From: Saint Paul of Antioch (Saint84_98@yahoo.com) Subject: [PW!] Into the Cobra Pit Newsgroups: alt.games.nintendo.pokemon Date: 2000-12-05 15:20:10 PST The crowd rustled about impatiently, and Bellatrix glanced around nervously. Where was she? The statement was written all over his face. Ronan discreetly ducked out of the sanctuary and down the hall towards the bride's room. He knocked on the door, "Cor, what's taking you so long?" There was no answer. "Corona? You in there?" Still no answer. Ronan was concerned, he tried the knob. "Corona, I hope you're decent because I'm coming in." It was locked. "Then again... Oh well, locked door never stopped me before." He stuck a hand into his pocket, looking for a paper clip, a hair pin, a pair scissors. Anything that would pick a lock. The only thing there was an unused wedding ring. "Hmm, what would McGuiver do?" Ronan thought for a moment and realized he'd never actually seen the show. He shrugged and kicked the door down. "The simplest solution..." He looked around the small room. It didn't take long for him to notice that Corona wasn't there. It didn't take him much longer to notice the blatantly obvious signs of a struggle there. "Oh shit. BELLATRIX!" Ronan rushed out of the room, and to the door of the sanctuary. He realized right before rushing into the room that causing a panic was probably not a good idea. So he quickly composed himself and walked up to Bellatrix. "Ronan? Where you been man?" Bellatrix asked, still looking very much worried. "She's gone dude." Ronan said through clenched teeth. "What?" "She's been kidnapped." "KIDNA-" "Shhh shut up!" Ronan interrupted. "Don't cause a panic," Ronan thought quickly. "Dude tell everyone t'go home, tell them somethings happened. And that we'll reschedule. I'm going to go find some answers." "What should I tell them?" "That's your problem." Ronan rushed out of the church, pulling of the tuxedo jacket and dress shirt. The penguin look was not the way to remain inconspicous where he was going. ******** Tires squealed as Ronan took the turn down the main road, he grinned to himself as his pushed his jet black Ford Moltres to the max. he could almost swear he saw the flames painted on the hood and sides of the car begin to peel off and the firebird they surrounded cry for it's mommy. He howled as the car pushed itself up to a hundered miles per hour through the streets of Violet City. Some jerk next to him sent a rude gesture his way, he spat out the window and sent one right back. He did a tight turn around the pokemon center then pulled into the back lot of a seedy looking bar. He got out of his car and studied his hastily done parking job. He grinned as he noticed he was parked diagonally over three different parking spots, two of which were handicapped. He shrugged and went to the door. The bar itself was nothing special. Smokey, wild, decent music. Alcohol flowing freely. This was Ronan's world, he knew all about it. A good looking blonde girl was ordering a drink at the bar. Ronan ran his hand through his hair and was about to go in for the kill when he reminded himself that he was here on business, there would be time for that later. He approached the bar casually. He leaned against it next to the blonde. He sent her a wink and a suggestive smirk, she smiled in reply but did nothing more. The bartender approached. "What's your poison Ro?" Ronan grinned at him with familiarity. "Nothing today Stu, I'm here on business only." Stu laughed at him as he wiped down the bar and put away glasses. "Business? You? Since when? The only 'business' you've ever done is on the can." He paused to help another patron. "Listen, I'm looking for Viper." That instantly killed his good mood. "What do you want with the Viper?" "I just need to ask a few questions..." "Hey, look I don't know nothin'" Ronan reached into his pocket and pulled out a hundred dollar bill, and held it over the tip jar on the bartop. "Come on Stu, help me out," He waggled the bill tantilizingly over the jar, effectivly hypnotising the bartender. Who jerked his head pointedly towards a door in the back, Ronan smiled and dropped the bill into the jar. "Thanks pal." He walked over to the door. it was locked so he knocked. A white guy with blue hair, a goatee and three ear piercings answered. "What you need?" He asked eyeing Ronan suspiciously. Ronan leaned against the door, the picture of cockiness. He could hear decent music coming from the room inside, odds are there was a mosh pit going already. That was from the nightclub part of the bar, this, more than likely was the "greyer" part of the joint. Such was the norm at The Cobra Pit. Ronan eyed him casually, "I need to speak to Viper." The kid's eyes went wide with shock for a moment, then hardened. "The Boss ain't speaking to nobody, least of all some braindead punk like you." He made a move to slam the door, but Ronan grabbed it with his hand, He reached into his pocket, whipped out the switch blade he kept there and pressed it to the guy's chin. "Listen to me, dude. if you wanna keep that goatee, just let me through." Ronan felt a pang of guilt for the poor kid, Ronan would never kill him, or even hurt him, the switch was kept around for protection and for show. The kid let him through. Ronan put the blade away and walked confidently toward Viper's lair. Two guards stood at the door blocking his way. More flunkies, Ronan thought to himself, and not to be intimidated by a measly little blade either. He grinned cordially up at the guards. They scowled upon seeing him. "What the hell do you want insect?" One of them bellowed. Now at six foot even, Ronan was not exactly small, but compared to these hulking giants, he might as well been about four feet tall. "I need to speak to Viper, so if you'll just excuse me..." He made to move behind them. They blocked his way. "No one sees Viper." The one on the left said with a growl in his voice. He reached up and touched his ear, and cocked his head, as if listening to something, he had a confused look on his face. He then reached behind him and opened the door for Ronan. Ronan nodded to them as he entered, donning his shades for the full effect, he walked down the hall behind the door to another door which was unguarded. It opened for him as he approached. He nodded, impressed and walked through the door. The room was red and black in decor. Hazy clouds incense and smoke drifted past giving the rest of the room a dream like quality. Strings of beads laced the ceiling on which red filtered lamps hung. in the center of the room sat that which Ronan was seeking. "Welcome to my lair, Tiomanne." A lazy sounding voice greeted him. Ronan was treated to the sight of a women in a tight fitting dress lazing like a cat in a big overstuffed chair, Flanked by another pair of burly guards. The Viper. The owner and propietor of the Cobra Pit. And one of the biggest crime bosses in Johto. Not bad in the looks department either. She had long crimson hair that cascaded down her back like a river of fire. Her eyes were the purest green, like perfect emeralds, but they carried a hint of deception, cunning and manipulation within them. Ronan didn't trust them for a moment "Viper, enchanted as usual." Ronan nodding his head and attempting to hide the look of digust as Viper's pet Ekans glided into view. It was oddly colored red and black, which matched Viper's outfit, as well as the rest of the room. Viper's ruby red lips grinned as she caught the look. "What's the matter Roh-nee? Don't you like my pet?" She stretched out her arms and the snake crawled over her shoulders and hung off her neck, hissing indignantly at him. Ronan cleared his throat. "If we could get to the business at hand...?" Viper grinned at him and licked her lips seductively. She slinked out of her chair and edged closer to him, placing one hand on his chest, the other on his cheek. The Ekans slithered across his shoulders and around his neck, encircling the two of them. "But of course. However you have yet to tell me what the 'business at hand' is, handsome." She gazed into his shades, as if attempting to see into his mind, part of the reason Ronan wore those shades. People said she could be as hypnotising as her namesake. "If we could have a little privacy?" Ronan said and glanced pointedly at the two guards. Viper snapped her fingers and jerked her head towards the door, they left and stationed themselves on either side of the door outside. Viper broke her hold on him and padded over to the mini bar at the back of the room. "Can I offer you something?" She said sweetly holding up a bottle of liquor temptingly. Now Ronan was never one to turn down a bit of alcohol, but he wasn't stupid either. He trusted The Viper about as far as he could throw a Snorlax. He stepped towards the bar and plucked a few bottles from the shelf, pouring them into a glass and stirring it slowly. Viper laughed. "Good, you don't trust me. I see you're not as stupid as I once thought you were." Her poisonous green eye sparkled as Ronan tasted the concoction expirementally. "I still don't. You may have laced these glasses, or all the bottles except the ones your drink was in." "And yet you still drink, am I to assume I found your Achilles Heel?" Her grin widened and she took a sip of her own drink. Ronan did likewise. "What is your business with me Ronan?" "I'm looking for someone...close, who was kidnapped from her own wedding not three days ago." "I didn't even know you were engaged." "Not my wedding, my friend's. Someone kidnapped his bride and ran off with her. I was wondering if you knew anything about it." "I am but a simple business woman, why would I know anything about it?" She said, feined innocence dripping from her voice. Ronan's eyes hardened beneath the shades he wore over his eyes. "Cut the crap lady, you know as well as I do, you're not a 'simple business woman' anymore I am the president of Kanto." "Hail to the chief." Viper replied with a laugh. "You have your hand in many things, most of which lies in the shadows. Now, I am asking you if you know anything about Corona Sky's kidnapping?" "Mmm" She purred, "What do I get if I tell you? I want something in return..." She took another sip of her drink. "Such as...?" Ronan prodded impatiently. He didn't like these games. He had no idea where Corona could be, or what kind of shape she was in. He wanted to do something now. "Let's just say you'll owe me a favor. To be called in whenever and wherever I need it." Ronan didn't exactly care for those terms, it was never a good idea to be in debt to the Viper, but he had no choice. He had to help Bellatrix find her. "Okay. Now tell me." Viper grinned, triumph shining in her eyes. "Good, glad to see you know how the game works. I'll tell you all I know. This Corona Sky, she wouldn't be of the Cinnabarian Skys would she?" Ronan nodded. "Ahh there is the motive, money. She would fetch a pretty ransom. Now as to the culprit. Do you remember, a few years back, the fighting gym of Saffron City?" Ronan nodded, quickly growing tired of these games. "Yes, of course, they were beaten by Sabriana's band of psychics, what of it?" "They were funded by a man named Robert Hussix. A man after my own heart, he too has his hands in many things. He even tried to start a crime syndicate to rival that of Team Rocket. Like the Rockets, he also inlisted the aid of a pokemon gym for training purposes." "The Fighting Dojo." Ronan said nodding amazed. Viper nodded. "Where?" "Head for Celadon City in the country of Kanto, you'll find you answer there." Viper smiled at him over her glass. "Celadon's a big place anything specific?" Ronan leaned towrds her, awaiting more answers. "Try a bar called 'The Rainforest.'" Ronan nodded and bowed mockingly towards her. "Thank you, I'll be leaving now." "Remember Ronan, you owe me." TBC