Tension settled over the courtroom as spectators filed in, sitting on the
hard, wooden benches. Strained conversations began between the seated as
they waited for the event to begin. Witnesses sat down, many already sweaty
with anxiety, and became quiet. Jury member entered the box and began to
chat, as if this were a park. One lawyer, on the prosecution side, strutted
up to his desk with a completely arrogant manner. The other merely walked,
confident that he could put up a good fight, yet worried about the
incriminating evidence.
Sitting down at the front podium, the judge stared around the room,
scrutinizing every face and sending a strange sensation into the room.
Everyone suddenly became even edgier. Strained conversation became quiet
whispers and died. Witnesses began to fidget nervously, pulling at their
hair, moving around in their seats. Even the jury’s cheerful conversations
began quieter and a bit on edge.
The witness was led in. His cold, sinister stare sent a chill down everyone
who saw him, which was what he had wanted to happen. The cold appearance
continued as he sat next to his lawyer, ignoring every whisper that floated
past him.
Suddenly, the silence was broken. “Order! Order in the court!” Every person
present looked up as the bailiff stepped up.
After clearing his throat, the burly man announced, “Here ye, here ye. The
honorable Judge Snype is at the stand. Everyone present stand up… and sit
down. This is the case of Giovanni Oak versus the state of Kanto, day one.”
Booming over the courtroom, the judge’s voice burst in, “May we have the
opening statement of the prosecution?’
Rising stiffly from the chair, the first lawyer began, “Ladies and
gentlemen of the jury. We are gathered here to today to determine the fate
of one Giovanni Oak, alleged head of the infamous Team Rocket. We will prove
to you that he was, indeed, the head of their association, and that he
deserves to be thrown in jail for the rest of his life. Thank you.”
As he sat down, all eyes shifted to the defense. The lawyer seemed nervous,
but Giovanni hadn’t even blinked an eye tensely. “Opening statement of the
defense,” Judge Snype called.
Standing awkwardly, the second lawyer twitched nervously. His mahogany
brown hair was a bit mussed, and his gray-brown eyes had a strange look
about them. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. I am here to prove that
Giovanni Oak is innocent. He was not the head of Team Rocket! He was, in
fact, an unlucky man in the wrong place at the wrong time, who, in an
unrighteous manner, was given the blame. I will make sure he is set free,
and his reputation saved. Thank you.” As he sat down, he looked at Giovanni,
who just shrugged, as if he didn’t care what happened.
“Would the prosecution like to call a witness to the stand?” the judge
rather liked ordering everyone around. The authority was almost like some
sort of game.
“Of course,” the man stood up and walked over to the wooden witness stand.
The spectators looked forward, almost eagerly, eager to see who would be
called. The jury watched, half-interested. Many had already made their
decision. “I call Jessica Pike and James Ross to the stand.”
The two former Rockets walked up the isle in handcuffs, followed by a
police officer. There were a few startled gasps from the audience, but they
were ignored. Jessie held her head high, trying to hide the frightened look
in her eyes. James, on the other hand, shook like a terrified lamb being led
to the slaughterhouse. His eyes darted around nervously, as if seeking
refuge. Both wore suitable clothing provided by the court.
“Now, Ms. Pike,” the lawyer’s obnoxious voice began, “Is it true that you
worked for Team Rocket?”
“Yes,” she answered clearly, not letting the fear slip out. “Yes, that is
true.”
“And is it true that your boss was the defendant, Giovanni Oak?”
Jessie gulped slightly as her former boss sent her an angry glare, but she
managed to continue, “Yes, that is quite true.”
The few gasps that escaped from the audience were ignored as the lawyer
continued, “And how do you know this?”
“Well, Mr. Tress, James, here, and I were given instructions directly from
him before, so of course we are able to recognize him.”
“I see,” Scott Tress nodded, and then turned abruptly to the young man.
“And, James, is it true that you too were a Rocket?”
“Y-y-yes…” James stammered, his eyes wide with fear.
“And can you, too, confirm that this man was your boss?”
James bit his lip so hard he felt a small trickle of blood run into his
mouth. Giovanni shot him a glare so icy, so full of hate, the young man
yelped. Recovering himself quickly, he managed to pick up enough courage to
speak. “Yes,” he barely squeaked.
The lawyer nodded. “You may step down now.”
Jessie stepped off of the platform shaken; yet still trying to show that
she was unafraid. James began to bite his fingernails, not even noticing
everyone watching him. The two were seated next to their officer as the
trial went on.
“I would like to call Lance Ajeck to the stand.”
Lance walked calmly up to the stand, his cape flowing behind his stately
walk.
“Now, Lance, you are the leader of the Indigo League, correct?”
“Yes,” his voice was calm and cool, not the least bit afraid or nervous.
“The defendant was the leader of the Viridian City gym, correct?”
“You are correct,” everyone’s eyes were on Lance now, wondering how he
could keep up the manner he held.
“Did he ever do anything that might… arouse suspicion?”
Lance nodded. “Most definitely! First of all, he preferred not to fill out
every form that was needed to become a gym leader. The only reason we let
him in was because we needed someone badly. Second, he skipped many of the
meetings the gym leaders held. Third, he was gone more often than he should
have been. And then there was that lab we found when we had the inspection,
and the gym needing to be rebuilt after an accident he claimed was caused by
a fierce battle.”
Many of the people situated in the audience were leaning forward in their
chairs, listening to the information. Even the jury looked like they were
awake, paying attention to every word.
“Thank you, Lance. Please step down,” the lawyer watched the man leave, and
then continued. “I call Mister John Orested of the Pokemon Intelligence
Agency.”
A middle-aged man, normal weight, normal build, normal eyes… Walked up to
the stand and nodded.
“Mr. Orested, is it true that you were able to hack into the computers of
Team Rocket and come up with files and files, all listing the defendant as
the boss?”
“Yes sir, that is true,” Orested had a drawn-out voice; one of those kinds
that is impossible to listen too for long without becoming distracted. “We
were indeed able to do that.”
“Did you bring the files?”
“Yes,” Orested handed the lawyer a stack of papers. “And here’s the
password for the files,” he handed him another slip of paper.
Tress looked up at the judge. “May we call an intermission while the jury
examines these?”
“Traditionally that is saved for the end…”
“We can break tradition,” Tress knew what kind of power he held as a very
good lawyer.
“All right,” Snype gave in, and pounded the gavel. “There will be a recess
while the jury examines the files. Until then, stay in the vicinity of the
area.
The audience stood up and stretched, and began excited conversation. They
were becoming worked up, and every one knew what the verdict would be.
Daniel Morris ran his fingers through his thick hair nervously as the crowd
rose. He didn’t have much experience as a lawyer; only what he’d been taught
in the last few days. Sure, he could argue, but that wouldn’t help. He knew
that most of the jury had decided. And then there was that problem…
“Calm down,” Giovanni was shaking his head, as if this was a light manner.
“It’s just…”
“What?”
“I don’t have any witnesses,” Dan admitted.
“God…” Giovanni groaned, obviously annoyed.
“Jessie and James were going to be, but…”
“I know, I know. I saw.”
Dan nodded, and sighed. “I’m going to see if I can get someone to testify.
Got any ideas?”
“No, but…”
“It’s worth a try,” Dan walked away, leaving Giovanni to think and be
thankful that media had been banned from the trial while the court was in
session.
As he stood up, Judge Snype made a surprising announcement. “This trial is
adjourned for the day, and will commence tomorrow morning at seven.”
“But, sir…” Daniel looked up, beginning to protest.
“I can do this,” the judge smirked, pleased with his power.
“Oh…” the lawyer sighed, and looked over at Tress, who grinned.
“I’ve got such an edge on you,” the other man laughed.
“Shut up,” Dan turned to Giovanni as the officers approached. “I’ll try to
think of something tonight.”
Giovanni only nodded before the officer motioned for him to stand and be
led out. The spectators watched, silent, as he threw them icy glares, then
shook it off, and walked out.
Dan walked down the isle, past the milling people, ignoring Tress’s smirk.
Opening the door, he was met with a burst of fresh air. “Finally,” he
thought, glad to be out of the stuffy room. He immediately began to feel
better, though that worry stayed. What would he do about this?
“I could go back to the building…” he thought, and then decided on it. Of
course he would. Someone there would have an idea of what to do.
Jessie and James were led out to a police vehicle again, and, once in the
back seat, exchanged glances. They knew what could happen to them if,
somehow, Giovanni got off innocent, and they feared it. Yet they also knew
he couldn’t win, and were somewhat confident.
The courthouse was now empty, the seats unoccupied. Yet the tension still
hung in the air like some kind of looming fog. There, yet nearly invisible.
Seemingly fine, yet somehow, unsafe.
Shadow Manteal sat at the hard wood table, sipping a cup of tea in a neat,
white kitchen. Of course it was neat; Trae insisted upon it, being so well
organized. Shadow, however, couldn’t have cared less about cleans floors,
sparkling counters, and organization. Pulling her blond-brown hair behind
her ears, she sighed, gazing into a corner with her dark, sapphire blue
eyes.
Sun was streaming through the windows, but Shadow didn’t care. She didn’t
want to go out there, feeling how she did. Just a few days ago, Headquarters
had been destroyed. Giovanni had been captured. Many of the agents had been
captured. The news was broadcast everywhere, and Shadow felt the same way
about the situation as almost every other agent who managed to escape the
police.
The whole thing was embarrassing. Officials gloating over the failures of
Team Rocket, and how it had been so easy… It hadn’t, Shadow knew. It
could’ve been harder, but it hadn’t been an easy struggle after they got in.
Of course, there was nothing she could do about it now. No one could do
anything about it…
Well, Ginger thought she could. So did Felicity. Actually, Dan seemed too,
but not as… in depth. Ginger had been thinking hard ever since the break in,
ever since they had moved into the house…
The house was two stories high, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a
kitchen, a living room, a miscellaneous room, a recreation room, and a
study. Set by a street in Celadon City, in a quiet neighborhood, it was the
perfect place for some Rockets to hide out. And that’s exactly what they
did. Herself, Trae, Ginger, Felicity, Dan, and Mike had managed to find and
obtain the place.
Sure, they didn’t get along too well. She, Trae, Felicity, and Dan all had
bedrooms, while Ginger had the study and Mike had the recreation room.
Occasional arguments would break out, and she felt that a couple might go at
each other’s throats. There would be no major injuries, if her predictions
were correct. Everyone felt a sense of togetherness, all being Rockets, and
all hiding from the law.
“I thought I told you not to come in here!” Ginger voice seared through the
silence.
“I need to get something…” Trae’s hesitant voice sighed. She was used to
this kind of treatment.
“Fine, fine. I was just going to get something to drink.” Shadow heard
Ginger stalk out of the room and walk down the stairs. The older girl’s
emerald green eyes were tired, and her auburn hair was only half combed.
Shadow almost smirked at her expression. “What do you want?”
Ginger grumbled something and poured herself a cup of coffee, drinking it
readily. She looked at Shadow. “What have you been doing?” It was an attempt
to start a conversation, and though she knew it was a pathetic one, Ginger
decided that she had at least tried.
Shadow shrugged. “Not much. I’m waiting for Dan to get back from the trial
so we can find out what happened.”
“Yeah,” Ginger took another drink of the caffinated drink. “I’d like to
know, too…” She sighed impatiently. “When’s he supposed to get back?”
“I’m not sure,” Shadow looked at her friends, “You know, you shouldn’t
worry so much…”
“I know, but I can’t help it…” Ginger shrugged. “I have no clue as to where
my mother is, and now I’ve lost my father.”
Shadow nodded in understanding, knowing full well what it as like. “At
least you’ll know where he is.”
“You know where yours is. He’s dead,” Ginger started to say, but thought
better of it. Instead, she sighed. “This whole thing just makes me so
angry…” Her eyelids drooped, and she realized how tired she was. “I’m going
to lay down on the couch.” After setting the half full cup on the counter,
she staggered off to the living room.
Shadow looked down at her drink. Of course the whole thing was crazy, and
everyone was taking it hard. Ginger was taking it worst of all, though. What
with Giovanni being her father and all. She herself had lost both of her
parents when she was very young, and…
“God, why is it that everyone here is a pig?” Shadow knew without looking
up who had stated that sentence.
“Hey, Trae,” she looked up, and found, not at all to her surprise, that she
was right. The eighteen-year-old Rocket scientist with fiery red hair was
dumping the rest of the coffee into the sink, and setting the cup in the
dishwasher. “I can’t believe you’re so neat with all this…”
Trae shrugged. “I’m used to it, after working in the lab, I guess.”
The door opened, and Shadow stood up, setting her cup into the dishwasher
and closing the machine. Dan walked in, his suit and tie mussed, and his
expression forlorn.
“What happened?” Shadow asked, and Trae watched, interested.
“The trial was adjourned until tomorrow…” the nineteen-year-old held his
head.
“Here’s some coffee,” Shadow poured him a cup, and all three sat down.
“It’s hopeless,” Dan sighed, knowing the truth.
“What’s hopeless?” Ginger walked in and leaned against the wall.
Dan didn’t even bother looking up. “The trial…”
“What!?!” Ginger had known that was truth. She’d known it all along, but
she didn’t want to believe it.
“Well, you see, we had witnesses, but they double-crossed us and went
against us…”
“Who?” Ginger asked with such urgency it startled him. He also had slept
little, but then again, no one in that house had gotten a good amount of
sleep.
“Jessie and James,” Dan sipped the beverage.
Ginger clenched her fists and gritted her teeth together in an obvious
state of anger. “Those dirty, rotten, no-good…”
“Calm down,” Shadow was too tired to deal with anything violent.
“…so Tress has this sort of power over the judge. There’s no way we can
win,” Dan was saying.
“Don’t ever say that,” Ginger growled.
Trae shook her head. “Come on, Ginger. You know as well as the rest of us
that…”
“That what, huh? That what?”
“Ginger…” Shadow sighed. “Come on, control your anger.” She often felt like
a psychologist, the way she reassured and instructed everyone.
Sighing, Ginger shook her head. “Isn’t there anyone you can use as a
witness?”
“Not unless I can get them to lie.”
Feeling a sinking sensation, Ginger opened her mouth to speak, but changed
her mind. She wasn’t in the mood for this.
“Hey,” Shadow felt something brighten in her mind. “One of us can be a
witness!”
“That’s a really good idea…” Dan looked at her and smiled. “How would you
like to be the witness?”
“That’d be great,” Shadow grinned. “I’d be kind of like a… last resource!”
Ginger started to protest, wanting to help with the case, but decided
against it. “Sure, and I’ll go to watch.”
“Do you really think that’s wise?” Trae glanced at the girl, who shrugged.
“Even if we lose, I’d like to see him before he’s sent…” she trailed off.
Trae nodded. “I’ll go too. Maybe Felicity and Mike will come…”
“What’ll I do?” Mike walked into the kitchen and observed the tired faces.
“Come to the courthouse tomorrow morning,” Trae explained. “It was put in
recess until than.”
“Sure, I’ll come,” Mike poured a glass of coke. “I’d like to see someone
condemned.”
“You shut the…” Ginger began.
“Lay off,” he took a gulp of the drink. Knowing full well that his comments
were rude, Mike didn’t care. He had always been like this, and he didn’t
plan on changing.
“Why don’t you make me?” Ginger narrowed her eyes.
“Maybe I should,” Mike took a step forward.
Shadow rolled her eyes and stood up. “Come on, guys. We have enough
problems without your fights.” This was, after all, the fifth one. Those two
seemed to clash every chance they got.
“I’m going to my room to get some sleep. Tell me when Felicity gets back,”
she headed out of the room and up the stairs, towards her room.
“All right, we should rehearse what we’ll say tomorrow,” Dan got up and
headed to the living room with Shadow.
Annoyed, Trae cleaned off the table, and turned to Mike. “So, what do you
think of the trial?”
“As much as I really don’t want to say it, we’re going to lose,” Mike
sighed.
“I thought you wanted to see Giovanni sentenced to prison,” Trae smirked,
knowing full well that the young man hadn’t meant it.
“I was joking. Some people around here have to be more light hearted,” he
rolled his eyes. Ginger got on his nerves so bad… She didn’t have a sense of
humor most of the time.
“Could you guys please get along until we get a few things worked out?”
“I’ll try,” he shrugged, “But I can’t promise.” With that, he went to his
room, leaving Trae to wonder what was going to happen to the group.
