse of satisfaction ran through him.
'He's starting to think like one of us.' The Boss thought to himself.
But his son's age quickly reminded him to calm down. Silver was still only ten.
"You're ambitious," Giovanni said. "Good. But you're not ready."
Silver just accepted these words knowing it was true and didn't interrupt.
"You may have experience but haven't climbed the trainer ladder. With no sufficient power and no influence you want to expand Team Rocket?" He met Silver's gaze. "Then earn the right."
Silver narrowed his eyes. "So how do I earn it?"
"Become a solid Ace Trainer. Or win a League. I don't care which comes first. Until then, stay grounded."
Silver sat in silence for a moment. And then nodded.
"Fine," he said. "I'll go to Unova."
Before he could rise, the office door hissed softly. Matori stepped in, clipboard tucked beneath one arm, hair and posture as precise as ever.
"My apologies," she said. "But you won't be allowed to leave Kanto."
Silver turned his head toward her, frowning slightly.
She walked over and set the clipboard on Giovanni's desk, but spoke directly to Silver.
"Kanto's League system allows official journey commencement at ten. But Unova's minimum trainer license begins at fifteen, and in most provinces, sixteen or higher. No travel permissions unless you're an adult or have a special League exemption which you don't."
Silver folded his arms, processing that.
"…Makes sense," he finally muttered.
Matori adjusted her glasses. "However, if you earn two Kanto Badges these rules won't apply anymore."
Silver nodded again, already recalculating.
"Let's get this over with then," he murmurs himself.
...
Later that afternoon, Silver stood inside Rocket HQ's subterranean training chambers. It was dimly lit, brutalist in architecture, and built with reinforced steel and sandstone to withstand even seismic assaults. The perfect place for a few good spars.
He still hasn't seen his starter yet due to wanting to set up the perfect way to introduce each other.
And what would be better than to show him the power of his team?
Power dynamics and encouraging training are some of the basics of being able to train Pokemon. And a simple trick to get a Pokemon such as a starter, bred to instantly imprint on their trainer was going to be easy.
Just don't be an asshole was the requirement.
I mean even then seeing the anime you could be an asshole and still get their loyalty.
Silver now knelt down on one knee and pressed the button on his last Poke Ball.
With a bright, metallic ping, Totodile materialized in front of him, blinking up excitedly at his trainer with a quick little chirp.
Silver opened his League Pokédex and scanned Totodile, curious now that he was officially registered. He swiped to the summary panel and paused.
'Holy fuck.'
His eyes were threatening to leave their sockets.
----
Pokemon: Totodile
Strength: Novice
Type: Water
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Sheer Force
Moves: Leer, Scratch, Water Gun
Egg Moves: Aqua Jet, Ice Punch, Crunch, Metal Claw, Hydro-Pump, Dragon Dance
----
'Arceus saw this Pokemon and had the answer "yes" to how many egg moves it would get...' Silver thought to himself in shock.
He wanted to pray to that alpaca right now.
The curious Totodile tilted his head at his new trainer, then let out an energetic bark, practically bouncing in place.
Silver reached into his pocket and tossed him a nutrient treat which was pretty expensive for someone who wasn't him.
*Crunch.*
Totodile ate happily.
"Listen," Silver said, his tone quieter now. "I want to be the strongest. Not just in Kanto, or Johto. I will become the best."
Totodile looked up, still chewing, with innocent eyes.
"You're my starter. That means you're part of that dream now. You don't have to be the strongest yet, but you need to want it." He nodded toward the centre of the arena. "Watch."
He stood and walked to the battle terminal. With a few swift commands, two Poké Balls dropped. Gliscor and Beedrill emerged together, wings snapping and claws crackling with energy.
They didn't even need instructions.
The moment they locked eyes, they clashed.
Gliscor launched forward with [Fire Fang] while Beedrill spun midair, dodging with blinding speed. Their blows were sharp, fluid, and furious. But the bee was obviously holding back as it took a minimal amount of hits.
Sparks flew, and the wind kicked up. The sound of movement alone was enough to put the big-jawed Pokemon in awe.
Totodile stood silently, watching. His food now falling to the ground as he had stars in his eyes.
Food was temporary, the grind was where it was at!
Silver folded his arms.
The young Water-type's eyes followed every move. Glowing with barely contained energy. He was watching his two seniors at war. And he liked it.
"We don't need to win every match, but you must win the important ones." Silver said, not looking down.
*Boom!*
Beedrill gets a hard hit on Gliscor's neck but the Pokemon quickly recovered. The Pokemon laughing at its injury stood up, shaking but with fire in its eyes.
Not giving up.
Totodile glanced up at him, tail thumping once.
"…If you don't train to keep up," he says softly, "you might fall behind."
Totodile didn't need to speak. He let out a fiery snarl. Not aggressive, but determined and took a single step forward. Eyes narrowed. Chest puffed out.
"You're so cute," Silver seeing this got a warm smile and immediately attacked.
Clutching the poor Pokemon in a cuddle.
This was his future brawler.
How long till this lovable Pokemon became a monster. He had to take advantage now!
The spar continued for another few minutes before he recalled his veterans, letting them rest. He reached down and gave Totodile a nod, then motioned for him to follow.
By sundown, Silver stood at the helipad, wind rustling his jacket as the original helicopter he took here, spun up its blades.
Coulson was staying at the base to get trained by Tyson. Silver didn't speak to him but just gave a wave. He just watched the sky begin to dim with the first orange tones of the evening.
Behind him, Giovanni didn't say goodbye.
The helicopter lifted, cutting clean into the air, and slicing away from HQ.
By the time they landed near the Viridian estate, a glossy black luxury car was already waiting outside the private helipad.
Silver opened the back door and spoke.
"Take me to the Pewter City Gym,"