Doctor Doom continued his journey to Vermillion City unimpeded until they were within the city limits. This is where everyone should have ran screaming in terror and prayed to their chosen deity, but ignorance left the people unaware of what horrors awaited them.
As Doom and his faithful Meowth entered the city the first thing he took note of was the giant cruise liner that had docked on the far end of the city. Unlike Cerulean this city was not populated by very many buildings and it was easy to see that there was still a lot of room for growth here. Doom could already visualize several corporations and factories that would make good use of the water front once he had freed these people of their delusions of freedom.
Doctor Doom entered the Pokecenter and without saying a word to the local Joy began his slow descent into his underground laboratory. Doom, in all of his wisdom, had made this particular area very big so that it could act as one of his central base of operations while he was stationed in this world. The port had too many uses not to have such a large base of operations nearby.
After several flights of stairs, because god knows Doom nor his Pokemon get the workout they need when in battle, Doom punched in a forty digit long code into a keypad and walked into his lab. Not that anyone could have gotten into his lab regardless, but Doom liked 40 digit codes. It would be wise if you never questioned why.
Meowth was awed by just how expansive the place turned out to be. He didn’t think it was possible to fit all of this beneath Vermillion! Meowth looked to his right and saw a large area that had a green signed marked “Training” on the door.
Doom took notice of Meowth's observation. “Doom is pleased that you took notice of that particular area so quickly. That is where you and your Pokemon shall train while Doom is out conducting research on the pain tolerance of various native species.”
“But master, I don’t know how to train-“Meowth was interrupted by a backhand from Doom. Meowth rubbed his face and cursed his own stupidity. He had so deserved that.
“Then you will learn how to train. Doom will be gone for several hours, when Doom returns he expects certain standards to have been met. If such a simple task is beyond you, there will be dire consequences.”
Meowth nodded fervently. He didn't want to know what his master's definition of dire was.
Doom swept out of the room and made his way back to ground level. Now that Meowth was being efficient Doom turned his focus to what brought him here in the first place. Doom was Doom, therefore Doom was wickedly clever and his plans reached farther than anyone was capable of seeing. For his plan to succeed, however, Doom needed to conduct a key piece of research. The S.S. Anne held a key to this research and he would crush whoever got in his way. He would also crush those who did not get in his way, but if he actually announced this then those who were not directly in his way would have hope, and it was that hope that Doom was eager to crush personally.
Doom arrived at the docks and looked around. There was no one walking about. It was easy for Doom to deduce that everyone who would normally be milling about had decided to take a look at the ship in port. That would not save them from Doom. Doom continued towards the ship when something caught his eye. A truck was parked on the opposite side of where the ship was. Doom walked up to the truck and inspected it closely until a cruel smile had formed on his lips.
Doom was pleased.
They had already taken his shipment off of the boat.
Time to experiment!