Chapter 4: Noir Mask Begins
Giovanni’s men, a pair of gentlemen in black suits, came for Marie at 5:30 AM. They did not wake Marie however, as she had been unable to get any sleep even after returning from her little outing from the night before. She did nap for a few hours, but it was not a deep sleep. The two men who came for Marie instructed her to change into her trainee uniform. Marie put on the blue jumpsuit and the black boots and gloves that came with it.
After Marie had changed, the two men escorted to the elevator. Once inside, one of the men opened a secret panel beneath the elevator buttons and pressed the red button inside. The elevator began to descend, and after a few minutes the elevator stopped and opened up a large dimly lit rooms with grey walls that had red benches along them. Directly across from the elevator was a long dark hallway.
“Welcome to the Team Rocket training facility.” One of the two men said coldly to Marie. “Go down that hallway. The other recruits are waiting.”
After a split second of hesitation, Marie exited the elevator. The door closed as soon as she stepped out. She went down the long hallway until she reached what looked like a large stadium. There were already several young men and women gathered in the stadium, all wearing uniforms similar to Marie’s. Though some of the uniforms were red instead of blue. One thing that was clear to Marie though was that all of the other recruits there were a few years older than she was.
“Alright, fall in you worms!” a deep voice suddenly bellowed.
On cue, Marie and the other recruits lined up in a military formation. Marie had somehow ended up in the first row. Walking into the room was a very large and muscular black man with a shaved head and a black eye patch over his left eye. His uniform was similar to most Team Rocket agents, except it was grey and included a light-grey vest.
“I am Sergeant Stone.” The man announced as he walked in front of the front row of recruits. “You may address me as Sergeant Stone or Sir. Call me anything else and I’ll make you wish you were never born. You’re all here because you wish to join Team Rocket. Let me tell you right now that becoming a member of Team Rocket is no cakewalk. For the next six months you’re all mine, and before that time is over I guarantee that more than half of you will wash out.”
Stone at last came to the end of the row where Marie was standing. He looked down and stared at her with his one eye, causing Marie to tremble a bit.
“Well, you must that pipsqueak that the boss has taken interest in.” Stone said to Marie. “I don’t see what’s so special about you myself, but don’t expect any special treatment from me.” With that, Stone walked to the center of the stadium. “Now then, today we’ll start with a few one-one-one Pokemon battles to see how skilled you are with handling Pokemon. I think I’ll have our little pipsqueak will be one of the two to go first.”
Marie reluctantly stepped forward. She hoped that the battle she was about to have would go as smoothly as the battles to capture Murkrow and Houndour.
“Alright, which one of you worms is going to volunteer to face this runt?” Stone asked.
Stepping forward from the front row was a young man who looked to be about sixteen with short brown hair and hazel eyes.
“Let’s have your name recruit.” Stone ordered.
“Mike Evans, sir!” the young man answered.
“Okay Evans, you and the pipsqueak go to the center of the arena.” Stone commanded.
Both Marie and Evans walked out to the center of the stadium floor and took their places. Stone took a place off to the side to referee.
“This will be a one-on-one Pokemon battle! No substitutions will be allowed!” Stone announced. “Begin!”
“Go Rattata!” Evans called as he threw out a Pokeball.
Emerging from the thrown ball was a fairly large purple mouse with red eyes and a cream-colored underside. Marie sent out Houndour in response.
“Okay Rattata, let’s end this quick!” Evans called. “Use Hyper Fang!”
Rattata’s two large buckteeth began to glow with a white light. It charged forward and bit down on Houndour’s right front leg. Suddenly Houndour whirled in the air for a moment and changed into Zorua. The little fox began snickering at its little trick.
“Hey, what gives?” Evans complained. “You can’t substitute your Pokemon like that!”
“I never said I sent out Houndour in the first place.” Marie pointed out as a half smile came to her face.
“Calm down Evans!” Stone cut in. “That Zorua used its Illusion ability to change into another Pokemon. Now quit complaining and take her out!”
“Fine, use Tackle Rattata!” Evans commanded.
“Fake Tears!” Marie commanded as Rattata began its charge.
Zorua suddenly began to cry out and break down in tears. Rattata stopped its charge. It then walked up to Zorua with an expression of concern on its face.
“What’s going on now?” Evans complained. “Finish it Rattata!”
“When a Pokemon uses Fake Tears, it causes the opponent to drop its guard.” Marie explained. “The opponent’s Special Defense decreases, making them more vulnerable to an attack like this. Dark Pulse Zorua!”
Immediately Zorua stopped crying and fired off a barrage of black energy rings at Rattata. The little rodent Pokemon was knocked out cold.
“Okay, that’s enough. The victory goes to the pipsqueak!” Stone declared. “You’re going to have to do a whole lot better than that Evans. Alright, let’s have two more volunteers!”
With that, Marie and Evans called back Zorua and Rattata and walked off the battlefield as two more recruits took their place.
“Don’t get cocky pipsqueak!” Stone called to Marie. “You may have won one battle today, but there’s more to being a member of Team Rocket than just Pokemon battles. It all gets harder from here on out.”
* * *
A few hours later, Marie and the other recruits had adjourned to the training facility’s cafeteria. It was a fairly large room with tan walls that was a little more brightly lit than the rest of the facility. Most of the tables and chairs had been filled with trainees. Marie however sat at her table alone as she ate.
“Hey, this seat taken?” a voice from behind suddenly asked.
Marie turned her head and saw a girl who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen with long light-green hair and reddish-brown eyes. She wore a blue trainee jumpsuit like Marie’s and was holding a try full of food.
“…I guess you can sit here.” Marie said coldly. She preferred to eat alone, but after looking around the room it was clear there was nowhere else for the young woman to sit.
“Thanks a lot.” The young woman said as she took the chair next to Marie. “This place is totally packed. You did pretty good in that battle earlier.”
“Thanks.” Marie replied, trying her best to ignore her dining companion.
“So my name’s Margo.” The young woman told her. “You are?”
“…None of your business.” Marie coldly answered.
“Okay…” Margo replied. “Well I’m sure your name isn’t ‘pipsqueak’. Let’s see… if you’re aren’t willing to give me your name, maybe I should just come up with another one for you. I know! I’ll call you Jane.”
“What, like Jane Doe?” Marie asked.
“Sort of.” Margo answered. “I was actually thinking of this girl I knew in the orphanage I was in before coming here. She was this mousy little thing with a bad attitude, sorta like you are. So what do you think?”
“You can call me whatever you want.” Marie replied flatly.
“Jane it is then.” Margo chuckled. “So if you don’t mind me asking, how’d a little kid like you end up here?”
“I couldn’t survive in the place I was before.” Marie answered. “This was the only place for me to go.”
“I hear that.” Margo chuckled. “I grew up in this dirt poor, overcrowded orphanage. Ran away when I was fifteen. I lived on the streets until I came here.”
“So you don’t mind stealing other people’s Pokemon then?” Marie asked.
“Hey, the way I see it we’re doing a lot of those Pokemon a favor.” Margo told her. “When I lived on the streets I saw a lot of trainers who abused their Pokemon. So they’re probably better of being stolen. And like you said, we don’t have any other place to go.”
“If you’ll excuse me.” Marie said in a tone of disgust as she suddenly got up with her tray only half finished.
“Okay, catch ya later I guess Jane.” Margo called as Marie walked off.
* * *
Three months had passed since Marie had begun her training as a member of Team Rocket. One afternoon, Marie limped into her apartment as she leaned against Margo for support. Margo helped Marie over to her couch before heading out to the kitchen.
“That was a pretty rough session of hand-to-hand combat training you had.” Margo commented as she opened the freezer for some ice. “I can’t believe that guy knocked you down with that low kick and then stepped on your knee like that.”
“Stone seems to prefer that we fight dirty.” Marie said darkly.
“Well, you sure got that guy back though.” Margo said as she filled a bag with some ice. “That one kick you gave him after he stepped on you probably made sure he can never have children. Plus you broke his thumb. You fight pretty well when you’re angry.”
“I’ve never done anything like that before.” Marie told her. “It wasn’t something I enjoyed doing.”
“Hey, you did what you had to Jane.” Margo said as she handed Marie the bag of ice. “And the good news is that you didn’t break that knee of yours. The doc said you should stay off it for a few days though. It’s a good thing we get the weekend off.”
“There is that at least.” Marie agreed as she put the bag of ice on her right knee.
“You should take this time to get some sleep.” Margo suggested. “I mean you look worn out.”
“I don’t really sleep anymore.” Marie told her.
“I can understand that.” Margo replied. “For three months we get up at 5:30 in the morning for a whole day of Pokemon battles, training to break into secure buildings. Then there was that day when that hard-ass Stone made us take that long jog from here to Saffron City and back. My legs were sore for a week after that.”
“It certainly wasn’t fun for me.” Marie agreed. “And it was so hot that day…. I hate the heat.”
“Yeah, well my point is that you shouldn’t push yourself too hard kid.” Margo told her. “I mean you terrible. You’re getting so pale that you’re starting to look like a vampire. And it doesn’t help that you keep this place so dark twenty-four seven. Anyway, you should take it easy.”
“I can’t afford to take it easy.” Marie declared. “Team Rocket is the only place left for me, so I have to push myself as hard as I can to make sure I become a member.”
“Well okay, but just be careful.” Margo sighed. “I kinda like you Jane, you and I are kind of alike. I just don’t want to see you kill yourself.”
“…Thank you for your concern.” Marie said after a moment. “But I’ll be fine.”
“Just take it easy during the weekend.” Margo told her. “I’ll see you later.”
With that, Margo left the apartment. Marie slumped back on the couch and sighed. Marie had to admit that Margo was right about one thing; she was tired. So Marie decided that she should try taking a nap.
* * *
Three more moths had passed, and Marie’s training as an agent of Team Rocket was nearing its completion. On the night before the final day of her training Marie was up late in her apartment working on something at her deck. All of her Pokemon were out, including Darkrai. Houndour, who had evolved into a Houndoom during a training battle, was by the door chewing on an old bone. The black dog had grown larger due to its evolution, and had gained a pointed tail similar to that of a demon’s. The skull marking on its forehead had vanished, and its ears looked as if they were replaced by white horns that curved back. It had also gained a white band around its neck with what looked like a small skull on the front of it.
Darkrai was on the couch, while Zorua was curled up on the corner of the desk watching Marie. Murkrow had perched itself on Marie’s shoulder to watch as Marie crafted a black half mask with light-blue lenses.
“There, finished.” Marie said after gluing the second lens into place. Zorua then gave Marie a curious look. “Can’t figure out why I made this mask little guy? It’s simple really, I don’t want people to see my face and know me as someone who works for Team Rocket. Plus most of the world probably thinks I’m dead anyway, so I might as well take on a new identity…. Well, it’s going to be a long day tomorrow, so I should try and get some sleep.”
* * *
The next day Marie and the other recruits had gathered in the arena for their final day of training. Several of the trainees had been eliminated, leaving only ten.
“Alright you worms, this is the last day of your training.” Stone said as he began to address the troops. “I have to say, I’m surprised that some of you made it this far. But today’s the day we weed out the strong from the weak. Only half of you will be accepted into Team Rocket, and to decide that you will each fight in a one-on-one Pokemon battle. The winners will be the ones who make the cut. So let’s get started! First up is Evans against our resident pipsqueak.”
Marie and Evans took their places on the battlefield. Their training had begun with the two of them battling, and it seemed that it would end the same way.
“Don’t think this will end the same way as our first battle.” Evans said confidently.
“Let the battle begin!” Stone declared.
“Go Raticate!” Evans called as he threw out his Pokeball.
Emerging from the thrown ball was a large light-brown rat with huge fangs and a pink cord-like tail. Marie sent out Houndoom in response.
“Don’t think I’ll fall for the same trick twice.” Evans said smugly. “Use Quick Attack!”
In an instant Raticate seemed to vanish, but a split second later in tackled into Houndoom. As soon as Houndoom was hit it suddenly changed into Zorua.
“Hah, I knew it!” Evans exclaimed. “Now use Super Fang!”
Raticate’s large fangs began to glow with a gold light. With incredible speed it got behind Zorua and bit down on its tail. The little fox cried out in pain.
“No, Zorua!” Maire called out with a worried expression.
“It’s all over now.” Evans said with an arrogant smirk.
Suddenly Zorua cried out and its body began to glow with a white light. The little fox then began to change and grow in size. Once the light had cleared, Zorua had changed into a bipedal fox-like creature that stood at about five feet. Its ears and snout had become pointed. On the top of its head it had gained a large mass of mostly red fur that was tied back in a ponytail by a large teal orb. The thick black fur that was once around its neck had moved to cover its upper torso.
“No way, it evolved into Zoroark?” Evans said with a shocked expression.
“Night Slash.” Marie commanded coldly.
The red claws on Zoroark’s right hand began to glow with a red light. The monster fox then charged forward and roared as it lunged and slashed Raticate across the chest.
“Night Slash again!” Marie commanded. Once again Zoroark slashed at Raticate with its claws, throwing the rodent into the air. “Now finish with Dark Pulse!”
Before Raticate hit the ground, Zoroark fired a barrage of black energy rings at the rodent. Raticate hit the ground with a thud and did not try to get up. Zoroark roared with its victory.
“Well, I guess the boss was onto something when he recruited you pipsqueak.” Stone said to Marie. “You’re out Evans.”
With that, Zoroark trotted back up to Marie and licked her on the face, causing her to laugh a little.
“Thank you my friend.” Marie said quietly to Zoroark as she patted it on the head.
* * *
About half an hour later, Marie was standing on the stadium floor wearing a new uniform that signified she was a full-fledged member of Team Rocket. The new uniform consisted of a black shirt with a red R on front, a short black skirt, black boots and gloves, and a black cap. Marie was standing with Margo and the three other recruits who had made it through training. As soon as they had lined up, Stone reentered the room with Giovanni and his Persian following close behind.
“Okay you worms, Looks like you’ve made the cut.” Stone said as he addressed the five. “Now it’s time for you to meet the man we all work for. Presenting now the absolute leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni.”
“I congratulate you all for passing you training. Welcome to Team Rocket.” Giovanni said to the recruits. He suddenly noticed Marie and walked up to her. “Well young lady, I’m not at all surprised to see you here. You have lived up to my expectations.”
“Thank you sir.” Marie responded.
“Now then, it occurs to me that I never bothered to learn your name.” Giovanni realized. “Perhaps you could tell me now.”
“…My name?” Marie said as a smile came to her face. She then pulled out the black mask she had been working on the night before and put it on. “The girl I was when you found me is dead, so it’s only right that I take on a new name. From now on you can call me Noir Mask.”
Three of the newly minted Team Rocket members gasped at Marie in surprise. Margo meanwhile gave Marie a worried expression.
“Now see here you little…!” Stone began to shout, but Giovanni raised his hand, causing Stone to fall silent.
“I like your sense of style.” Giovanni said with an amused expression. “And you might as well have a new name to go with your new life. Very well, from this point on you shall be known as Noir Mask.”
“Thank you sir.” Marie replied.
“Now then, you five have earned a week off.” Giovanni continued. “I suggest you all use this time to rest, for next week you will be assigned your first mission. That is all.”
Marie and the four saluted Giovanni before turning to exit the stadium. As she walked down the hall, Marie continued to smile, but on the inside she felt miserable. Her training had finally come to an end, but somehow Marie knew thing were only going to get harder for her.
