Pokémon: Silent Vow

Chapter 1: Recruitment

To grasp the full weight of what transpired, we must go back to where it all began—the pivotal moment that set Kai's fate into motion, for better or worse.

The wind carried the scent of damp earth and concrete as Kai stood at the edge of an alley in Viridian City, his gaze locked onto a barely noticeable crack in the worn-out brick wall. It would be easy to miss—just another scar on the city's old bones. But he knew better.

He had found this passage by accident during his brief stint as a construction worker, back when the foreman had sent him to patch up a section of the city's underground maintenance tunnels. Hidden beneath layers of forgotten infrastructure was an old steel door, rusted at the edges but still sturdy. No keyhole, no handle—just a single panel requiring a passcode he hadn't possessed at the time.

Back then, it had been curiosity. Now, it was necessity.

Kai ran his fingers along the cold metal, the weight of his decision pressing heavier than the night air. Cynthia had left to chase her dream while he remained behind, lost in a world that had no place for him.

If this was the only way forward, then so be it.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked. Once. Twice. A pause. Then a third, sharp rap.

A section of the wall slid open, revealing a dimly lit corridor. A man stood just beyond the threshold, dressed like an ordinary passerby—dark jacket, unremarkable jeans, a cap pulled low over his face. But the sharp glint in his eyes told Kai he was anything but ordinary.

"You lost, kid?" The man's voice was low, deliberate.

Kai shook his head. "I'm here to join."

The man studied him for a moment, as if measuring the weight of his resolve. Then, with a scoff, he crossed his arms. "You're young. Got any idea what you're stepping into?"

"Enough to know I don't have anywhere else to go."

The man exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Tch. Another one." He muttered under his breath before stepping aside. "Fine. Go in. But there's no turning back after this."

Kai's mind latched onto those words. Another one? So, he wasn't alone. Others had been driven to this path—by desperation, betrayal, or simply because the world had left them with nothing. That thought didn't bring him comfort. If anything, it only confirmed how merciless reality was.

He stepped forward, but as he passed the man, he felt a shift in the air. Without looking at him, the man muttered a final warning.

"Watch your back in there, kid. Not everyone's your ally."

There was no malice in his tone, no attempt to intimidate—just a simple truth. Yet the weight of those words sent a chill through Kai's spine. He nodded slightly and continued walking as the door sealed shut behind him, cutting off his last glimpse of the outside world.

The passage led him to a massive underground chamber, where nearly a hundred people were gathered. Some stood with confidence, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room like predators. Others were visibly nervous, shifting their weight from foot to foot, fidgeting with their sleeves.

The air was thick with tension, laced with something darker—desperation. Hunger. Every single person here had chosen to be in this place, whether by ambition, greed, or sheer necessity.

Kai didn't know which category he fell into anymore.

He found a spot against the wall, standing with his hands in his pockets, eyes sharp but unreadable. He didn't fidget, didn't shuffle his feet like some of the others. Instead, he observed. He listened. A group of recruits whispered to one another in hushed voices, speculating about what was to come. Another recruit, tall and built like a fighter, cracked his knuckles and smirked at the smaller ones around him, sizing them up like prey.

His gaze shifted to a girl who seemed entirely out of place in this setting. With soft features and a quiet, almost timid demeanor, she looked like she belonged anywhere but here. Unlike the others, she didn't have the hardened look of someone used to the struggles of the world. Instead, there was a quiet sadness in her eyes—one that told a different kind of story.

As he was looking around a sudden hush fell over the room as a group of figures entered from a side door. Leading them was a man in a crisp black coat, his presence radiating authority. His face was lined with experience, eyes sharp as a Honchkrow's in the dark. The room seemed to shrink under the weight of his gaze.

Behind him, a row of grunts stood at attention, their Pokémon out and ready—an Arbok coiled beside one, a Houndoom growling softly next to another. The sheer presence of these creatures sent shudders through some of the recruits and caused them all to go silent.

The officer let the silence hang for a moment longer before finally speaking. He took a step forward, his presence suffocating as his sharp gaze swept over the recruits.

"Listen well," he said, his voice cold and unwavering. "My name is Commander Silas, a Commander rank officer in Team Rocket. While you're here, any problems you have aren't my problem. That's what my subordinates are for." He gestured to the uniformed grunts standing rigidly behind him. "I don't have time to deal with lowlifes like you personally, so don't waste my time unless it's something worth my attention."

He paused, his sharp eyes sweeping across the room, causing some recruits to shrink in their places.

"You came here of your own will." His tone was measured, commanding. "You think you're ready for Team Rocket. But let me make something clear—this is no mere gang. This is an organization that moves in the shadows of the world, where strength and loyalty decide your worth. If you are weak, you are nothing. If you fail, you will be discarded."

The air grew heavier with each word.

"Those who pass our trials will become official Rocket Grunts. Those who fail…" He smirked. "Will serve at the bottom of this organization until they prove themselves worthy. And if you remain weak, you will grovel at the feet of those stronger than you until the day you collapse from exhaustion, forgotten and discarded like trash."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some recruits clenched their fists. Others took a step back.

But just then as the recruits settled into place, a sudden movement caught Kai's eye. One of the men in the crowd—young, barely past his teenage years—stepped backward, his face pale with terror.

"I can't—this isn't what I signed up for," he stammered, turning to escape.

The air shifted. Before he could take two steps, a blur of movement shot past the crowd. The Houndoom beside one of the grunts lunged, knocking the recruit to the ground. The boy struggled, gasping, his eyes wide with horror. Then, Silas spoke two words, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Meal time."

The Houndoom's jaws clamped down. A sickening crunch echoed through the chamber. The scream was cut off—sudden, absolute.

A stunned silence fell over the recruits. Some turned away, faces pale and hands trembling. A few others watched, frozen, too shocked to react. One recruit vomited, the sound barely noticeable over the stunned quiet. Others swallowed hard, eyes darting between Silas and the bloodstained ground.

Kai barely flinched, but his fists clenched tightly. Unlike some of the others, he wasn't scared by Silas's actions. He had come here expecting the worst. But seeing such a young person killed without a second thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Was this the true price of survival...?

The question lingered in his mind, heavy and suffocating. His breath hitched for a moment, his thoughts warring between defiance and resignation. Could he truly walk this path, knowing what it demanded? What it needed for him to do?

He had expected brutality. But this? This was not something he had expected even in his wildest dreams—was this what it truly meant to survive in the shadows?

Silas turned away, already moving on. "Your first task is simple."

He gestured to five shelves lined with Pokéballs. "These Pokéballs contain five different Pokémon—Zubat, Ekans, Koffing, Sandshrew, and Rattata. They have been trained by us so they will have complete obedience to whoever chooses them and will accept that person as their trainer. You have ten minutes to decide which one you will take. Once you've chosen, get back in line."

His gaze sharpened as he scanned the recruits. "Choose carefully. The Pokémon you select may very well determine whether you survive... or die."

At his words, most of the recruits rushed to the shelves, eager to secure their desired Pokémon before anyone else could claim them. A few, however, hesitated, taking their time to weigh their options carefully. They studied the Pokémons, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each choice before making their selection.

As Kai stood before the row of Pokéballs, his mind raced. Around him, recruits murmured to themselves, debating their choices. Some made their decision instantly, while others hesitated, second-guessing themselves. He could hear someone muttering about the strengths and weaknesses of each Pokémon, while another nervously tapped their foot, paralyzed by indecision.

Near him, a girl reached out toward the same Pokéball he was eyeing. The same girl he had noticed earlier—the one who seemed out of place. Her fingers brushed the Pokéball at the same moment his did.

Kai and the girl locked eyes, both gripping the same Pokéball. For a second, neither spoke. The girl's expression was unreadable, though her grip tightened ever so slightly as if she were daring him to challenge her claim.

"…You have good taste," Kai finally muttered, breaking the silence.

The girl blinked, then let out a soft chuckle. "I could say the same to you." Her voice was calm, controlled, but there was an edge to it—something guarded.

Neither of them let go. A silent standoff. Around them, recruits moved in a frenzy, scrambling for their choices, but for a brief moment, time seemed to slow between the two of them.

Kai studied her closely. Up close, she seemed even more out of place among the recruits. Despite the rough uniformity of their surroundings, there was an elegance to her movements, a sharpness in her gaze that didn't belong to someone merely desperate to survive.

He considered his options. Arguing over a Pokémon in a place like this wasn't wise. Neither was making an unnecessary enemy on day one.

He exhaled, easing his grip. "Go ahead. Take it."

The girl hesitated for a moment as if surprised by his response. Then, she nodded and took the Pokéball, stepping back.

"Kai," he said, offering his name.

She looked at him for a second, then smirked slightly. "Luna."

And with that, she turned away, disappearing into the crowd.

He had a feeling this wasn't the last time he'd see Luna.

Kai's gaze flickered over the remaining Pokéballs, the seconds stretching longer as he weighed his options. He had already made up his mind.

Then his hand stopped over a single Pokéball labeled Ekans. There was no need for second-guessing.

He reached forward, his fingers closing around the cool, metallic sphere of Ekans' Pokéball. The instant he touched it, a faint tremor pulsed against his palm, subtle but unmistakable—something alive, something waiting.

He picked it up, running his thumb over its smooth surface. A predator. A creature that waits in the shadows and strikes when the time is right.

A perfect match.

A slow breath escaped him. This is it.

The smooth surface was firm under his fingertips, yet the weight in his hand felt heavier than its size should allow. It wasn't just the Pokémon inside—it was the significance of the choice itself. This wasn't about picking a companion. It was about survival. About proving himself.

He tightened his grip as he pulled the Pokéball close, feeling the cold metal warm slightly in his grasp. The serpent inside would either be his weapon or his downfall, and in a place like this, failure wasn't an option. Ekans fit his style—quiet, cunning, adaptable. A predator that struck when least expected.

Turning on his heel, Kai walked back toward the line where the other recruits stood, his movements steady, deliberate. The weight of the Pokéball settled in his palm like an unspoken pact between trainer and Pokémon. He didn't need to open it, not yet. The true test would come soon enough.

As he fell into position among the others, the echoes of his brief encounter with the girl still lingered at the edges of his mind. But they were fleeting, insignificant compared to the path ahead.

For now, only one thing mattered—winning

As kai looked over and he saw that there were few recruits who were still deciding which pokemon to choose. But at that exact moment, a voice cut through the air.

"Time's up."

Silas's voice carried a quiet menace as he stepped forward. "Those who have chosen, step back into formation. Those who hesitated..." He trailed off, smirking. "Let's just say hesitation can be... costly."

A slow, deliberate snap of his fingers echoed through the chamber.

As the sharp snap echoed through the chamber, the remaining recruits who had yet to choose their Pokémon were swiftly surrounded by Silas's subordinates. Despite their protests and struggles, they were forcefully dragged away.

Silas turned to the rest, his gaze cold and unforgiving. "Let this serve as a lesson" he declared. "Never waste my time. My time is far more worth than a few lowlifes."

And in that moment, Kai understood—Team Rocket did not tolerate mistakes. Not even for a second.

"Good. Looks like you all have made your choices unlike those other lowlifes."

He turned to the grunts beside him and gave a single nod.

"Now, let's see who made the right choice."

With a flick of his wrist, the lights dimmed, and the floor beneath them rumbled. Then, from the shadows, came the low, guttural growl of something unseen—something big.

A shiver ran down Kai's spine as he saw what the shadow actually was and the realization sank in.

And like that, the first trial had truly begun.

To be continued.....