ALL NOVEL Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Cubone's First Training
Rax Chand's breathing remained steady as he finished the lap alongside Cubone. His physical fitness was a testament to the rigorous training all members of Team Rocket underwent, even those assigned to intelligence roles.
The same couldn't be said for Cubone. At just 20 centimeters tall, completing 400 meters was an impressive yet exhausting feat. But despite its fatigue, the small Pokémon clung tightly to its bone club.
"Cubone, let's take a break before we continue," Rax said, pulling out a bottle of Moomoo Milk he had prepared in advance.
Moomoo Milk was a valuable recovery item, redeemable with Rocket points. However, Rax opted to acquire it using funds rather than wasting points on items he could purchase locally. The ramen shop used small amounts of Moomoo Milk in its soups and sauces, and Captain Yusaku had given him permission to take what he needed.
"Make sure to keep Cubone well-nourished in the early stages," Yusaku had reminded him. After all, their cover as ramen chefs was secondary to their mission as undercover Rocket operatives. Even if the shop earned no profit, operational expenses were fully supported by headquarters.
Grateful for the gesture, Rax made full use of the supplies.
Cubone perked up at the sight of the milk, its nose twitching as it caught the rich aroma. Rax didn't tease the Pokémon and handed it the bottle.
Gulp... gulp... gulp...
"Drink slowly," Rax advised, amused at how seriously Cubone drank the milk, as if it were facing a fierce opponent.
After draining half the bottle in one go, Cubone let out a small burp and extended the bottle to Rax.
"Cubone!"
Rax blinked in surprise before taking a small sip. The milk's flavor was rich yet refreshing, and he immediately felt a warm sensation coursing through him, washing away the mental fatigue from his restless night.
No wonder it was such a staple in the Pokémon world.
Smiling, he handed the bottle back. "You need the nutrition more than I do. Look, I'm already strong enough!" Rax flexed his arm playfully.
Cubone glanced between Rax's biceps and its own stubby arms. Determined, it finished the rest of the milk in one big gulp.
---
After the quick break, Cubone stood up, visibly energized and ready for the next challenge.
"The next step is skill training," Rax said. "Today, we'll focus on three moves: Bone Club, Screech, and Curse."
Based on his inherited memories, Rax knew the moves Cubone currently had: Growl, Tail Whip, Bone Club, Screech, and Curse. The latter two were inherited moves, offering great potential if developed correctly.
Bone Club would also serve as the foundation for learning the advanced move Bone Boomerang in the future.
"Remember, every skill has three key elements: power, accuracy, and speed. All three are important. We'll start by focusing on power."
With precise instructions drawn from the training manuals he'd purchased, Rax guided Cubone through a series of drills. He ensured the Pokémon's energy levels remained stable, adjusting the exercises as needed.
Despite it being their first formal session, both Rax and Cubone performed admirably.
As night fell, an exhausted but satisfied Cubone dozed off in Rax's arms as they returned to the ramen shop.
---
Captain Yusaku, who had just returned from his own training session, greeted them with a knowing smile.
"You've been working hard," he remarked. "I've hired some new staff for the shop, so tomorrow, we'll have time to explore the town."
Rax caught the subtle hint. Their intelligence-gathering mission was about to begin.
---
The next day started early, with Rax and Cubone waking to the shrill sound of an alarm clock. Morning exercises were now a part of their daily routine.
Returning to the park, they repeated the 400-meter run from the previous day. Rax was impressed by Cubone's visible improvement; not only had its time improved by nearly a third, but its endurance had also noticeably increased.
"Great job, Cubone!" Rax praised, watching the Pokémon puff out its chest with pride.
After some light stretching and an additional half hour of skill practice, they headed back to the ramen shop.
Inside, Rax met the new hires: two men and two women.
"Let me introduce you to Rax, my assistant. If I'm not around, you'll follow his instructions," Captain Yusaku said.
"Please, just call me Rax. I'll do my best to help," Rax replied modestly. He understood Yusaku's intent—this arrangement gave him more freedom to carry out his Rocket duties without restrictions.
---
With the shop running smoothly, Rax followed Yusaku's orders and ventured out to gather intelligence on Iron Rock Town.
In the world of Team Rocket, intelligence came in all forms—rare Pokémon sightings, hidden treasures, political movements, and even seemingly trivial details about local relationships or disputes. Every piece of information had potential value when woven into a larger narrative.
Rax and Yusaku's task was to establish and maintain an intelligence database for Iron Rock Town, contributing to Team Rocket's future expansion into the Sinnoh region.
Their cover as ramen shop owners allowed them to blend seamlessly into the community. Over time, they could even participate in Pokémon League tournaments, further expanding Rocket influence.
Rax's first stop was the Iron Rock Cyber Café, a hub for local gossip and public information. Renting a private, unmonitored booth, he spent the entire day gathering data.
By the end of the session, Rax had compiled a sizable amount of intelligence onto a USB drive. He also skimmed the Pokémon League's official website for additional insights before logging off.
The information he'd gathered was enough to meet Rocket standards for the next two weeks.
---
Back at the ramen shop, Rax enjoyed a hearty bowl of tomato beef ramen prepared by Yusaku, signaling with a glance that the mission had gone smoothly.
After dinner, it was back to training.
While Rax knew of the Shiny Metagross on Rock Mountain, he wouldn't act until he and Cubone were strong enough to handle such a challenge.
For now, life settled into a peaceful routine of work, training, and preparation.
And so, two weeks passed in this way…