Ascending Warriors

Preview

I start to wonder how I have usually been a key member for the criminal organization called Team Rocket. I plan out successful ideas for my missions, I can claim victory at nearly any Pokemon battle, some would consider me to be truely elite. but while I can do my job with extreme proficiency, I still understand that what I do is wrong... and that's what makes me completely different from the rest of the team... though sometimes, I ask myself, "how different am I?

as a Tactical Genius, gifted Pokemon Battler, and the youngest member to ever join Team Rocket, Eric Claid is far from ordinary. when he's on the Job, he's one of those kind of members that is just about perfect in every way. but when he's off the job, he's one of the few kindhearted members who group together to hang out and have fun with Pokemon.
But soon after Eric achieves a very high goal, odd things start to happen to him, starting with this strange ability of understanding what Pokemon say. but by the time he figures it out, his next interactions with Pokemon... will never be the same again...

Chapter One: Youngest Rocket Member

*BEEEP, BEEEP, BEEEP… BEEEP, BEEEP, BEEEP*

“Hoi, kid, get out of bed this instant!”

Morning, huh?

“OK, OK, I’m awake, damn!” I shouted back.

“Grunts Briefing in FIFTEEN MINUTES, MOVE IT, KID!!”

I threw my blankets off of me, and got dressed in uniform, making sure it was a clean set. I put on the traditional uniform, long black pants with a pair of grey boots, along with a black long sleeved shirt with a big “R” on the back. I then put on the black and red rider’s cap, and rushed off towards the door, grabbing my belt, complete with buckle and six small pockets (three on each side) for holding small red and white pokeballs and buckled it on. I then pressed the button on my alarm clock, which was still going off, and marched on outside down the hallway. A man, supposedly in his late twenties, walked next to me… and the look on his face told me he wasn’t happy… in fact, he was ticked off.

“Dammit, Claid, How is it that you get cut some slack when you wake up late, but I don’t?” the man said. The man had a bit of a beard going on, and his brown hair was in need of a serious combing. But I just kept marching onwards and didn’t answer as I turned right to a second hallway towards the destination I was supposed to be. I found I was actually on time, according to the clock I passed.

My name is Eric Claid, I’m 16 years old, and I’m a member of an organization called Team Rocket. Team Rocket is a group of people who hope to gain control of the local society in the world, and make an important change on how society should be in the future… the people will lend us creatures that have unique power, called Pokemon, and help us attain that goal. The Pokemon are treated as helpers in declaring war on the incorrect society that today’s world is made up of… or so I’ve been told constantly. But with my two years experience as a low ranked member, called a Grunt, I learned the truth of what Team Rocket really is a long time ago. What Team Rocket really was was something more evil than what I thought was humane…Team Rocket was a criminal Organization bent on gaining control of the world… and they still work with the false dream of a new world… and the people, they don’t LEND us pokemon, We STEAL the Pokemon from people known as Pokemon Trainers, and later use those pokemon as tools. We are basically known as a very powerful organization of Pokemon Trainers who are bent on taking over the world, and the head honcho is no joke either… but little does the public realize that the boss of Team Rocket, named Giovanni, is also the final Trainer of a group of eight who Trainers are required to battle (and prove victorious of course) in order to gain access to the nationwide tournament known as the Indigo Pokemon League, where Pokemon and their Trainers compete to determine who is the strongest in the nation.

We arrived at the Grunts briefing room. Today was the day of another mission, and I was promised a promotion if I kept my success streak, which has lasted about a couple of months in the few missions I happen to be assigned to, going on for a couple more missions. For me, it was just another day on the job, but I’m not like the other grunts, because I stay quiet when I’m in the middle of an important part of the mission, to make sure I don’t let my more humane self get the better of me, despite the fact of how it pains me to hurt people and commit crimes for a living.

I entered the briefing room, and eighteen other grunts and a Blue haired Administrator, the commanding officer, was waiting. The Admin was in his thirties, his hair was slicked back, so that people could see how professional he is when he’s on the job, when it’s not on the job, we’ve been considered rivals in the sport of Pokemon Battling, where two Trainers pit each other’s team of Pokemon in either one on one, or two on two match, and the last pokemon standing is the winner. His name was Syrus Mitchell, and it seemed he is not happy either.

“Claid, you little brat, where were you!?” He shouted with the voice of a fat boss in his forties. I’ve known him for awhile, and he’s usually like this when he’s pissed.

“I was getting my pokemon groomed, and kissing my invisible Girlfriend, SIR…” I said with a smartassed attitude, the grunts in the room began to laugh… “but in all due honesty, SIR, I consider myself to be on time whether you like it or not, and the clock proves it.”

“To be on time in your book is being late in mine, I could have you off of this mission in an instant. So watch your tongue, squirt.” Syrus glared at me. He looked at the grunts in a sweeping motion, and then began making announcements. “OK people, today we are required to hit the Pokemon Center in Celadon City. We received word that an intense gym battle with leader Ericka has caused a massive spreading of Stun Spore, and plenty of travelers’ pokemon have been affected in the process, so the Pokemon Center in Celadon City has been overloaded with Pokemon. We are to “relieve them” of those Pokemon. Tactics grunt will make out the plan, and then we’ll need everyone to move out in twenty five minutes afterwards.” He narrowed his eyes when he looked at me, and he knew that after he managed to finish giving details, he would most likely ask me for the plan. “OK, kid, you know what to do…”

“Any security details on regards to the Pokemon Center?” I questioned. He shook his head.

“Dude, does ANY Pokemon Center have actual security these days?” someone remarked. A couple of grunts muttered in agreement.

“Maybe, maybe not. But I’m taking no chances. I request that I be in charge of five people to keep lookout over the premesis, four of us will be sparring with grunt pokemon so we can attract attention, and then if trouble comes around, the lone lookout of the group will radio the heads up. But first things first…” I looked at Syrus with a serious look. “how many pokemon are we talking about?”

“seventy, maybe eighty to ninety pokeballs at present.” The grunt closest to me said… “so far the number is decreasing… but if we strike now, we could snag a lot.”

I wasn’t convinced of a safe operation…”what about the population? How’s the crowd?”

The grunt paused, looking at the statistics board… “hmm, err, the Pokemon Center might be full during the mornings and evenings, but it seems to be the least occupied by 1300 to 1500 hours… that should give us two hours if we were to strike at the first moment…”

I assessed the information to come up with an ideal plan, if I were Nurse Joy, then I would usually think that Pokemon should be checked on for an hour while they are unattended just to make sure they were safe…….I thought out the plan, and I made sure there were no grey areas, and the only thing I found as a problem is the pokemon trainers that could still have Pokemon available and the gym leader… I remember facing Ericka Before… and her Pokemon aren’t something to sneeze at… but the majority of the pokemon are grass type, and if she happens to send powders towards us, Flying Pokemon and fire pokemon sounded reasonable… feeling satisfied, I explained the plan in as much detail as time could allow it…

Syrus was professionally satisfied, despite the fact I was the one who thought up the plan. “hmph… OK, then. Eric Claid, you are in charge of a small squad of five other members in this operation. We will strike at 1400 hours, and be expected out of the premesis in 45 minutes. Everyone, grab your masks and get your disguises ready, you’ll be flying off to Celadon city in twenty minutes. Dismissed!”

We filed out of the room, and I figured I’d give my Pokemon the heads up while I was walking… I released my Psychic Pokemon called Alakazam, it was a gold and brown colored Pokemon, with a small pointed nose, and a bit of a mustache. He began levitating next to me, and I let him read my mind so we could communicate through a makeshift telepathy…

Hey, how are you? Alakazam asked. He knew the answer, but I assumed it felt more polite to ask anyways. Lousy, that’s the same morning, lousy… I feel too damn superior these days, people expect me to come up with the plans when I’m around, they never even got ONE successful plan because they go big. I thought, suddenly feeling irritated… I gave Alakazam this half eyed look… and I started to wonder what was making me act this way… I then shrugged it off and just figured “puberty”.

So I walked right, towards the hallway, and I passed a blonde-haired woman of about nineteen to twenty-one, by my judgement, wearing the regular admin’s uniform for women, a really small t-shirt that’s just big enough to cover the very top of her chest, but small enough so some guy could stare at her thin sleek sides. I knew her as Rocket Agent Domino, codenamed 009 (double-O nine), and she was one hell of a tomgirl, able to hold her own against a man in a wrestling match, aside from the fact that I think she was just using her breasts as a world class distraction, which NEVER FAILS.

I looked her in the eye as she passed by, and when she looked me eye to eye, I saw her smirk, with that superior, overconfident, don’t-mess-with-me, kind of look. Once we passed each other, I snorted a little “Hmph” and proceeded down the hallway towards my room. Cocky, blonde haired little bitch, I thought, still in my angry mood swing.

I checked my large closet, with my dozens of wigs, hats, hair dyes, and clothes… all of which I go shopping for myself, online of course. Hey, who said fashion was only for women? Not ME, and most CERTAINLY not my job, where getting good disguises was a good idea… so I slicked back my hair, thanks to some gel, and I put on a wig of some bushy haired nerd, I dyed it flaming red, and decided to look like some nerdy bug catcher. After a few minutes, I began to take a good long look at myself, except who I saw was a four eyed, buck-toothed, redhaired nerd with braces. And he wore an explorers suit and had bug catching equipment, he also had a portable Doctors mask big enough to cover the nose and mouth, just in case a bug Pokemon was gonna hit him with Sleep Powder, Poisonpowder, or Stun Spore (all of which could cause some serious problems).the boy put on his hat and walked out of the mirror. Alakazam was snorting with amusement. Eric, boy, if you were to look like that for real, a lot of people would pick on you… you’ve done it once again, kid.

And you know what, you’re coming along for the ride, in this mission, I’m gonna need yours and Charizard’s Help if we want another successful mission, Blaziken and Marshtomp will serve as backup Pokemon, but you two will be my opening act.

fine with me, just make sure you pack up enough berries for emergency cases

I patted the small pouch in the right of my disguised utility belt, which contained an assortment of berries essential for small bursts of energy in the heat of battle, and on my left side, was my PDA, which most people call the Pokemon Digital Assistant (which I find very silly, because it has NOTHING to do with Pokemon except for a list of every pokemon I’ve ever met and NOTHING ELSE), specially imported from the Orre Region overseas. I recalled Alakazam, where I then began checking that my Four Pokeballs were on my belt, and making sure they were actually MINE… then I walked towards the door and one of the grunts in the squad I was leading was waiting… he recoiled back, whether it be at my disguise or something else, but all I knew was that he thought I was someone else… “Hey, who are you and how did you--!” He stopped when I took off the fake buck teeth, and realized that was actually me.

“Wow, kid, you got me for a minute there.” He said, astonished.

“Don’t worry,” I replied. “you’re not the only one to think I’m someone else, hopefully I’ll be able to fit in a group of bug maniacs, otherwise I’ll have to be separated from the squad to avoid suspicion… I’m just hoping we can use more than just fire and wind. You got any Pokemon with Smokescreen or Smog?”

The Grunt looked curious. “I don’t, but someone else on the squad has a Houndour with Smog. Why, was that part of the plan?”

“Nah, I just wanted to be safe, that’s all” I said, and then we marched over to the rest of the squad at the roof, Syrus felt pleased, and I hoped it was because I have a good disguise.

“OK, Men… and kid, let’s MOVE OUT!!” Syrus shouted. Everyone climbed on the chopper, and I released my Dragon-like Pokemon, Charizard. After he stretched out his wings, I hopped on his back, and we both rose up into the Wild Blue Yonder, next destination, Celadon City!

Chapter Two: Celadon uprooting

Finally, the Town has quiet down, thanks to the work of Nurse Joy. If it wasn't for her, then Celadon City would be in a Major panic, and Gym Leader Ericka knew that as well as everyone nearby. unfortunately, the problem was far from over, as there is still about two hundred Pokemon living in households everywhere who were affected, they were recalled to Pokeballs for safety, because there wasn't enough assistance to cure all the pokemon from Parylasis and illness caused by Vileplume's Stun Spore and the Challenging Venomoth's Poisonpowder, which was spread by a strong breeze of today's windy weather. Ericka's Challenger, a young man about the age of thirteen, had volunteered to help the people who were hit. Everyone still able to move, Ericka and her challenger included, was advised to recall all the pokemon to their Pokeballs and find help immediately. Now everyone's been cured of the illness, but there's still the Pokemon of the many residents in the city that still rested in their Pokeballs. most of the city's Pokemon have been cured, but there was still about ninety five Pokemon remaining... and that was still a problem.

"Well, it seems like this problem might actually come to an end." the challenger said. "Sorry again for causing this mess, I didn't expect today to be windy.

Despite the fact the challenger was more mature than his actual age, his feelings towards the town's welfare was kinda making Ericka feel uncomfortable... The Gym Leader sighed. "It'll be OK, perhaps we could finish the battle later today, inside one of the greenhouses." she pointed her thumb behind her, regarding a clear glass building that stood behind them, completely filled with plantlife inside.

The challenger looked uncertain, and Ericka figured as much, being a grass type Pokemon Trainer, she would be at an advantage if there wasn't an open arena. The kid nodded in agreement, and he made sure his Pokemon were retrieved from the Pokemon Center...Ericka followed behind him, just to see how Nurse Joy was doing...

Ericka was still concerned about the Pokemon, and she was sure that the challenger didn't intend for this accident to happen. but still, it wouldn't hurt to make sure...

She walked into the Pokemon Center, and it seemed that the crowd seemed to have thinned out, there were still a lot of people, but it was at a manageable rate. Nurse Joy was sitting on the lobby seat, obviously appearing tired, and it wasn't a big surprise, with all the work being done, there's hardly enough time to rest. Ericka walked over next to the nurse and sat down next to her...

"How is it?" the Gym Leader asked...

Nurse Joy sighed, "I've never had to care for so many Pokemon, Chansey is tired as well, but I'm sure everything would be fine by tonight."

Ericka nodded, figuring it was honest. but as she walked towards the entrance, she was getting some feeling, that things might just get worse.

***

It was only a few miles away from the city, and I led the chopper down over to a nearby clearing, through my binoculars I found that nobody tilted their head in my direction. I looked at the extra Pokeball, containing a Bug pokemon called Dustox, meant to fit my Bug Catcher Background. it didn't take long for everyone to be in their disguises (which made me snicker at how easy it was to still know who they are) before they started jogging, in well isolated groups, over to the city. Charizard landed, I recalled him, and I then proceeded to reviewing all my notes of the psychology of an average Bug Catcher... which, in my honest opinion, was an absolute headache. I never was very interested in Biology, and I was forced to know almost EVERYTHING about it just to make a convincing disguise... I finished the book in a matter of minutes, before Walking over to Celadon City with my Tape recorder in my left hand, a Pokemon Reference book held open halfway in my right, and my personal radio headset(which looked like nothing more than a small earbud headphone) in my right ear. I made sure I had everything available for immediate use, and afterwards felt a little more confident that I could finish this a little early.

I arrived at Celadon City in a few minutes, and I suddenly wondered if it really was hit with a Stun Spore/Poisonpowder combo, because it looked so calm around, it was almost as if nothing really happened. Following the plan, I immediately started looking for random trainers and challenging them to battle "my Dussstox". but they refused because Nurse Joy advised that their pokemon "get some rest for today." At the moment, everything at the Pokemon center was going smoothly, but I still needed another way to get the crowd's attention, so I continued looking for people willing to battle..... but with no luck. I looked around to find two small crowds close to where the four grunts in my squad were "Sparring." but it seems I must have picked well, because they really were giving it their all, and the battles kept heating up, judging from the crowd. I groaned and kept looking for someone to battle, still no luck. Dammit, isn't there ANYONE willing to start a battle!? this SUCKS, I thought, frustrated... just watching everyone else made me want to duke it out, and I was well familiar with the Dustox's Attacks to be able to battle well. but despite the fact that the operation was going well so far, I was seriously itching for a fight, and there was NOONE around who was available.... I walked over to the Pokemon Center, and I asked one of the townsfolk where the phones were, he pointed towards the green screen phones and I decided to remove the buckteeth from my mouth, then I picked up the phone receiver, and pretended to press numbers with the screen turned off. the buckteeth were covered in saliva, and I had to hold them, otherwise I could get busted while i was drying them. once it appeared that I was technically "on the phone", I put my middle finger over the tiny mic, letting the fingerprint register to it... and I then proceeded over to radioing the snatching team.

*BSHH*"This is Bug Boy calling Merman, Bug Boy calling Merman, what's the status of the capture so far?"

*BSHH*"this is Merman," Syrus responded in a whisper, 'Merman' being his name for his using water pokemon."operation has begun and we're at thirty percent, don't start trouble, got that?"

"Roger that, how much time is left?"

"We got half an hour, don't do anything stupid, or else you're in for it."

"hmph...yes Sir... keep me posted"

I switched the frequency to that of the radios on my squad.

"Update, guys, the operation is going smoothly, and we're at thirty percent completion. so far so good, team, I'll try and keep everyone occupied once you're finished." I then deactivated the mic on my radio, so anything I say won't be picked up, but anything everyone else says will be heard. immediately, I dashed out of the pokemon center, and--

*BMPH...TH-THUD*

I was so busy thinking that I ended up running into someone, and eventually I found it to be about a girl about my age, and I realized it as Gym Leader Ericka!

"Rym'e..." I garbled, and I discovered that the fall put my buckteeth in my mouth the wrong way, I instantly fixed it, and spoke again. "I'm S-ssorry, ma'am. Are you OK?"

"Ugh." She grunted as she got to her feet. "I'll be fine, you new around here?"

I managed to stand up quickly. "Yea, actually, but I really wanted to have a match with someone, but they all gave me the same thing, that Nurse Joy advised that that they 'get some rest for awhile', did something happen?" I gave Ericka a curious look, just like a visiting traveler would. Ericka explained what the big problem was and went into detail about how a trainer from Viridian City challenged her to a gym battle for the Celadon City prize, the Rainbow Badge. but the battle was taken outside because there were a a few plants being recently planted in the main Gym, and the greenhouses were occupied. she then went into how the battle went, the challenger brought out Raticate, and she sent out Weepenbell. Raticate gained an upper hand with Quick Attack and Hyper Fang and defeated Weepenbell. When Vileplume was summoned, Pedal Dance and Solarbeam wasn't doing much good because Raticate was using Quick Attack to avoid it. after a few Blows of Hyper Fang, eventually Ericka had to slow Raticate down, and Vileplume's using Stun Spore did the trick, immobilizing the enemy Raticate, and leaving it open for Solarbeam.

...It was round two, and Vileplume went back to Ericka to have it's wounds quickly treated with a potion or two, and the Challenger Sent out Venomoth. Just like Raticate, Venomoth was too fast for Vileplume to hit, and With Venomoth spreading Poisonpowder as it was avoiding getting hit, Vileplume was in bad shape. but Ericka had Vileplume do the same thing, using Stun Spore, and then out of nowhere, a strong breeze blew out towards the battle and it was strong enough to spread the Stun Spore/Poisonpowder combo.

"And that's how we ended up in this mess. If it wasn't for Joy, then I'm not sure if it would be very calm here. We still have to finish the battle, but I'm sure that the kid can do fine."

...After what seemed like an hour, I felt my pants begin to shake, and then I heard the *BEEPBEEP, BEEPBEEP, BEEPBEEP* of my PDA going off, obviously meaning I got a new e-mail. I opened the inbox, and it was typed to it's limit...

5 MINUTE WARNING, Claid! if you have an exit plan all set up, then GET TO WORK ON IT!! Repeat, FIVE MINUTE WARNING.

I found myself surprised that it almost took the remaining time on the mission, I felt relieved, but I had to keep my concerned attitude because the mission's still not done... but I actually had two exit plans all set up, and it seemed that plan number one has it's cue...

"Well, I have to go in a few minutesss, but I'm sstill hoping to... uhh... perhapsss have a sparring match with you... iss it OK? jusst one pokemon, nothing major."

Ericka winced, as she wanted to say yes, but something else had her attention. "err, sure, I just need to check up on the pokemon being stored, y'know, to make sure nothings happening to them? but I'm sure I'll battle you once I'm sure the Pokemon are still there."

My eyes widened, she's doing WHAT!? I thought, slightly panicked. the team wasn't finished yet, and if Ericka found them in there, it would mean trouble.

Chapter 3: Flowers to Weeds

I had to stall her, or distract her. "Why not now? it'sss jusst one Pokemon, and it'll only take five."

Ericka suddenly seemed suspicious, she gave me a funny look and asked "Why the urgency, it's only for a few seconds...?"

shoot, gotta think fast! " becausse my friendss ssay that if I don't get a battle s-ssoon, they'll jusst call everyone here a bunch of chickenss... I know they aren't, but..." as I was speaking, I was starting to get nervous I might lose my cool, calm, Eric, just a couple of minutes, a couple of minutes... "I just want to prove them wrong, and I'm sssure you could help by taking up my challenge."

Either she was starting to suspect me, or she just thought I was just a kid, and just as she was turning the handle, I heard my radio headset get something.

"Claid, time to move out. we're done here, you've made a pretty good destr--." the door opened and Syrus got cut off when Ericka discovered them. "Hey! What are you doing-- HEY, THOSE POKEMON AREN'T YOURS!!"

Two grunts carrying a couple of large Bags, probably filled with Pokeballs, suddenly started running towards the back door, Ericka began chasing them. and I hesitated for a moment, and then proceeded to removing my disguise. I removed the straw hat from my head, I took out the buckteeth (and about time too, I hated them...), and I I took off the disguise clothes, revealing a Team rocket tee shirt (black, with a big "R" on the front...) with black shorts. I then bundled up the disguise, and dashed towards the back door... immediately I went through the same procedure of preventing myself from being tracked by an average Officer Jenny's Growlithe or Arcanine. I sent out Blaziken, then I asked him to use Flamethrower on the disguise clothes, knowing full well I won't be needing those clothes again in the future, and that the job's paycheck will give me enough to be considered a refund.

"Aaaagh!!" I heard one of the grunts scream. The battle nearby was getting out of hand, I had to think fast, or else. but--

*BSHH* "This is merman calling from the Chopper, what the hell is going on over there!? Half the load's been packed up, but the second half is missing. CLAID, DEFEND THE SECOND GROUP!!"BFSHH*

It was Syrus, and it looks like the first group of grunts managed to get to the chopper OK, but it seems the second group is in trouble. I relayed the orders to the rest of the squad.

"This is Eric Claid, capture squad two is in jepordy, defend them at all costs! Repeat, DEFEND SQUAD TWO!!"

Everyone replied "Roger" or "Got it", and afterwards, I recalled Blaziken, and summoned Charizard and Alakazam. "Time to rumble, you two. remember, don't--"

hurt anyone too badly, we know Alakazam Thought Spoke, finishing my sentance. Haven't you ever considered leaving?

I stood silent for a few seconds...

think about that question.... another thought voice spoke, and I was left a little confused...

Wasn't me. Alakazam said when I looked at him.

I just stood there, and didn't move until I saw someone run towards the wood behind the Pokemon center. I regained my posture, and Hopped up on Charizard saying "Let's Fly."

Charizard opened his wings and took flight, Alakazam levitating. we rose above the Pokemon Center roof and as I saw Ericka and a few others focus on the retreating group, I was all set to battle.

*BFSHH*"Eric Claid, we have you on visual"*BFSHH*... it was one of the grunts in my squad, confirming that he saw me. Charizard hovered where we lifted off, giving us position. Ericka then Shouted, "Ivysaur, Use Razor Leaf!" a predictable kind of move to use, if the enemy is going to escape, then use Razor Leaf to rip open the bag, and cause it's contents to spill out, but there's just one thing about it. they may be sharp, but they are still leaves, whether they can cut or not.

"Charizard, block the leaves with Flamethrower." I said. I then grabbed the black Team Rocket Grunts cap and tilted it so that a shadow lay over my eyes, hiding most of the expression on my face. and right when I put on my cap, Charizard let loose a stream of fire that overwhelmed the ongoing leaves, but suddenly five leaves popped out of the pillar of fire, and they stopped as Alakazam used Psychic. the result caused the fire to subside, and five leaves to hover in midair.

"Huh!? Wha--!?" Ericka definately didn't expect that, and I wasn't surprised. she looked around wildly, and then looked up towards me. Charizard was getting restless, so I had him land between the second capture squad and the opposing Gym leader with her assistants. I swung my leg, careful not to kick Charizard's wing, and slid off onto flat ground to face Ericka.

"you want these Pokemon back, you'll have to go through me." I said, in the practiced professional zero-tolerance tone... I kept my eyes shadowed under my cap, because the expression I gave through my eyes would convince someone to try and make me feel guilty. I pulled myself together, I focused on the battle. it was five trainers on one at the moment, but the four grunts were supposedly on their way.... or something was wrong...

"a kid? They have kids in Team Rocket!?" one of the assistants said in shock. "the poor thing."

Jeez, she was making it sound as if I was forced into Team Rocket and abused, it was creepy... but I guess it's understandable to think that, since most members of Team Rocket are considered adults, usually from seventeen to eighteen and older. but I joined Team Rocket under a point when I couldn't seem to say "no." not because of a threat, but because of a proposition that I refused one day, but had a strong enough impact to be unable to refuse the next day... but that's a different story, and now wasn't the time to reminisce on past events...

The standoff lasted for almost a half an hour, and then I started to hear the sounds of sirens in the distance. my best guess, was probably the city's officer Jenny coming to the rescue... the assistants turned their heads, shifting their attention over to the red and blue sirens in the distance, and figured now was my chance to strike.

"Alakazam, use Psychic on the Assistants, lift them in the air, do not let them summon their Pokemon!" I commanded. a moment later the four assistants had a bluish glow around them. they immediately began floating up in the air, and they started to scream in surprise and fear of getting hurt.

"EEEK, I can't move!!"

"Hey, what are you--!?"

"I can't move, Help!"

It was the same human response, and I couldn't blame them... but now that the four extra trainers were unable to battle with Ericka, I was able to fight in a somewhat fair fight.

"Charizard, Take Flight!" The Battle began, and I was making the first move, Ericka got ready, she then made her move. "OK Ivysaur, get ready."

"Begin the battle with a Gust Attack!" I shouted. Charizard began Flapping his wings with enough force to cause a wind to blow over the battleground. Ericka put her wrist over her face, trying to still see. I put my hand on my cap, making sure it doesn't float off.

I tried to listen to what Ericka was trying to command Ivysaur, but because of the blowing wind, I couldn't make out what she was saying. although I immediately found that the mic was being muffled by the wind. I pressed it against my ear to hear it better...

*BSHH* Eric, ERIC!! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON THERE!? I can see Charizard using a Gust attack. Report, dammit, REPORT!!"

I had a hard time trying to respond, Charizard started getting tired, I had to react to the attack, I looked up at Charizard. "Charizard, Land and use FlameThrow--"

But out of NOWHERE, two dark green ropes wrapped around Charizard's jaw, and then muzzled him almost instantly and he landed to the ground tugging bacwards in an attempt to get the ropes off. Charizard was just as caught off guard as I was, , and his expression explained it. I looked down the ropes only to realize it was Ivysaur muzzling Charizard with Vine Whip, and I knew the resulting reason immediately. Charizard's extended Gust attack put enough strain on his wings to the point where he would damage himself if he tried to fly again. plus, with most of his attacks coming from his mouth, Charizard was basically helpless without his wings and jaw. Still, that didn't mean I had no way out, and if I work fast enough, it'll work, despite it being crazy. plus, this wasn't an official battle, so anything goes, and I'm not surprised that few things I have in mind would catch a regular trainer off guard.

I gripped Charizard's Pokeball, and recalled him. a beam of red light shot out of the button from the red and white sphere, practically dematerializing (scifi talk, I know) the large pokemon into the sphere, throwing off Ivysaurs grip on his jaw, and causing it to fall backwards. Once Charizard was in the Pokeball, I then sent him out again, and took the delay to my advantage.

"Quick, use Flamethrower!" I commanded. No hesitation, no pause, that stream of fire shot toward Ivysaur, and I knew this would Knock it out.

Eric, Behind you!! Alakazam thought spoke with enough urgency that I just immediately jumped to the right instinctivly, and just as I did a rainbow-like beam shot out towards Charizard, through the spot where I was just standing. "Light--!!" I didn't have enough time to say it, but a goldish panel appeared and blocked it, which told me he got the message. I wasn't able to see Ivysaur until a moment later, where it stood, blackened, and then it collapsed on the spot, unconscious...

The assistants were shrieking, I Recalled Charizard, and I just stood there.

One problem solved, but one question remaining.

"Where'd that beam come from...?" I said to myself. I guess Alakazam used Future sight without my expecting it, just to be safe, and now I feel thankful for it...

*BSHH* "Claid, Job well done. the second squad reached the chopper and now we're ready to go. Another job well done, kid." Syrus said in the radio.

I began to walk away, my face expressionless, a shadow still over my eyes.

"...Why?" I looked toward the source of the voice. Ericka was giving me the look that explained a girl that lost someone dear. I felt something well up in my throat I put the front of my cap in between the gym leader and my line of sight and only said three words.

"It's my job..."

"LIAR!!" someone behind Ericka Screamed. it was a kid about a couple of years. his face was contorted in rage, and his teeth were bared..."LAIR, YOU ROTTEN, EVIL..." The kid was definately showing his anger, I mean, he was seriously swearing in anger, and he then threw a Pokeball, and I then the Pokeball just floated, but didn't open. Alakazam lay it on the ground, and I stood there, suddenly hearing voices from recent events, as the pokeball was floating back towards his trainer, because of Alakazam's Psychic.

"we are to "relieve them" of those Pokemon."

"THOSE POKEMON AREN'T YOURS!!"

"...Why?"

"...it's my job"

"LIAR"

"LIAR"

"LIAR"

The word "liar" echoed in my head, but I still didn't show that it impacted me. all I said, was the last words they'd hear before I would reach HQ back in Viridian City.

"Alakazam... Teleport to rocket mobile base"

I closed my eyes and felt a quick rushing feeling, and when I opened them again, I was standing on the right of the Rocket helicopter. I recalled Alakazam, and walked towards the platform.

The grunts were confused. "Why aren't you riding on Charizard?"

I was not in the mood to talk, so I said it in as few words as possible.

"Incapable condition," I said.

"Hey, you want that guy to be stronger, you gotta push him. push'em till he--"

*TSEEWWWW* "AHHH"

The guy who was just talking got cut off and yelped as a beam was shot, and I only turned around to find it stabbing into my chest.

"NUGH!" I grunted as my body felt as if it was on fire. my entire body hurt, and then I found the attack to be a concentrated Psybeam, and it was the same thing that tried to hit me at Celadon City.

The Psybeam ended, and I fell backwards onto the metal floor of the chopper, wide-eyed and unable to move.

"Shit!" Syrus swore, "Kid, kid, you OK?

I felt like I was on fire, I wanted to scream. It hurt that bad, but my mouth just wheezed and shuddered. Everything began to turn slightly fuzzy... and I almost felt that fire still burning...

"Eric....OK? ey......you OK? Eric!!"

I couldn't make out everything I heard... but I made out one thing while I was losing consiousness... just one thing, and it was through telepathy. Eric Claid, higher ranking officer among the rockets, let this fire see you until the day you leave...

Chapter 4: Surprise, surprise

Fire... everywhere... everywhere I looked, it was full of crackling fire... I tried to speak... but it felt distant... I tried to move, but I couldn't. suddenly I looked upwards, I saw a pit... of magma.
"Fire everywhere. Am I in... in hell?"
instantly after I "said the word 'hell'", the flames erupted through me. Spikes of fire shot out of my body, as if I was being stabbed... and--

"UGH!"

The pain, that PAIN, as the spikes erupted from me, it felt as if I had gained my sense of touch... and the result caused my body to burn, I was thrashing, writhing... it was like having a seizure! I was thrashing and kicking at some unknown floor, burning all over, and spikes stabbing through me. It was like torture, literally, from hell... and--

"AHHHHH!!!"
"Blaze!"
I shot up from where I was laying, and I felt a hand press me down from the right, and my head hit something soft... my breathing was too fast, I was going to hyperventilate if I didn't slow down...
I lowered my eyelids halfway... and I calmed down. I looked to my right, and I was surprised to find that Blaziken was the one holding me down... the expression on his face told me he was definitely worried about me...
E-Eric, you awake? Alakazam's telepathic voice was shaking... and now I'm very curious about what happened. I motioned for Blaziken to move his hand, he moved it. I tried to get up slowly, my shoulders were off the bed before my stomach stung badly. I winced, and figured I wouldn't be able to get up painlessly, so I laid back down.
"Hey..." I said, my voice a little strained... apparently I must have been screaming at one point.... "What...what happened while I was out?"
when we got released from our Pokeballs, you were under some kind of seizure for about an hour... you then started screaming... as if you were tortured. my Psychic partner explained. the thrashing got worse, and Blaziken had to hold you down... and that's not the part I'm worried about...
I looked at him in curiousity... if my siezuring out wasn't the worst of it, then what was?
Alakazam paused for a minute... and he then shook his head. Nevermind, it's nothing for you to worry about. it's pretty late, and you were out for a bit. you'd better get some rest.
"Blaze Blaze, Blaziken!" Something didn't seem right to Blaziken, and he said something to Alakazam.
"Ala ala. Ala alakazam ala ala, ALAKAZAM!!" the Psychic Pokemon didn't seem very happy with what Blaziken said, and retorted something back, and gave my fire Pokemon a "Don't-Push-Me" kind of look.
I then saw Alakazam close his eyes halfway and he was staring Blaziken in the face, Blaziken Recoiled seconds later, and I figured out that Alakazam was using thought speak. it didn't take much longer before Blaziken lowered his head, upset...
After Alakazam said his good nights, and went back to his Pokeball (amongst the group of them that I leave in my belt over on my bedside table), Blaziken looked at me againj, with a sad face... I made a sympathetic look in return, and then remembered that I taught Blaziken, along with everyone except Marshtomp (still working on him, but with no luck), how to read and write. I flattened my left hand and tilted the palm towards me, and making my right hand look as if it was writing. Blaziken realized it instantly, and he went to search for some pen and paper. I felt satisfied, and then turned over to get some sleep... I figured it might take a while before he would finish... so I shut my eyes, and eventually drifted off.


It was 2300 hours at night (11:00PM in general time), Eric Claid's current condition is unknown, and the reported attack on the young agent was forming a lot of Questions in the mind of Giovanni, the boss of Team Rocket. according to the report from agent Syrus Mitchell, the boy was successful in dealing with the complication in the recent mission, by defending a second squad of grunts who were carrying a large bag full of Pokeballs. He teleported, via his Alakazam, back to the rendezvous point to make his exit, due to his Charizard's being exhausted. but as soon as Eric stepped into the helicopter, a concentrated energy beam, believed to have been the Psychic attack Psybeam, struck Claid from behind. He passed out seconds afterwards, and immediately started having unexplainable siezures when he was sent into the medical lab.
Giovanni looked at the medical report... according to the report, the boy was having a sudden fever when he arrived. The fever was severe, but manageable, so he was carried off to his quarters with the request that he have his Psychic Pokemon monitor him occaisionally. "it's a shock to a few of us, to find a child with an attack like that..." the comments read, "at least he'll be in better health condition in the morning."
Despite there being good news in the reports, there are still questions about the incident that concerned Giovanni. What was the purpose of that attack in the first place?
*boom-boom-boom*
Giovanni looked up from the reports, when he heard the door being knocked. Who could be wanting to talk to him at this late hour?
"Enter." he said.
The door opened, to reveal a man about in his forties, he wore a white scientist's coat, along with regular blue jeans. his thick Glasses reflected the light from the office, and the nametag read his last name, Sanders. He was also holding a thin file in his right hand.
"Mr. Giovanni, sir, I have a report on the boy's current condition." Sanders said.
Giovanni nodded slightly, in the gesture to continue.
Sanders straightened his glasses as he opened the file. "it seems that Eric has managed to recover from the fever faster than expected, he is resting quietly and he'll be fully recovered by morning."
"Good." Giovanni said, slightly relaxing because of the good news.
"That will be all, Sir." The scientist spoke, in the respectful tone expected of him,
"Very well, Dismissed."
The scientist left, and Giovanni put himself back into a thinking position. He still wanted answers, but it didn't seem like he was going to get them anytime soon, despite his strong desire.
what a mystery Giovanni thought. maybe it was just a random attack... nothing more. still... what a mystery


*BEEP, BEEP, BEEP... BEEP, BEEP, BEEP*
I pressed the button on the alarm clock that stood on my bedside table... and stretched while on the bed before getting up. I then picked up my notepad from the table to check what today's schedual was.



6:45-7:55AM make breakfast
8:00-9:55AM visit Workout room
10:00AM check Rocket inbox
10:05-11:25PM prepare lunch
2:05-5:05PM meet Club of Kindness
5:30-6:45PM prepare Dinner
8:15PM Personal Curfew

Needless to say, it was just another casual day in Team Rocket HQ. Today had no special missions, but I preferred to remain on a schedual... just to keep good posture.
So I checked the clock, and found it to be 6:50 in the morning. I jumped out of bed, cursing, and got into my casual clothes (regular grey-blue t-shirt, blue jeans, white socks, and grey sneakers with black and red lining) before getting my cooking stuff out... I began by walked over to the closet where my disguises were, and I moved a few jackets around until I could see my portable refrigerator, which I had to pay for myself. I kinda felt a little jealous of the admins every time I have to look at mine for long enough. Admins can have their own fridge provided for them if they don't want to eat in public, and they only have to pay a FRACTION of what I had to pay to get mine... and that's like about $3,000 compared to their paying $300!
anyways, I grab the fridge and drag it out just far enough so that I could get to it easily. then I walked over to my bed and got a small plate-like item (forgot what it was called, though). it was rectangular with two handles on the far ends, it came with a cord that plugs in and heats up the center surface for cooking. I plug it in, set it to began heating up. and then went over to my fridge to get breakfast started. today's Breakfast was nothing out of the ordinary for Blaziken, Alakazam, Marshtomp and I... two eggs, a medium sized bone of ham, a small bowl of rice, with various sauces for different tastes. Then there are a variety of fruits like bananas, oranges, apples, the usual stuff. Ok, maybe it's a little more of a buffet for us, but unfortunately, it's a little tougher having to get Charizard's meal, I actually have to creep into the grunt's cafeteria, over where the cooks are giving out food into one of the ovens, and then lug one of the two large bones of ham over to my quarters before I get caught... so I walk out of my quarters, and then walk down the hall, towards the grunts mess hall.
*KI-CHUNK...Reeee*
The door to the Mess hall opened up.
"-- and I almost had a heart attack. man, I'll say one thing, that kid's somethin' else." as the door opened, someone was saying something that apparently happened to some kid, but I only heard that the kid was different... two guys walked out. one of them nodded to me as I walked by. after I passed them, though, apparently one of them tapped me on the shoulder, saying "Hey". I turned around. one of the grunts was looking at me with a curious look, I then realized it was one of the Grunts from yesterday's mission, he was in the distraction squad that I led.
"Oh, hey," I said when I remembered him, "How ya doin'?"
"I was going to ask you[i] that," he said, "Gave us one hell of a heart attack getting hit out of nowhere like that. you think someone is after you?"
"After me?" I repeated. What does that mean. I know I got attacked, and I figured everyone managed to protect the Pokeballs, but what does he mean that someone is targeting me?
"Well, after you were hit, Syrus fought back in a panic, but whatever attacked you didn't attack twice, it only hit you, whatever it was, it wasn't after the Pokeballs... it's weird. Hell, even the BOSS is scratching his head about it."
I found myself rooted to the spot. Me, a target? "Hmm, that [i]is wierd." I just said, trying to sound uninterested.
Perhaps I was supposed to look worried, because the grunt talking to me looked at his buddy, then back at me. "Ehehe, kid, do you even CARE about your life?! That kind of crap is freaking NUTS!!" I could tell the guy was worried, apparently from my response. I actually AM worried about supposedly being a major target, but I have been around the tough guys for so long, I hardly ever looked worried when I was supposed to... I made the look that displayed surprised confusion, and the guy looked at me and figured I was just trying to look tough...
"Listen, you're trying to look tough to all of them, I see that. but don't forget that something's up around you, kid." he turned around to walk away and he stupped suddenly. he turned his head back to me again. "Oh, and we also got a new member in the club."
From cautioning advice, to a sudden note for the Club of Kindness, I felt a little less tense with the change of subject. "New Recruit?"
he nodded.
"Hey, doesn't the kid have someplace to go?" I suddenly remembered the second grunt who was talking, and as soon as I remembered him, I remembered where I was supposed to go.... wait a minute...
I gasped in realization. "Ahh, hell!" I cursed... and I remembered that I was going to swipe a large ham for Charizard. The Grunt I was talking to, his name was Mike, by the way, he's seen me do this before, and I usually get him something extra whenever he asked... since I was going in there anyways.
"Hey, dude, don't get all knotted up about it, I left one in a large paper towel behind the trash... figured I'd repay ya for once."
the other grunt laughed. "It was funny, Mike said he was gonna try swiping one 'like the kid always does', and I looked at him and was amazed that it was so easy, either the kitchen staff are stupid, or something's really wrong here." He continued laughing out loud.
I sighed in relief, at least all Charizard has to do is heat it, and it will taste fine...
Mike then put on a serious face again. "just keep in mind of what I said before, about your being a target."
I ended up from getting smacked back down to earth after hearing that. I was hoping not to dwell on something after something like that. i told him I'd keep it in mind, and then walked off over behind the trash in the corner of the Mess Hall closest to the door. Sure enough, a large piece of ham, still on it's bone, stood on the ground covered in a thick layer of Paper towels. I reached over, grabbed it, and dashed out of the cafeteria before anyone saw me.
I arrived back in my quarters a few minutes later...I summoned my Pokemon, unwrapped the ham, handing it to Charizard, and Immediately rushed into making breakfast. I cracked the eggs, put them on the hot plate, which was left on for too long. and then asked everyone how they want their eggs. Blaziken used sign language for scrambled, Alakazam thought spoke for Sunny side down, Marshtomp nodded towards Blaziken, indicating he wanted what he was having... and Charizard looked at the plate as if he wanted to take it all...
"Charizard, c'mon, we haven't begun eating yet, and that look is making me nervous..."
Charizard grunted slightly, and I figured he wanted a few eggs to go with his ham...
"OK, OK, how do you want them?"
The large Pokemon rolled his eyes, Blaziken, who was watching, just shrugged. which led me to believe he didn't care... so I grabbed three more eggs and placed them on the table for later, I then walked over to the fridge, and I got four small bones of ham, one bone was big enough to occupy one hand, so I ended up having to make two trips just to get four. once I got all four, I asked Blaziken to heat them up for a little bit while I go get the rice. he nodded and then blew a small flame near them, then I proceeded to grabbing the rice cooker from the closet. there was still some leftover rice from yesterday, mainly because I didn't eat yesterday during the mission. so it was still there. I then got the three sauces for everyone's current tastes, sweet and sour sauce, Soy Sauce for Dry tastes, and Wasabi sauce for spicy tastes... I still couldn't figure out what to get for bitter tastes, except by crumbling a green Pokeblock (a pokemon candy made by various berries) overtop whatever they wanted... thankfully, I don't have any Pokemon who prefer bitter stuff... Charizard and Blaziken prefer the spicy stuff, Marshtomp likes the Sweet and sour sauce, and I'm more of the salty kind of person, so Soy Sauce is my thing. I poured Wasabi on Blaziken's Rice, Sweet and sour on Marshtomp's, and finally finished with Soy Sauce on mine.
I looked over, to see if there was anything missing. The fruit bowl was in the center of the dining area (apparently someone got it out while I was busy... oh, and the dining area, it's on the floor) and I got Charizard's Eggs cooked (covered in wasabi sauce), and topped them carefully onto his ham. he took a bite on it, and defintely looked pleased with it.
I smiled and said "Bon Appetite", and Blaziken grabbed a pair of chopsticks and started with the rice. Marshtomp started with his eggs, eating them without utensils, and I attacked the rice, just like Blaziken did.
So we pretty much ate as we would at a regular breakfast, and that can be one thing that makes me different from everyone else at Team Rocket (and I mean VERY different). for one thing, I don't consider my pokemon any lower than I am... in most cases, I will treat Pokemon as if they were my equals. I don't give them that generic stuff that everyone gives their Pokemon. No, I train them on using utensils they need, and give them the same food I eat... and I let them munch on the generic stuff as a snack (and a nutritious one at that, not that I eat it). Unfortunately, all the other Rocket members disapprove of this kind of eating, so I usually just eat in my quarters, and only go into the Mess Hall to swipe what me or my partners need. and whenever I talk to someone, I usually will HAVE to refer to my partners as "my Pokemon" (as if I OWN them... and I don't like to think of them like that)... though if I refer to them as "my Pokemon", then I think of them as part of like a family, and before I joined Team Rocket, I've seen many successful trainers think the same way, and it helped make me feel like I wasn't alone in this world. so, overall, I don't think of my Pokemon as some kind of property, like so many others in Team Rocket... in my opinion, I think of my pokemon as brothers, and despite what others think of it, I feel better thinking about it...
I was finished with my breakfast just before Blaziken, and I immediately got started with collecting his and my plates. Marshtomp shouted out, Raising his slightly messy bowl and plate, despite them being messy, they were also empty of any major foods, meaning that he was finished eating, but the problem I'm still having with him, is that he has most of the rice and sauce almost all over his face. I ended up having to wipe his face every time, until I can finally train him on using silverware, or how not to be so messy when he eats the way he usually does.
So anyways, I put the utensils, bowls and plates aside, and then I ask Marshtomp and Alakazam for help on washing the dishes. Marshtomp sprays water, and instead of just a fountain of water, all it was was just a small bubble, big enough to put my head and shoulders into. I remember seeing this on TV one time, except that the bubbers were much bigger, and that there were people and water Pokemon swimming and diving into them, Psychic Pokemon remained stationary on the sides so that they could focus on the water. It actually didn't take long for Alakazam to mimic it, and the result definately comes in handy, allowing me to wash dishes without the need for Marshtomp to use too much energy spraying the water, and it helps me take care of doing dishes inside my quarters. Best part of all, is that hardly ANYONE knows about it. I've explained it to Giovanni, but he looked at me funny, my friends know about it, they don't tell anyone... Overall, not very many people know about what I do during mealtimes in my quarters, and it helped me feel better when everyone expected me to be a tough kid (despite my personality).
I checked the clock on my desk after washing the last plate, I then asked Alakazam to separate the water into small blocks, before Marshtomp was to use Ice Beam. I would put the resulting ice into the ice box in the Mess Hall, then be on my way to the workout room... which is usually empty when I get there. Marshtomp used Ice Beam, and I then put the ice in my large cooler, and just sat down... I still kept thinking about yesterday. I was Attacked, I heard a voice and it sounded so loud and clear then... but as I now try to remember it, it sounds hazy... but I still remember it...

Eric Claid, higher ranking officer among the rockets, let this fire see you until the day you leave...

It referred to me as a "higher ranking officer"... which might insinuate that I become an admin. but, what does it mean by "let the fire see you until you leave"? Then I think back on what Mike said in the hallway.
"...getting hit out of nowhere like that. I think someone is after you..."
"Someone targeting me." I muttered to myself. "I really hope that 'leaving' isn't the same as 'dying'..."
"Marr?" Marshtomp uttered next to me. "Mar mar?"

'Dying?' Alakazam Translated. 'Targeting you?' that's a weird thought... what's wrong?
I recollected everything that happened yesterday when I got back to the chopper and about the dream I had. Then I proceeded to also explaining what happened at the Mess Hall with Mike. It didn't take long for me to finish, so I gave a moment of silence for the info to sink in.
"Blaze." Blaziken spoke, grabbing my attention, then with both hands, he traced out a rectangle, indicating a piece of paper... I raised an eyebrow, not understanding what he meant. He then looked at Alakazam, whose eyes narrowed by a centimeter... meaning that he probably was making a face at Blaziken of some kind of triumph, he still has yet to make an effective poker face... so I figured something was up.
"Alakazam... you have something you want to explain to me?"
No... he said automatically...
I narrowed my eyes... figuring he was gonna read my mind... don't you give me that kind of crap, you're hiding something, I know it... now what was Blaziken trying to tell me?
Alakazam clenched his teeth, frustrated... he summoned a piece of paper from my desk drawer, then he closed his eyes and unclenched his teeth. I didn't want to tell... something is really wrong with you, but I didn't want you to be concerned.

I took the picture, and looked at it closely. I felt curious about it, because it looked like that of a beast's eye (Reading a lot of fantasy and sci-fi thrillers definatly have similar concepts). the Beast's Eye, that I've seen in so much fiction, lookes like some regular red or orange colored eye, except that the pupil was narrowed, so that it looks like a black vertical slit in the eye. I looked up and down the sketch... and then I noticed sloppy handwriting that said "your eye".
"My eye??" I said, looking at Blaziken. Alakazam raised an eyebrow.
I guess that's "all she wrote"... he thought spoke.
I felt like there was more to this... and then he pointed at me, and rotated his hand without moving the finger, indicating to flip it over. I found an additional word on the back of the paper, along with a couple of vertical scratches, the word said "Edge". I realized it was the riddle code that Blaziken and I used back when I wanted to know what he wanted to say to me only ( the funny part was, it was an optical illusion, an "Eye Trick") I tilted the paper's edge towards me, and it read a completely different message.

"That picture you saw, was the same thing I saw in your eye for a few minutes, nobody else saw it, but HE knew. you know who I mean, But he wouldn't tell you for me. Eric, what's going on?"

"I... I don't know..." I said, looking at Blaziken square in the eye. His eyes looked down, half closed, as if he was very worried.
I didn't know what to say. I tried to picture my face with those kind of eyes... but it just didn't look right unless my teeth got sharpened (like Fangs, for starters).
Alakazam was quiet, Blaziken was worried, Marshtomp and Charizard remained neutral, maintaining the silence. It was a tense moment... and I felt as if someone has pressed the mute button...
"...Eric...."
"Huh?"
The silence had suddenly been interrupted, and I looked around wildly trying to figure out who said that...
It's only Blaziken, noone else Alakazam said...
I frowned, still a little confused. I would have SWORN it was human... I thought to myself.
*Beepbeepbeep, beepbeepbeep*
My PDA started going off, and I took a look and found that there's a new mail in my inbox...
I opened the inbox, the mail was from Pete, a friend of mine who helped me through the rocket routine when I first joined Team Rocket, and also a member of the Club of kindness... I opened the letter, and scanned through it.
Dude, You gotta check your Rocket mailbox! Everyone's been talking about it, and I'm not gonna spoil it for you, hurry up!

P.S. I guess yesterday hit you pretty bad, though. because it's not often you're late to the exercise room.

I read the last part twice, confused. "Late?" I said, looking at the clock. "Ahh, Shit!" I swore, finding that the clock read 8:13AM. I recalled Blaziken, then Alakazam, and Charizard. But when I reached for the last Pokeball, Marshtomp shook his head. I stopped, and then he started jumping up and down going "Marsh!" every time he jumped.
I closed my eyes halfway and sighed. this wasn't the first time he did that, and I knew full well that it meant Marshtomp wanted a piggyback ride...
Oh well, I thought. I guess it's only fair with my being all mopey...
"OK, OK..." I said, and crouched down slightly so that he was able to jump up on my back. I then made sure Marshtomp wouldn't fall off... and then I began jogging over to the grunts locker hall...

It didn't take too long for me to arrive at the locker hall, the place looks like an average hallway at a school. I couldn't really measure it very well, mainly because so many people were crowding it in the morning and evening, but there were always lockers lining up the walls, and in the middle of the hall was a series of Mailboxes on both sides each one had a number on it and mine was mailbox 64... but today was different because once I got there, everyone was staring at me... there were people talking elsewhere, but everyone who saw me just stared...

"What?" I said, feeling uneasy. "what's everyone looking at me for?"

"uhh, didn't you know, sir?"

Did he just call me sir?? what the heck? nobody in the locker hall called me by professional status, That must mean one thing. but I am not going to be sure about it until I get proof.

I walked past everyone (most of them stepped aside) to get to my mailbox at the middle of the hall... it ordinarily had my name on it, but it seemed that someone took my name sticker off of it, and all that was left was the number 64 on the door. I opened the small door, and only a small piece of folded paper was inside.

The paper had my name on the front of it, written in cursive... I unfolded it, only to find it as a note... from Giovanni!

Eric Claid,

Your latest accomplishment the day before has been a sure show of promise, Team Rocket really could use members like you to help run the less experienced members. effective immediately, You have now been promoted to Administrator of Team Rocket, We hope to see your success reach new heights.

Giovanni.

Chapter 5: Everything Changes...

I stared at the note for a good two minutes. promoted... I thought. me, an admin of Team Rocket. the record for the youngest member to be promoted was Syrus Mitchell, who was drafted at seventeen... I'm only SIXTEEN... so I guess I made history...

I gulped, I still remained transfixed on the note... "so... what exactly happens when someone's been promoted?"

the grunt closest to me explained how the entire process worked, which was usually easy with most grunts. firstly, the newly made admin will sleep in a new quarters that comes complete with a small refridgerator, desk, and a bunk with a mattress that's a lot more comfortable (with a door that you can close to keep yourself away from everyone else). along with a closet that has half the old closet's length in extra space... and the old closet was like 2 to 4 meters, to think the new one's gonna be bigger, is just astounding.

"Of Course, everything you had up before this point will be transferred over to your new quarters, and with the stuff you might have, that won't take long."

I beg to differ... I thought with a smirk... with the stuff I have in my room, I think it's gonna be quite awhile before they can move all of my stuff.

I snickered at the thought of it, and then I asked the man when the transfer takes place... he told me it's going on at this very moment, while I was out. Unfortunately, that... was something I didn't expect, because there was something in there I did not want anyone to see... and that was bad.

Marshtomp fell asleep while the grunt was explaining the procedure, but woke up with a start when I up and swore before running over to my old quarters... with Marshtomp still wrapping his arms around my neck.

I got to my quarters in minutes... and I was thankful nobody got here. I opened my desk drawer (the one closest to my bunk-like bed), and found it, a small box that was able to hold a fully sized Pokeball lay on top of the junk and debris that used to be souvenirs of where I went. I opened the box, checking to see if it was in there... and it was. A thick, 2 inch-long, rainbow-like feather, like a recolored form of Giovanni the Gym Leader's Earth badge, except it was fiery orange and red, with the opposite side of a bright reddish pink on the outlined center, and a sun-like yellow on the outer part of the outline. On the point, where the feather would be rooted to the body, was a small hole with a gold metallic necklace through it. looking at this reminded me of a sad moment about a year ago... a sad, and even scary moment I won't ever forget.

Back then, I was not very talkative at all... Back then, I was quite the loner, mainly because I was just a kid. The Mission was a doozy, and while I saw many flaws in the plan, nobody listened to me... but it all started when I was on my first assignment in Team Rocket (where before then, I was just an errand boy) I was to follow the Team leader into the Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town and investigate about a rumor of some incredibly powerful Pokemon, and to "escort" it to HQ. ordinarily, Lavender Town was quiet, but that day was a celebration for the Pokemon Tower's anniversary. Most of the rumors dictated that only one of "pure heart" could meet the Pokemon (I, of course, laughed at how something from countless fantasy books could end up in something like this). Humorously, everyone thought that this "pure heart" the rumors mentioned was supposed to be bravery... though I knew, from reading fantasy books, that "Pure Heart" is usually measured by innocence and kindness... I gave them the benefit of the doubt, though, because I could have been wrong...

Now, though, when I look back at it... I wish I was.

the squad leader, three grunts and myself were told to invesigate about the pokemon, and all we got... were rumors. but despite them telling many stories (which I enjoyed listening to), all of them pointed toward the Pokemon Tower, which teemed of Ghost Pokemon... along with the rumors, it's also the burial ground for many Pokemon who pass away... some of them were young, as a matter of fact, who died of illness... I felt very uncomfortable about having to go into the tower, because let's face it, Ghost pokemon know how to make people jump. Hell, some of them even know how to make an average man yell... but a couple of the grunts threatened me that if I stayed behind, they would hunt me down... so I reluctantly came along. some of the rumors explained the Pokemon to be an ancient ancestor who weilded a club, and wore a warrior's mask... though it sounded like that of either a Cubone (who wears it's mother's skull as a protective helmet and holds a bone as it's weapon), or Marowak (Cubone's evolved form). As I was climbing up the tower, I ended up jumping at a Ghost Pokemon that appeared out of nowhere, and it caused me to fall through a hole in the ground. I found myself in some dark room, with only the faint light of above, and that of a neon glowstick light...

*BHSS* "damn, kid, you're starting to be one hell of a pain in the neck." the squad leader said over the cheap radio I was forced to wear (one earpiece, small cord, then a small walkie talkie in my shirt pocket, again, VERY cheap, and the earpiece didn't even fit, too big for my ear).

"Sorry sir..." I said, ashamed.

The team leader sighed, "it's not your fault, kid. this place is givin' me the creeps as well. Try and get back to the entrance, we'll see you there."

"Y-yes s-sir" I said nervously...

The radio signal stopped, and I looked around. the room I seemed to have fell into had three ways, Up, left, and right. when I looked right, there was a wooden door that seemed to be loose, and on the left, it looked like there was some kind of tunnel going that way. I figured I'd try the one thing everyone would do... and that was to test the door first.

*rettle-rettle-rettle...KAK*

I shook the door hard, to see if it would open, and instead of opening it, I found myself holding the doorknob in my hand.

"Who the hell comes up with these things!?" I shouted in frustration. I kicked the door, obviously pissed off.

*KRRKK*

I froze, trying to think if what I heard was right. If what I heard was right, the door was cracking, and if it had more impacts like that, it would give way.

I kicked it again.

*WHAM...WHAM, WHAM, WHAM*

I kicked it twice, I kicked it three more times, and damn, that was one hell of a strong door... I then go ready to jump kick the door, I crouched down, I jumped up, and kicked out with both legs... and hit nothing.

*Poomph*

I landed hard on my side on the wooden floor, the fall knocked the wind out of me, and it took a few seconds before I got up. I checked the door, and found it to be opened... not broken, just opened.

"Why me?" I groaned. "why does it have to be me...?"

I looked at the inside of the room, and it suddenly looked extra fancy. there was a feast on a grand table, there was a glass chandelier up top, and the red rugs and fancy wall paper would make anyone's day. Even the door I went through looked fancy and new, no holes or anything and I found it to be fancy enough to many people's needs... except mine.

I then backtracked and looked at the door of the dark room. By close inspecion, there seemed to have been holes in the door, enough for a regular pencil to poke through. I looked through the hole, and all I saw was white... I looked around the dusty, dark room, and began to think...
what can go through that hole in the door...? I thought. there were quite a few things that could go through the door, but not long enough to be noticeable. I then sent out my Psychic Pokemon, Kadabra (who we all know is Alakazam). Kadabra was standing straight, I poked my head three times, indicating thoughts.

OK, I'm noticing that something is wrong with this picture. one side of that door is where we are now I thought, letting Kadabra hear, and pointed towards the door. Then we go past the door, and EVERYTHING is extra fancy. I think it's come kind of illusion, but I have no current way of proving it, any ideas? I gestured while I was talking, when I was done, I shrugged. I then looked at Kadabra, waiting for an answer.

Kadabra broke a long strip from the wooden floor using Confusion, and levitated to me. this'll work I thought, nodding. Kadabra nodded, I was still trying my best to converse with him, but every time I try, he just stays silent.

I don't understand, Kadabra. don't you know how to use telepathy?

he looked at me with a curious face, I then put four fingers together, and clapped them with my thumb, indicating talking. Then I poked my head, indicating thought. "thought talking" was the initial meaning...

Kadabra opened his mouth, then closed it again, as if to give an "ahh" of understanding. his eyes glowed blue for a moment, and then he looked at me.

to be perfectly honest, I find this to be a little strange... conversing with you just feels a little awkward... he said with a voice that sounded like a man of roughly 21 to 27.

Still... I replied. I personally think it helps having you guys as company when none of the rocket members are around...

OK, now are you going to use that stick or not

"Oh, that's right." Whoops, I must have gotten distracted...

OK, so I put the stick through the hole in the door, and went "Yeugh, Kinky..." and I found that it wasn't even halfway in there, until it stopped on something...

I raised an eyebrow, and tried to poke it. but let's face it, I'm a teen, I'm getting close too adulthood. So when I was poking the whatever was stopping the stick, I realized I was doing something that some considered creepy, and what some would also call funny (don't think about it too hard). I found myself looking through the the door to see what was on the other side, and instead of a white blankness, it was an eye looking back.

I found myself rooted to the spot. who would make the first move...? I felt like wanting to, but for some reason, I felt like maybe I shouldn't. so I just stood there, with the only movement being silent breaths, and blinking occaisionally... suddenly something poked my leg, making me jump.

"ACK!!" I yelped, and made an instant 180. I didn't know what poked me, was it another ghost Pokemon, was it just some falling object??

It's only me. Kadabra said.

I let out a sigh of relief. feeling the tension relax, I checked the peephole in the door again, and suddenly something was emanating from somewhere, and the eye that looked back looked funky, but I couldn't make out the details... it almost seemed to have said something...

I may not know who you might be, human. but it matters not since you'll stay with me forever... and ever.

"for..ever....and...ever..." I seemed to repeat.

What's wrong with me, my head suddenly felt as if full of clouds... I felt relaxed my body opened the door, but I didn't want...to.

I felt like I was in a paradise... I felt all my worries melt away, my eyelids wanted to close, and I found that I was the one who came here... and if I wanted, I could stay... in paradise... for as long as I wanted.

What the-- Eric, ERIC, what's wrong ith you!? Something said, disturbing my peace. You're not yourself! Snap out of it! the voice sounded scared, and I wasn't in the mood for it... go away, you stupid voice.

Just...go away...

you've been hit with Hypnosis the voice said, you need to focus! FOCUS, ERIC, FOCUUUS!!

Suddenly, I felt a pain in my head, and all of a sudden, I found myself questioning where this "paradise" came from. what's up with me, how'd I get here, where'd Kadabra go? I planted one hand on my forehead in an effort to fight the pain in my head. and then I felt it, some kind of a pressure was giving push in my head, and I felt that wierd feeling again as the push was getting stronger. I started clutching my head with both hands, in an effort to shove back. and I now realized that I was not in some paradise. and I fought back with the same thought.

out of my head, out of my head, Out of my head...

I felt like I was waking up from a dream, it's working!

out of my head out of my head out of my head out of my head out of my head! I said it faster. and then I started pushing the feeling back further.

OUTOFMYHEAD OUTOFMYHEAD OUTOFMYHEAD OUTOFMYHEAD!! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!! I felt like I was swinging fists at some enemy, and by the time I got the last bit in, I felt like myself again, landing on Planet Earth. my vision started out fuzzy, but after the blurring went away, I found myself in a somewhat clean room, it looked like the fancy room, only that it's very old. the chandelier was rusted, the carpet was torn.

It was as I figured, it was an illusion. but the question was, who did it?

you... I have to admit of your strong will... but someday, your curiousity will be your doom.

I gulped. "y-yeah? Well unl-less that happens, I-I'll b-be fine for n-now." yeah, I was scared, if you think about it, it would make sense. I mean, whoever (or WHATever) it was tried to take control of me. If it wasn't for Alakazam, then I would have not been able to meet the rest of the team... which is not of any importance at the moment... what I want to know is who or what was it.

you have courage, that's good... especially when someone of your age comes into this place... you aught to be honored, boy.

"Where are you? I want to see who you are..."

Who... nobody who's come here ever considered me a "who". but if I do show myself, will you tell others?

I deactivated my mic. and I took it off. "this device is the only method of communication between me and the others." I placed the mic and the radio box on the floor. I thought about bringing out Kadabra for that, but I didn't because I didn't want be dishonest.

A mist appeared... and before I thought about wearing a pair of Silph Co. Vision enhancement goggles, the mist revealed itself.

It was just as I figured. the somewhat dog-headed Pokemon was brown skinned, stood on two legs, and wore a skull for a helmet, I identified the Pokemon as Marowak, the evolved form of Cubone. The only thing that was missing, though, was the bone, the bone that every average Marowak uses as a weapon.

"Marowak, huh? so the rumors are true."

"yes, they are true" The Marowak spoke like a human adult, like someone in their late thirties or early forties, except it felt whispy, like as if it were a ghost...

Wait a minute... COULD it be a ghost??

I looked at the Marowak, sizing it up. if I were someone else, someone who wanted to take this pokemon, they wouldn't have much trouble without it having a weapon. but on the contrary, this one seems a little different from the rest, so who knows what surprises this one might have.

I finished sizing it up, and it looked at me curiously...

"You know... for a boy your age, you haven't made any effort to start a battle..." Marowak said. "why is that?"

"I personally see no good enough reason to justify battling you." I said solemnly. "the illusion, the hypnosis, they're both just a defense... I see no good enough reason to attack if you didn't do anything wrong..."

Marowak closed it's eyes... as if thinking about something.

Somewhere in the distance, I suddenly felt a mixture of joy and sorrow. the feeling felt weird, it was if I was enjoying myself, yet I'm mourning about something else... I frowned at the feeling.

Marowak looked at me with some kind of interest all of a sudden... "do you feel OK?"

"uhh, I'm not sure..." I said honestly, and described the feeling I had with Marowak. Marowak looked solemn after I finished...

"I guess he's grown up, now..." the Pokemon said...

"huh"?

"haven't you wondered why I don't have a bone shaped club in my hand?"

"yeah, I have, actually..." I said.

"you humans already know that when a Descendant of our kind is born, the offspring is granted the skull helmet of their mother..." Marowak explained

not just most humans know that, EVERYONE knows that. I thought, before I said. "Okay..." in the rising tone that indicates the speaker to continue.

"but not very many humans know that the bone that the Cubone uses is from their father."

"What??" I said, surprised.

OK, to be perfectly honest, I HAVE remembered speculation about that in the Research section of this magazine I subscribe to (called Poke-Trainer's monthly). according to the article, the famous Pokemon professor of all time, Professor Samuel Oak, stated evidence that the bone that the average Cubone's weapon is thicker than a Female. but a few students disagreed with the prof., and also stated that the density of the bone matches with that of the mother, despite it being used for it's entire life... so whether the bone was from the father or the mother remained a mystery to scientists...

but now I heard the truth, coming from a Marowak (I sound crazy, don't I) and he told me his descendant was given the weapon that this Marowak's father used... which I reckon is very thick.

my eyes began to move from side to side, as if I was taking in everything that was given...

"So, you're able to talk human, why don't you educate any scholars who are curious about it?"

Then it happened...

Marowak looked at me funny."Talk human, you mean you can understand me?"

Damn, I look back on it now, and I still find how creepy that is... most Pokemon, when they speak, doesn't comprise any more than of their name... when they speak, they sound as if they were breaking down their name. personally, I find that to be wierd... but to find another Pokemon that I could actually "Talk" to (long story short, Team Rocket had a Meowth that could talk, though he was part of a trio of failures, I kinda felt sorry for him), is kinda scary to think about. to make matters worse, this Pokemon tells me that he's talking to me in his native speech... meaning anyone else would be hearing me... and a "Maro maro marowak marowak maro" and to find I could supposedly understand Pokemon, is nothing short of creepy.

I found myself speechless and completely still. Marowak also looked surprised at realizing this. Then he walked over to a small chest, and pulled out a chain with the feather pendant that I now have. he handed it to me, and I felt confused.

"Err"

"I was told to give this to the human that seems to fit the criteria." Marowak said, pacing away, then he turned towards me again. "And... could you do me a favor?"

Now I really am surprised. If Marowak had that kind of vocabulary, he could learn in a human school if he learned to speak English.

"Erm, sure" I said, hesitant.

"in that chest where I got the pendant, there's something else I would like you to give to someone..."

I walked over to the chest. the chest didn't look like much, just a formerly padlocked wooden box. when I opened the chest, I found something that caught me by surprise when I took a closer look. It was a bone, just a regular foot long, four inch thick bone, with one pointed end, as if used for a small club. what caught my attention, though. was that it looked like it was lined with metal.on each side, there were five lines, about a centimeter wide, of silver lining the bone. I considered it to be a Lucky Bone, frankly because it was not exactly the kind of bone one would expect on the body. I picked up the bone, turning it around a few times, marveling at the brownish white, and silver swirl that it seemed to put on from a distance.

"I would feel more at peace if you were to deliver it to my offspring... I think you humans would call him a 'son', right?"

"uh-huh..." I said, inferring the word "yes".

"every festival that you humans have here gives him a chance to visit me, but I feel that he doesn't want to move on in life. I still want the same thing everyone would want of their offspring, and that is to be happy"

Let's face it, I feel like I'm in some storybook, so I knew what he wanted.

"OK, I understand." I said simply...

"be aware of one thing, though." Marowak said. That pendant, the one you now possess. If a time is right, you'll be able to grant assistance to more than just your human peers."

I made a "hmmm" sound as I tried to interpret what that meant... but then the Marowak started to look transparent. I was caught off guard as I knew that he was leaving.

"Farewell, Eric Claid, I will never forget your Kindness..."

A second later, Marowak faded away, his message passed on... I held the bone and turned it around two more times. As I turned it a second time, however, something occured to me.

Wait a minute, where can I find this Pokemon's grave? I thought in realization... and then the answer came to me as soon as the question arose. Wait, tonight marks a festival. That Cubone should be somewhere around here.

I looked around, and found a door on the other side of the room, I went through it, but found myself outside. I looked back, confused, but then noticed I was somewhere else from the tower.

"Back entrance, I guess." I said to myself. I tried to think on where to go, I started scratching my head with the hand that seemed to have held the bone... I started to walk around. maybe I might find a way up if I can... "uhhhh"

*BOONK* "OWW"

Catching me by surprise, something clubbed my head, hard enough to send me reeling with stars messing with my vision.

"Grave Robber! Grave Robber!" Someone shouted.

I was stunned for a minute, so I couldn't respond immediately. All I was able to tell was that the voice sounded like a kid about aged seven or eight, with a kind of southern accent (with "Grave Robber" sounding like "Grave Robbuh").

"Wha... What??" I said, startled and dazed.

"Grave Robber! That bone don't belong to you!" the voice kept jeering
I managed to get ahold of myself, I looked around swiftly, to figure out who clubbed me.

*BOONK*

I was hit from behind, and I made a 180. but nobody was in front of me...

"You must be a pretty tough guy not to be knocked out from that." the voice spoke again. "don't matter, Grave Robber, That bone ain't yours!"

I looked down, and found a small Pokemon with a similar Skull that a Marowak uses for a helmet, except the eyes were shadowed due to the helmet being a bit too big. It was a Cubone, but was it the one I was looking for?

"Hey, Tell me. do you visit this tower often?"

Cubone nodded. "I come here every month to visit my Pa, he passed away last year, and he feels peaceful when I come."

I thought of what Marowak wanted me to do... this Pokemon feels lonely without his Pop, and I can definately understand how sad he must have been feeling, but still, I promised him something.

"'Cause y'see, this bone doesn't belong to me, I'll agree with that."

"Hah, I knew it, you THIEF!!" Cubone stopped then. "Wait, why are you telling me this?"

I crouched down and held out the bone to him, "Because this actually belongs to you"

"For me? why, I didn't ask for this... it ain't mine." Cubone looked confused.

"Because your Pa would want you to have it. He asked me to give this to you." I let Cubone take the bone from my hand. when he looked at it, his eyes looked watery.

"My...My Pa wanted me to have this?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure he would feel proud to have an offspring that enjoys life at it's best. places to explore, characters to meet, even adventures to go on." I started acting like some tough guy when I mentioned adventure, I felt glad to see him happy, those little heartwarming moments just never get old.

"CLAID, WHERE WERE YOU!?" I heard a voice roar from a distance behind me.

I realized who it was immediately, I gasped in realization, if Cubone was anywhere near them, it would mean trouble.

"Quick, you got to hide, I don't want you to get hurt, please, hide." I whispered to Cubone, who was looking curiously past me.

"but I want to meet your friends." Cubone Protested.

"Please, I don't want you to get hurt!"

Cubone walked past me, in an attempt to greet the other rocket members. the commanding officer looked down, and plucked the bone out of Cubone's hands...

"Well, what do we have here, a Cubone with a precious artifact. Good work, kid." The commanding Officer said

"Hey, that's mine, give it back!" Cubone cried, hopping up and down, trying to reach the bone.

"Heh, thanks, you little weasel." the Officer said, before kicking Cubone a few feet away.

I looked in horror as Cubone landed, crying because of what the leader did to him...

I felt angry at the officer, and I instantly Snatched the bone from the officer and chucked the bone.

"Quick! Run, Cubone!" I shouted.

Cubone hesitated, and gave me a painfully sad look that told me he felt hurt with what happened... and then he turned his back and ran, leaving me to realize what Team Rocket really was, and to feel upset with what I've done...

........

I kept looking at the pendant. ever since that event last year, i never managed toi understand Pokemon since... at least, not vocally. I managed to train Kadabra on using telepathy occaisionally... and at one time, Mike and I swapped pokemon for a specific mission, when Kadabra came back, he came back as Alakazam.

I continued to gaze at the pendant. I wondered if it was some kind of dream... it felt like it was, despite it being real when I thought about it. but, I still had plenty of questions that needed to be answered... but I gave up on them months later.

*PumPumPum*

I was taken out of my trance when the door was knocked. I figured it must be the grunts who were going to move my stuff.

"Come in." I said simply.

As I expected, three grunts were waiting at my door, standing the usual stance they would at any superior officer.

"Mr. Claid, Sir, We would appreciate it, if you could please vacate the room as we transfer your belongings..."

I pocketed the pendant with it's case, and folded my hands behind my waist to display professional posture. "OK, then, but I demand you be extra careful with everything that's being transferred." I warned them. "Because if I find anything of mine broken, it will come out of each of your pays. While it may not be much of a deduction, it's there to remind you to be extra careful with my stuff. Is that Clear?"

"Yes, Sir." all three said at once.

"Alright. I'll leave you three to it, then." I said, feeling proud, I almost let it get to my head before I remembered something. "Oh, and where would my new quarters be located?"

"Acrossed from Ms. Domino's room, sir." one of the grunts said.

despite my being promoted, my being able to command the lessar grunts, and treat them as I please, I felt my stomach lurch at hearing that. Code name "009" (double-oh-nine) Domino, AKA the "Black Tulip". was one of the most irritating admins I know of. because she constantly brags about how she doesn't need Pokemon to get a job done, even to Syrus himself (who doesn't mind, to my utter amazement). To make matters worse, she's been frequently giving me rotten looks and condescending lectures when I walk off to the exercise room and give my usual beating to the punching bag...

"uh, o-oh...." I said with a kind of tone that says "I wish I didn't ask", and Walked off over to the admin's messhall to meet the Club of Kindness... since all of the admins prefer to eat in their quarters, the admin's mess hall has been considered abandoned. so even the grunts that are part of the club can enter without getting in trouble... still, to find myself a neighbor to Domino, I just hoped that she wasn't as intrusive as I keep hearing, because with the kind of things I do, she would do everything in her right to make my life miserable...

if there's something I hope will happen, I hope meeting the Club might help my nerves settle down...

Chapter 6: Small Talk

I decided to release Alakazam and Blaziken to keep me company while I walked down the hall. I also felt like wearing the pendant for today, so I kept the box that contained it in my pocket as we were walking down the halls, I explained what happened.
So, did they tell you where you were going to be located? Alakazam asked.
I sighed, figuring it inevitable. “I’m stuck with the Pizza Lady…”
you mean Domino? Alakazam looked about ready to laugh. you do realize how much fun Marshtomp’s gonna have when he sees you putting up with her, right?
“uugh, why do I always find that there isn’t much good stuff without the bad being even worse…” I groaned
Hey, look on the bright side, at least you aren’t stuck with Syrus.

I felt as if Gravity had been doubled in my thoughts, causing me to start grumbling. Like it or not, Alakazam made a big point mentioning Syrus… because despite my being understanding, well prepared for any problem, and being obedient on the job, when I’m OFF the job, he and I find each other at one another’s throats. Often times, it’s a Pokemon Battle (which I excel in) but other times it might end up a fistfight, and depending where we are, it could go both ways… most of the time, I end up losing the fistfights because I’m at a physical disadvantage, and I usually work extra hard at the punching bag because of it (Although I do happen to pull a surprise or two in a fight).
But if I were stuck near Syrus’s room, then he would do everything possible to get me in trouble. Hell, he would usually put me on a cleaning duty if he feels confident that he can handle the mission without me (which can happen, to my irritation, and the minute he starts gloating about it, I whack him acrossed the face with whatever solid object I’m cleaning with when he looks away). In fact, he’s requested occasionally that I get fired immediately, Giovanni refuses every time.
The Bottom Line, if I were stuck with Domino (who I call the Pizza Lady because of a business that makes a pun out of it), then I won’t have much risk aside from an occasional invasion of privacy. Syrus would possibly try to get me killed (and he’s tried before, I swear to god…practically).

I finally reached a set of double doors with a small sign that said “ADMIN” up above them.
Blaziken then spoke to me, and I looked at Alakazam. ”don’t forget, dude, that at least you won’t have to deal with this alone.” Alakazam translated.
“Yeah,” I said, putting my right hand on the right side of the doors, “you’re right about that…
I pushed open the doors.

*POPPOPOPOP, POP POP POP POPOPOPOP*
I jumped at suddenly hearing firecrackers exploding close by. But through all the confetti, everyone seemed to have been applauding… except one, Syrus (yes, in case anyone asks, Syrus IS in the club of Kindness, he may not be as kind as everyone else, but he has morals he won’t cross).
“Dude, you made it!”
“YEAH, WOOOO!!”
“Admin Claid, congrats, Kid!”
“E-ric, E-ric, E-ric…!!”
I felt a lot better at seeing everyone applauding for me, and it definitely should be a moment to feel proud. I mean, not just ANYONE can become an admin, so becoming one is definitely a good reason to party with friends, at least to commemorate (to remember) the event.

I looked around, it seemed everyone was here. Mike, with a bit of a flat head of hair, somewhat goofy looking face (even if he has a neutral look, unless he’s frowning, he always looks like he’s smiling) and his Pokemon partner (known as Golem, like a giant rock ball with a curved head, and arms and limbs that can be brought into it’s rock “shell” before it can start rolling) mingling (socializing) with Blaziken. A grunt by the name of Sam, one of two females in the club of kindness, with reddish brown eyes that could switch from innocent to fierce in an instant, Blonde hair, has somewhat of a schoolgirl kind of look and attitude (slightly pointed chin, small facial notes, very slim, almost boney, and has quite a bit of a girly kind of feel that would suggest her parents called her an angel…a LOT), her pokemon Partner is Bellossom. Frank, almost looks like this pessimistic actor I’ve seen in a few movies, always looking at the glass half empty, and his face is kinda lull looking (opposite of Mike’s, unless he’s smiling big, then he looks like he’s always frowning), his Pokemon, Hypno, has quite a habit of trying to hypnotize someone (unfortunately, I end up as the victim of most of them, but I’ve managed to handle it enough times to be almost considered immune, though I stress on “Almost”). Then there was the second female, her name was Nikki, a bit of a shy person when if you happen to be a stranger, but once you get to know her, she’s a lot of fun to be around. She’s usually been my main source of entertainment when someone gets a little goofy, because she goes into the habit of insulting people’s mamas, as a joke of course (though I find it funnier if it was actually serious). Syrus looked different today, his ordinarily aqua blue hair looked more of an emerald green. Plus, it seemed like he changed his wardrobe again, wearing his usually blue dark blue shirt, but instead of the jacket with blue waves to match his shirt, he had a jacket that has red droplets (uh oh, blood), and his pants have blue and red droplets with a puddle design of the two colors swirling at the bottom (near the feet)… Syrus’s eyes were closed, and he had a lollipop in his mouth, judging from the little white stick…
I suddenly remembered that there was something else to think about.
“Hey, where’s the new member?” I asked openly, everyone paused.
“AWWW…” Mike and Frank said loudly at the same time.
“you just missed him.” Nikki told me, “he was just sent out for a mission, so he’s probably not going to be here today…”
I closed my eyes halfway, and put on an exaggerated face. “Bogus…” I said with a surfer’s kind of accent.
“I know, right…?” Mike said, playing along with the accent.
“Buummer, duude” Sam Said.
“Ah well,” I said, still with the accent. “I’ll make him lunch when he, like, comes tomorrow… but with tomorrow’s plans set aside…” I started to look towards Mike and Frank, “I know one thing to do right now.”
Mike jumped up to his feet, Frank sat where he was and sighed. Mike and I then thrust out our backs, wrists and fists directed upwards, as if ready to tackle someone (or ready to rip a big one, if you know what I mean), and yelled “PARTY ON, DUUUDES!!” simultaneously before giving each other a high five…
“Party on with yo mama!” Nikki blurted out,
“No, YO MAMA!” I retorted playfully
“NO, YO MAMA, YOU MAMA’S BOY!!” She screamed with a laugh. Then we locked knuckles, like a gangster’s handshake.

I decided to go ahead and let the Pokemon mingle with everyone… as for me, I then got up and walked towards the kitchen. I then stopped and turned around to look at everyone.
“OK, today’s a special day, which calls for a special meal,” I announced, “what does everyone want?”
Everyone looked at each other.
“you still want to cook?” Frank asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Of course, I usually prefer to cook…” I replied. Because yeah, I usually am the cook of the club, and I subscribe to three recipe magazines, one for breakfast, one for lunch or dinner, and last for various desserts (including a few gourmet).
“Dude, why go through the trouble? We decided to order Pizza.” Mike said with a neutral face.
My eyes widened. “seriously??” I said. One more thing, pizza was probably one of my favorite things to eat during a party, and while I tried making pizza before, I never managed to get that kind of taste the local pizza place had. So, if it was party time, and we wanted something, we would usually order from the pizza place…
“Yeaah, so keep on drooling, kid.” Mike said, with an “ohh, yeeeaah” kind of tone.
I realized, though, that I was drooling… I then closed my mouth, and wiped the saliva off my face. I then smiled, because everyone felt happy about having something different.
“Heh heh, last time I remember having Pizza was when we had that Pokemon tourney last month, and We WON!” an unfamiliar deep voice spoke.

I looked around, finding the source of that voice. The sound came from where Blaziken and Golem were socializing, I kept looking for a moment.
“Damn, I still remember that last battle.” What the hell, was that Golem?? “You were on the ropes, and that Blastoise managed to freeze the ground, but then Eric made a crazy attempt at defense by telling you to use Fire Spin on yourself, snatched you the battle when the sucker used Hydro Pump.”
Holy crap, I must be losing it, I am actually hearing what Golem and Blaziken were actually Staying. I took out the pendant from under my shirt and Stared at it, then at the Pokemon, then back again.

"Be aware of one thing" Marowak's voice echoed in memory, 'That pendant, the one you now possess. If the time is right, you'll be able to grant assistance to more than just your human peers."

Was this that “right time” that Marowak mentioned?? I thought, stunned, but mostly panicked.
Golem noticed the look on my face, and laughed. “Hey, dude, your trainer looks like he’s seen a ghost.”
God, it can’t be happening, how the hell is this happening. It happened with a ghost, and I thought it wasn’t real the next day. To have it happen twice, you’ll start to wonder if it WAS real… often times you’ll think you’re going crazy.
“Hey, dude, your trainer looks like he’s seen a ghost.” I copied, except with a horrified kind of tone… because if most people would think they’re crazy, then I think I’m one of those people.
“Seriously, is he still thinking about that hit on him??”
“Seriously, is he still thinking about that hit on him…?”
Golem started looking at me funny, Blaziken was stupefied.
“Is it just me, or is Eric actually copying you?” Blaziken said, with a voice that sounded like a seasoned 43 to 46 year old war general who was two or three years retired.
I felt like my brain stopped working. I could not think, I could not move, I just stood there, horrified and confused, copying what the POKEMON were actually saying!
“Is it just me… or is Eric actually copying you….?”
Now more than just those two were staring at me. Alakazam noticed as well and levitated to my side, where I could see him at the edge of my eye, and so did Frank, who got up a little confused.
Um, Eric, are you OK?He asked in thought speech. I didn’t respond at all… Alakazam then turned to Blaziken.
“Blaziken, What’s going on with Eric?” he said vocally, with the same voice as his thought speech.
“Blaziken, what’s going on with Eric?” I mimicked, feeling so pale in the face that I would be thought as the friendly ghost going through a shocked and frozen looking puberty.
“Holy shit, man, you look like a damn ghost!!” Syrus shouted just before he fell backwards laughing… judging from the thudding sound
“Erm, Alakazam,” Sam said nervously, “W-what’s going on with Eric?”
You know something, Sam, I have no idea… Alakazam replied with an open thought speak that everyone can hear.
I don’t know what was going on until I suddenly heard the door open. Immediately I was snapped out of my trance, and I started speed walking towards the kitchen area to find something to do.

I got out some strips of Bacon, and put them under some paper towels before putting them in the microwave oven for a few minutes. I took off the pendant and laid it next to the microwave… and then I just sat there, trying to think about what just happened… I actually heard the Pokemon as if they were human, I don’t know how, I don’t know….wait…
“I was told to give this to the human that fits that seems to fit the criteria.” I echoed aloud. Criteria, now I start to wonder… what’s this criteria.
“Blaze…” I heard Blaziken speak from the entrance.
“Huh?” I looked up, and noticed Blaziken standing at the door, Alakazam levitating next to him, except he was staring at the Microwave…or..
Eric, is that… he inquired.
Yeah, it is. I answered. I didn’t want the mover grunts to steal that, so I took it with me.
Alakazam’s eye thinned out, as if something was occurring to him. Let’s test something…
I looked at him curiously, and then he picked up the pendant and levitated it to my feet. I reached out to pick it up.
Don’t, I want to test something. Now… He said, stopping me.
“Ala ala alakazam ala…” He spoke vocally.
“Huh??” I noted, confused. Was I really going crazy? I thought to myself. Just a minute ago, I was able to understand Pokemon as if they spoke human, their mouths proved it, because they moved as if they were speaking human. I looked at Alakazam square in the eye.
Care to Explain? I asked intently.
Put on the pendant He instructed.
Then it hit me, it’s the pendant! There’s something about that pendant that allows me to understand Pokemon. But, wait, IS it the pendant? I put the thin golden chain acrossed my neck, looking at it for a couple of seconds...
Now, I ask again. Alakazam said.
“Can you understand me…?” He said, vocally, this time…
I felt the kind of TV shock were the eyes of someone would look like they shrunk to little beads. I nodded slowly to my Psychic pokemon, and answered him.
“Yeah… I understand you.”
"OK, then." He concluded, it's definately got something to do with that pendant of yours. One way or another, you're gonna have to guard that jealously, but you probably knew that already." He smiled, supposedly trying to make me feel better. I smiled back, because I really did feel better.

All of a sudden, though, I felt warm... not like the fuzzy feeling of happiness, but like a warming feeling, like I’m under some kind of heater all over. I looked around, and I found none of the Pokemon was using Heat Wave and I know the stove, heater or oven wasn’t on because this heat wasn’t coming towards me from those… and before I could think of where it came from, I… suddenly felt relaxed… I tried to tense up, and find out if…..uuugh……my eyelids were starting to feel heavy…
“Eric, you OK?” Blaziken said…
“I feel….slehhpehhh…” I mumbled, starting to fall asleep… I thought about something, but…
Don’t worry, it isn’t Hypno, though I do think you are a bit stressed… Alakazam reassured me. This “warmth” you feel must be something trying to help you relax.
I then felt, not sleepy, but now a little funky, and it’s hard to describe the feeling. It’s almost like a chill going down your spine, except it was all over the body. Starting from the head, down to the shoulders, then it felt like an electric charge, buzzing all through me. Then I just knew, somehow, I felt different, as if I've been changed somehow, though I don't know what... the strange warmth dissipated, and I felt back in control of myself.
I didn’t feel relaxed anymore. It was only two and a half minutes, and I didn’t hear any breathing nearby, so I guess my Pokemon joined the crowd.

I opened my eyes, my vision almost felt laser sharp, I was looking in front the wall, and I guess if I could see that close, I must be in front of it… I pushed my legs at the floor, scooting backward, but, my back felt like it was pressing against something, like I was against a wall…
What the hell?
I reached out with my right hand, to see if I could push the wall away from me, but then the wall was replaced by a light brown…. thing that was moving.
I froze, the thing stopped, I moved my hand, the thing moved… I moved my right foot, and then kept my hand still, and the thing didn’t move. Wait a minute… I wiggled my fingers, the thing moved slightly… I’m looking at my right hand, what happened to my freaking vision!? I thought, panicked. I felt it getting bigger, then, and I got more tense with it.
Holy crap, is this Real!? My vision, it was messed up!
“AAHHH!!” Something seriously loud pierced my ears, I don’t know if that was me, though.
“Whoa, what’s going on!?” Alakazam said, but it felt so loud it was like he was shouting.
I tried to calm down, I tried to relax, I shut my eyes and took deep breaths, and instantly I heard less sound. I felt more relaxed, and normal, until I heard something close. what, what my hearing and sight modified or something??.
“Eric, what’s wrong??” Alakazam said, in a worried tension. I opened my eyes, the wall was far away from me. Instead, Alakazam was in front of me looking worried.
I sighed, “Nothing, it’s just a brief nightmare…” I lied. And I also smiled when I forced myself to keep thinking the isolation thought.
LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA
Alakazam clenched his teeth, and went “Dammit!” before knowing that I wasn’t in the mood for thought speech.
“Ah well, I’m fine now.” I said, and pushed myself up, finding myself hopping up when I pushed with my legs… and got up fast.

Now feeling full of energy, I walked out of the kitchen, with everyone briefly glancing at me… except for some guy sitting at a far table with an Umbreon. The Umbreon looked at me with a neutral face. “Who’re you?” the Pokemon asked with a bit of a shady kind of voice.
“Umbreon, huh? Name’s Eric, nice to meet you.”
Umbreon nodded, the guy looked at me when I turned towards him, the guy looked kinda darkish, had jet black hair, all messy and uncombed, he also had a bit of a face that could make someone think either abused or poor, pale faced towards the cheeks, a bit of a slightly flat nose, medium thick eyebrows, and Cloudy grey eyes that look enigmatic, mysterious, he was sitting on the seat with his left leg bent close to him with his left arm resting on it, and his right leg slacked off to the floor with his right arm relaxed on the table, bent at ninety degrees.
“What do you want?” he said, sounding like your ordinary high school dude, of maybe seventeen to eighteen. The tone he gave me, though, was that as if I was intruding on something.
“Oh,” I said, caught off guard with the tone, I reached out my right hand and smiled. “My name’s Eric Claid, nice to meet you.”
The dude turned his head right. Not shaking my hand, and was silent for a moment…
“Kevin… and he’s my Umbreon…” he said a few seconds later.
I withdrew my hand and easily got the impression immediately. He wasn’t in the mood to socialize.
“Oh, not interested in talking for a bit, huh?” I said. “OK, I’ll leave you alone, then.”
I walked away for a moment, then turned back towards him. He still leered at me when I gave him a sympathetic look, though he snorted and turned his head away. I flinched, a little concerned. Wow, what’s his problem? I thought irritably before walking away.
“Hey! Eric, right?” I heard Umbreon call from behind. I turned around and crouched down to meet the ominously colored Pokemon’s large, red colored eyes. “That Golem said you can now understand what a Pokemon really says, is that true?”
Already, I’ve learned to accept that I have this ability and I can now socialize with other Pokemon.
“Yeah, I can. Took me by surprise, but yeah, I can understand you guys now.” I replied with a neutral face.
“What’s an Admin?” he asked. “I kept hearing that it’s like some superiority among you humans, and that you became one. But, What exactly is an ‘Admin’?”

I guess that’s understandable for someone not to know how the ranks work here, even I don’t understand them, because I only know of two ranks, Grunt, the regular henchmen that get the dirty stuff and usually the rougher jobs, and Administrator like the second in command, who control the grunts… but there can be quite a few admins to start with. The only other rank is the boss, who supposedly founded Team Rocket to begin with (don’t ask me how it got so damn HUGE, though).
I explained it to Umbreon as best I could, when I was finished explaining, I added “I’m not a hundred percent sure if those are the only two positions for an average guy, but who knows.”
Umbreon was silent then. I wondered if I gave him the right information, I didn’t really give him a clear enough picture, in my opinion I didn’t.
“Interesting,” Umbreon said, “Doesn’t seem like there’s that much order in this organization, huh?”
“Nope, I guess not.” I said with a smile on my face, raising my left eyebrow in a more positive “Oh well” gesture.

*BUM BUM BUM*

I noticed that the doors were being knocked, I walked over there and opened them.
“Hey, Kid. Come on, the Boss wants to talk to you.” It was Domino, standing in front of me, and it seems she was serious.
I, of course, didn’t hesitate to state my opinion. “Err, Domino… isn’t this a little sudden?” I said, trying to slow her down. “What does Giovanni want this time?”
Domino thinned her eyes, glaring at me. “You know something, I ain’t tellin’ ya.” She said, copping an attitude, “now round up your pokemon, and let’s go now.”
I felt like slapping her acrossed the face for saying that. “Oh sure, round up my freaking pokemon, like they’re freaking Miltank on a farm…” I grumbled as I walked away. When I reached the group, I took out Charizard’s Pokeball and sighed.
“Boss man wants to see me.” I announced, “Pizza Lady said I have to bring my pokemon with me, So guys, it’s time to go.”
My partners, as figured, all groaned. But Blaziken and Alakazam came to either side of me, Blaziken on the left, Alakazam on the right. I looked at Charizard, and he went on about how he wished he was able to walk with Alakazam and Blaziken. I recalled Marshtomp, because he has a hard time sitting still, and in a serious business like this, anyone would understand why.
Alakazam started to levitate, and then Blaziken and I walked over to Domino, who closed her eyes halfway in an predicted irritation look…
“Eric, you know how I operate, and I won’t tolerate it.” She said, with the standard authority’s tone. “I will not allow you to let your Pokemon roam free around me, now put them back where they belong, in their Pokeballs.”
“And you know what, you blonde headed bitch? I don’t need to listen to you anymore.” I retorted, letting my irritation speak. “Guess what, Pizza Girl, We’re on equal ranking, so I will ‘not allow’ anything less than equal speech…” I walked past her and took a left, Blaziken and Alakazam beside me.
“OK, then, little boy. Where do you think you’re going?” Domino said with a smug tone. “you going to the office, where he isn’t at?”
I stopped as my right foot was landing on the ground. I straightened up and turned around, looking at her with a confused look.
“Yeah, didn’t see that coming, didja?” She said with an evil looking smile. “The Boss wants to see you somewhere else, which explains why I’m even here…”
I frowned at her, if Giovanni wanted to see me, then what was wrong with just his office? Maybe he wanted to show me something… or maybe something’s up.
“Where is the boss located, then?” I questioned Domino. “if he wanted to talk, why somewhere isolated?”
Domino closed her eyes and pinched the nose in between, as if trying not to get frustrated. “OK, you know what, I don’t know why, but I just figured it was pretty damn important, judging from his urgency.”
I stared at Domino for about a minute and a half. I still didn’t get it, I was sure that there wasn’t any kind of emergency going on at HQ, and especially not with me. Unfortunately, there seems to have been quite a bit of weird stuff going on lately. Granted, there’s not going to be anything weirder than being able to understand a pokemon as if it spoke English… but still, it’s definitely been a strange morning. With all that aside, I still didn’t know where I was to meet Giovanni, so I might as well follow Domino, whether I like it or not (and I really don’t like it).

Chapter 7: Just Ain't Right...

I paused, waiting for Domino to make the first move… and then decided to mention it to her, since she was doing the same…
“OK, well, Ladies first…” I said, and put my hands in my pockets.
She sighed and told me to follow her… Blaziken and Alakazam, who were making side comments about her, followed me.
“I wonder what the man wants this time.” Blaziken said,
I paused, pretending that Alakazam was translating, “Well, either way, if Pizza Lady was told to fetch me, it must be important.” I replied.
Domino was starting to growl with irritation… she doesn’t seem to like that. I smiled. I’ll keep that in mind. I thought.
“heh, I’ll bet she will poison any pizzas she delivers…” Alakazam joked, “Maybe then will the name ‘pizza lady’ be something worth fearing. That’ll be the day.” They both laughed, I snorted for a minute before laughing as well… as Domino was looking back, She was glaring at me, and it didn’t take long before I found her telling me “Keep calling me ‘pizza lady’ and I might put an extra ingredient in your next delivery.”
I couldn’t help it, I just laughed even harder, I was laughing so hard that I noticed people looking at me, apparently creeped out… Alakazam had commented exactly what Domino was going to say, and then Domino ends up repeating it, only to say that she plans on justifying her joke name. Sheesh, I could just see that, with her codename as Black Tulip, if she mixed her name up, I could just picture a pizza topped with tulips. That would not make her look good, I’ll say that.
We turned the corner past Giovanni’s office room… where Domino said he wasn’t in. But as we walked past, I noticed a black shadowy figure walk by the door on the other side of the blurred glass. Must be the cleaning crew… making sure that the place was extra clean.
Blaziken and Alakazam saw it as well… and we found ourselves saying the exact same thing as we walked by.
“Hmm… Cleaning Crew.”
Domino looked at us in sudden curiosity. “Huh?”
I looked at her. “Cleaning crew, doesn’t Giovanni have someone clean the office occasionally?”
She shook her head. “Not this early.” She said with a lowered voice before walking towards the door. I followed her, and saw that the shadowy figure was still moving about the room. Domino knocked three times, the figure stopped… then the shadow was growing closer… the door opened.
“Huh?” I found myself confused when I saw who opened the door. It was Giovanni, but didn’t Domino say he was somewhere else?
“S-sir, Did you forget something?” Domino asked seeming to be just as confused as I was.
“No, I did not.” The boss said, he looked at me then. “Mr. Claid, I was expecting you. Thank you, 009. you are dismissed.”
Domino blinked twice, and when she turned around, she made a sneezing noise that sounded like she said “eyes.” She walked away, and turned a corner out of sight.
Eyes? I thought, what does that mean?
Giovanni looked at Blaziken (who I found was tensed up), then Alakazam… then he looked up and down towards me… as if sizing me up. Once he was done, he looked at me square in the eye. “So, now that you’ve arrived, come in…” He stepped aside, and thinking of Blaziken and Alakazam, I found myself hesitating. Giovanni sighed, and made a slight smile.
“There’s no worry, I’m fine with you letting Pokemon walk in…” he said. “this one time.”
I looked at Blaziken (who relaxed a big), he shrugged, and walked in. Then I looked at Alakazam, and he said, in thought speak, the answer to what I was thinking…
I guess there’s a first for everything. Come on, we’d better not make him wait. he said.
We went in, and it definitely felt a little awkward to enter my boss’s office with my pokemon beside me… but, he said it was OK, so here we are.

Giovanni settled into his seat before he started looking at Blaziken and Alakazam for a brief moment. “Mr. Claid,” he said, “Before we talk, you seem to have a good reason for everything, so why do you let your Pokemon roam outside of their Pokeballs?”
“Err,” I paused… “Even if I were to tell you, sir, you would most likely consider it ridiculous.”
“Go ahead, I want to hear it.” He urged me… despite the tone of voice, he was giving me a look that told me he wasn’t exactly happy about it.
“Well… umm…” I paused again, trying to find the right words. I sighed, figuring I’d just wing it. “Sir, I personally think like most of an average trainer on regards of Pokemon. I see my pokemon as equal as any other member of Team Rocket… so I let my pokemon do things that I do out of habit.”
Giovanni gave me a neutral look, like what I was saying was unbelievable or something. I tried to keep a straight face, but the pressure of hearing the worst was making me sweat… the look in his eye made it feel very serious.
“hmm… Well, while I can see how a young man like you can think that way…” Giovanni said. “But the rest of us see Pokemon as mere tools to get certain jobs done, and I can hardly see any other reason why not. So while I won’t deny you this privilege, I think that you, as you say, really are ‘being ridiculous.’”
Is that so, sir? Alakazam thought spoke openly, so that everyone in the room could hear. Giovanni looked left and right, supposedly trying to find where that came from.
Mr. Giovanni, with all due respect, I think Eric is justified in considering Pokemon his equals. Alakazam continued, for one thing, I know just about enough to be able to socialize with whomever I want to speak to. It’s not my fault that they feel awkward about it.
“Who’s there?” Giovanni demanded, “Who is this!?”
“It’s Alakazam, sir.” I piped in. “My psychic pokemon is using telepathy to speak.”
He looked at me with a very serious face. “so you’re telling me that you have a psychic Pokemon you can communicate with?”
Yes, sir. Alakazam said. I’ve been urged to communicate with Eric for awhile… and he frequently consults to me whenever he has troubles. I also help translate what other Pokemon are saying…
“Reeeeally… is that so?” a voice purred. From out behind the desk, Giovanni’s Persian walked slowly over towards the front. “So you can tell Giovanni what I really say, is this what you tell me, shorty?”
Alakazam nodded, with a slight glare in his eye at being called “short”.
“OK…” Persian walked over to Giovanni and looked up… “y’know, I really wonder how that other Meowth is doing, I dunno how you taught him to speak… but that kind of education could help, I’ll admit.”
I kept my mouth shut as Alakazam Translated every word that was said. Despite my being able to let Giovanni know how I communicate with Alakazam, I still find it a bad idea to tell him I can understand Pokemon without Alakazam’s help anymore. As I looked at Blaziken, I smiled. Blaziken was having a hard time keeping his good posture, which was understandable, given the fact that it was actually his first time, but after seeing me stand up like that, he got it down. He looked at me with only his eyes, I smiled and nodded slightly, in the gesture that he’s doing good so far… he nodded back.
“Mr. Claid, I’m impressed at the training and discipline you took for your Pokemon.” Giovanni commented, then he picked up a yellow folder. “But, as you’d have guessed, that’s not why I called you here.”
Obviously, I thought. I was actually surprised how my partners caused that much of a change in topic… I glanced at Blaziken, he was starting to slack in his posture, potentially getting a little restless, I looked at Alakazam. Alakazam, hang with Blaziken. I told him through thought, Talk to him through thought or something, but don’t make him laugh. Good posture, y’know?
Alakazam nodded, and levitated next to Blaziken. I looked back at Giovanni, and he places a group of papers on the desk. “Mr. Claid, you recall that incident you were caught in the other day?” he interrogated.

I felt my eyebrows look like they were closing, in a serious face, because how could I not forget yesterday? I still don’t know what the motive was for attacking just me. Butall I do know was that is seemed predetermined, staged…
“Yes sir.” I replied.
“Would you have any recollection as to who attacked you?”
Good question. I thought. “No sir.”
“And lastly, has anything out of the ordinary occurred recently?” Giovanni looked at me with a concerned face. I looked at him in surprise. Despite him being my boss, I had not expected something like that.
What kind of a question is that? Alakazam commented at me.
“S-sir?” I said.
Giovanni looked at the documents. “According to the reports from yesterday,” he explained, reading the documents as he went, “after you were hit, you passed out a few seconds afterwards, and under a sudden fever… and as you were being taken over to the medical center, you went under an unexplainable seizure.” He flipped to the next page. “’The fever was understandable after a psychic attack, but a sudden seizure gave us all a shock,’ was one of the many comments left by the doctors that checked your health.” Giovanni looked at me, as if expecting a reaction.
I was stunned, I thought back on the nightmare I had that night… I was being stabbed by fiery spikes, I was laying in the air, with my back facing a crater of magma… and I think I might have been thrashing in that dream as well.
I gulped… “umm, but I feel fine, sir.”
“And that’s exactly what concerns me.” Giovanni continued. “How is it that you were able to recover from a fever and a seizure in the course of a few hours?”
I didn’t have anything worth saying that would help my situation… so I kept quiet… looking towards the bottom of the desk.
“So I ask again. Mr. Claid, has anything out of the ordinary happened lately.” I made eye contact again, and I found that Giovanni was looking at me fiercely. He definitely is hoping for me to tell him something fruitful… except, I don’t think it’s a good idea to say that I have a magic pendant that allows me to understand Pokemon, or to say that Blaziken and Alakazam found my eyes turned into that of a beast’s while I was unconscious.
I stared down Giovanni for awhile. what exactly does he want, anyways? I thought. does he think I have some kind of superpower that’s useable… some inhuman trait that he can use to his advantage? I kept looking into his eyes… and all of a sudden, they didn’t feel the same… I don’t know why, but they suddenly feel different.
Then something creepy happened...

The minute I felt his eyes being different, half of the iris and pupil, the main part of the eyes that centers your view, suddenly turned red, and made a half circle kind of reflective look… I managed to keep a straight face on the outside, but I found myself clenching my teeth.
“Mr. Claid?” Giovanni said. “I ask again, Has anything out of the ordinary happened to you?”
Eric? Alakazam thought spoke. You gonna give him an answer?
I kept looking, the eyes turned to normal when I broke eye contact slightly. “Er, n-no sir.” I finally said…
Giovanni noticed my voice shake. “Are you sure, you’re not hiding something?”
“Uh, yes sir, I just felt a little… intimidated, sir…” I lied. oh NOOO, I don’t have anything to hide… I thought sarcastically… except for finding your eyes suddenly changing color, my understanding Pokemon, and your seriously weird questions. So no, BOSS, I ain’t hiding SHIT…!

I was dismissed. I was actually surprised that took so long… but still, I felt a little concerned about what happened… I mean, Giovanni’s my BOSS… why would he ask weird questions… and those eyes…

Half of the iris and pupil, the main part of the eyes that centers your view, suddenly turned red, and made a half circle kind of reflective look…

That was definitely weird… in fact, while on my way back to the club, I consulted it with Alakazam, and he gave me an intrigued look when I finished, I guess it was new to him as well. Blaziken noted that it sounded like something I read to him a couple of years ago, back when he was a Torchic. Since then, I didn’t talk any further until I got back. Everyone was still there, and to my surprise, so was the Pizza guy.
Blaziken and I looked eye to eye, then at the pizza guy. “Late, much?” we said simultaneously.
“Hey, he’s finally back!” Mike said. “Pizza man came here a few minutes ago, he said he wanted to see the new admin.” The Pizza guy (average twenty five year old man, got a bit of a beard coming on, clay colored red-brown eyes, and somewhat thin, bit of a muscular build, but not too much) looked at me. His jaw dropped, obviously bewildered at looking at me, his eyes looked like they turned into rectangles with a dot in the center.
“You…You’ve gotta be kidding!” he shouted. “Giovanni must have gone off the deep end this time, promoting a KID to be admin!”
I narrowed my eyes until they felt like lines on my face. While I figured he didn’t expect me as admin, the tone he gave me felt insulting… as if he really thought I wasn’t fit to be an authority rank.
“Hmph,” I snorted, “I got promoted because I’ve never failed very many missions… and I’ve earned enough intelligence to be able to win in just about ANY situation. Got a problem with that?” I gave the man a good long stare, and I kept staring, even when he turned away and walked towards the boxes of Pizza.
I gave the guy a small “Tch” of dismissal as I passed by him, something grabbed my shoulder, and it was the Pizza guy with a bit of a fierce look in his eye.
“Here’s a deal,” the dude said, “I’ll let you have all the pizzas and half off the next batch…if you can Beat me in a battle. I warn ya, I’m the best there is over there.”
At hearing a deal like that, I made my eyes look mad, except I didn’t frown. Instead, I turned it into an Evil-looking smirk, because I knew for sure that this guy was asking for it… big time.
“Hehehehe,” I snickered, “You got yourself a Deal. Just keep in mind that this will prove my promotion for sure, because I do not lose very often…”
“Alrighty, then” We then shook hands, in a gesture of sportsmanship, and to seal the agreement. “May the best Battler win.”
Kevin suddenly walked into the crowd, I looked at him in sudden curiosity, because I figured he didn’t care about much.
He sized me up, and narrowed his eyes, as if trying to figure out something. “Hmph, everyone told me quite a bit about you.” He told me, “They say that you never lose in a Pokemon Battle. Now you can show me if you live up to that reputation.”
I raised both eyebrows, in a gesture of surprise… now I know this is a battle I don’t want to lose… because it’s more than just a battle for free pizza.
Now it’s a battle, to prove myself as an admin… to not one, but two people.

Chapter 8: High Rank, Tougher Battler

I found my stomach slightly satisfied for the moment… I asked the pizza guy to let me and my pokemon have two of the eight pizzas. Charizard, with the bigger stomach, was given one entire pizza, while Blaziken, Marshtomp, Alakazam and I shared two slices each from the second. We each had a couple of glasses of water (well, GALLONS for Charizard) so that we won’t get dehydrated as well. Of course, before a Battle, Alakazam uses his psychic power to get an idea of an opponents battle type, a tactic I had dubbed the “Psycho Analysis”.

As I was walking down a couple of halls over to the Battle Arena, I was listening to Alakazam’s Psycho Analysis. Apparently, the pizza guy uses Pokemon as his partners for doing his job. He will use a mix between Fire type and Water type Pokemon, with an occasional Grass type pokemon when it comes to reaching high places. At the moment, I decided to let everyone get a shot, but I chose to let Alakazam go first, to see what will happen before I make a move. I decided to send out Charizard if the going gets hot, or Marshtomp if I have to swim. Blaziken, being my strongest Pokemon, is my last resort for the battle, usually if everyone else is down.

The Battle Arena was about the size of half of a football field. Rectangular in perimeter, outlined on the outside with white… in the center of the arena, a large circle, enough to cram one half of a football team (all suited up and all). Then there was a smaller circle, enough for one person to stand in…
We stood on each of the two rectangles at the end of the arena, where the Trainers are usually placed. And then we got started.
The opponent threw his Pokeball. The red and white sphere opened, and a white stream of energy poured out of it. The energy launched towards the ground, collecting and forming a shape. The shape was completely formed, the Pokemon, known as Wartortle, had a shell like that of a Squirtle’s shell, whitish-yellow underside, and a red with a slight tint of orange on the back. The tail and ears looked like they were each a pair of five to six inch feathers, Finally, unlike Squirtle’s large eyes, the eyes of this Pokemon were slightly smaller, meant to make it look more serious. I stuck with my plan, and beckoned Alakazam to the Arena… I recalled Charizard, Marshtomp, and Blaziken because pokemon are to be in their Pokeballs during a battle, to prevent possible foul play. Once the battle was all set, I decided to stake my claim.
“I warn you, man, you’re definitely gonna regret facing me,” I called, “because if I do have the reputation of not losing, you’d better damn well expect no less from a high class tactician.”
Alakazam looked back at me, plan of action? he said.
Yeah, wait for him to attack first. I responded, If three minutes elapses and nothing happens, then we make a sudden move.
Alakazam nodded in acknowledgment, he tensed himself spread is feet slightly farther apart on the ground, ready to jump at an instants notice. The standoff began. No one making as much as a single twitch. Wartortle was taking deep breaths after about fifteen seconds. Its Trainer was smirking……. Thirty second went by, still no one made a move… Wartortle’s breaths were getting bigger… The opposing trainer’s smirk got bigger. Something was sounding suspicious about Wartortle’s breathing… it was doing it in regular two second intervals. I frowned slightly and looked at Alakazam.
I sighed, which usually, during battle, is a sign that something’s bothering me.
What’s up? Alakazam asked, without looking back.
Something’s up with that Wartortle’s breathing. I said observantly, It’s like he expects us to let down our guard. I kept my focus on Wartortle.
Then maybe we should let him think that. Alakazam said before starting to turn toward me.
Just as Alakazam turned, Wartortle took a very deep breath, and then blew out a large blast of water as his trainer shouted “Think Fast!”
Teleport right![i] I commanded, Alakazam suddenly appeared at the right of the blast, I stepped aside from the left to avoid the blast myself.
[i]OK, Now Teleport to Wartortle’s left. Send a few Psychic Blasts!
Alakazam suddenly appeared a few feet away from Wartortle’s left side, The Wartortle’s Water Gun attack was just halted, and it didn’t give much time for a reaction.
“Wha--!!” was all that came out before Alakazam fired off three disc-like blasts being pushed from the center, moving as fast as a man running at top speed. The blasts hit Wartortle up front, knocking it backwards by a few feet. Wartortle got back up on its feet.
“They can’t get away this time, Water Gun, Wartortle!” The opponent shouted.
I don’t think so…. Use Psychic to create a water barrier. I calmly commanded.
Alakazam raised one hand, the spoon that centers the psychic output started to glow. Wartortle fired another Water Gun, the water built into a large blue bubble, and it just kept getting bigger as Wartortle still blew water… the Water Gun stopped… and the bubble was big enough to fit a normal sized car into. I glanced at the crowd, Sam and Nikki were gaping at the bubble, Mike had gone hysterical, Frank was neutral, and Kevin had both eyebrows raised.
Use it right, I thought to myself, and it does more than wash dishes.
I looked at my opponent, the expression wasn’t to be expected, but his confidence being turned into wide-eyed shock is still priceless. Wartortle stopped its Water Gun and gazed at it in surprise.
“Whoa, a pool sized water bomb.” It said.
OK, Alakazam, now break the giant into smaller pieces, and throw some of those small bits at Wartortle, just to get it going… I smirked big. I was toying with my opponent, and this was too easy.
The opponent was wide eyed, and it looks like he’s had enough. Wartortle was clenching its teeth, obviously as frustrated as its Trainer. The opponent’s wide eyes started looking more serious, as if he were ticked off…
“Wartortle, Use Aqua Jet! Swim through the bubbles!” the opponent commanded.
“Got it” Wartortle acknowledged.
Aqua Jet, the Water based Quick Attack. I explained briefly, Move the water bubbles in a fast moving circle and leave one in the center. Keep the Pokemon in the center!
Wartortle started to rocket towards the bubbles, leaving a stream of regular water in its wake. The Levitating water bubbles started to rotate, and it got faster and faster by the second. Wartortle got through the first bubble, only three bubbles away from the center, then it would be three more to get to Alakazam… The Bubbles started rotating faster, and I noticed something immediately.
Don’t wait for Wartortle to get in the center. I cautioned my psychic partner, Once it’s in a bubble, move it to the center, don’t use the rotation as a way around.
Wartortle then stared spiraling towards the center of the jumble of bubbles, it jumped out of the center bubble, only to be snatched by a blur that was another water bubble.
“WAAHH” Wartortle screamed as it was tossed around by the water, yelling a “Whoa” as it was tossed in a complete circle. By the time it went through nine times, Alakazam moved it to the center of the group again. Wartortle’s eyes were swirling, “uhhhh,” it groaned, “I don’t feel so good…”
The opposing Trainer gasped. “Wartortle!”
Now to really kick things off. “OK, that’s enough messing around.” I now said vocally, “Alakazam, Finish’em with Psybeam!!” I swung out my arm, in the kind of gesture a leader would yell ‘CHARGE’.
Then all at once, the empty water bubbles just dropped. The one with Wartortle in it was still levitating, Alakazam started rising upwards, leveling height. Rainbowlike energy started gathering at the center of Alakazam’s two spoons. Then with an instant push backwards, a rainbowlike beam shot out and hit Wartortle square in the center of its shell for a few seconds. At the minute of impact, the energy looked like it “spread” around the Pokemon’s body. The Pokemon then fell to the ground, unconscious.

Syrus, as Referee, raises a hand towards me. “Wartortle is unable to battle,” he declared, “The winner is Alakazam!”
“No problem.” I said with confidence.
The Pizza guy pointed a finger at me in accusation. “But you didn’t do SQUAT!!”
I poked my head three times, then Alakazam and I both started to laugh. I raised my head slightly when I did, I don’t really know why, I just felt like it.
Man, this guy got steamed then. “you think this is FUNNY you little brat!?” he said angrily, swearing, “I’ll give you a beating so bad that you’ll wish you dealt for something else aside from pizza!” He recalled his Wartortle, and grabbed a second Pokeball.
“Dude, I just want to enjoy the party” I said, intentionally poking fun at him. “But seriously, You think I was kidding before? I can do worse than that. But I’m not really the kind of person who does unnecessary damage, I am not a bully.”
He threw his Pokeball real hard, expressing his anger. The Pokeballs white energy took form, the Pokemon had a black coat with a light brown underbelly, the back was streamlined flat all the way to it’s feet, where it seemed to hang slightly, like the world’s shortest cape. The Pokemon then tensed up, and a somewhat small and thick panel of fire erupted from its back. I identified the Pokemon as Typhlosion, the final evolution of the Fire type starter Pokemon, Cyndaquil. I reached out for Marshtomp’s Pokeball… but I thought twice.
Even if Marshtomp has type advantage being a Water and Ground type, it wouldn’t do very well. I thought, Processing what might happen. Judging from that Typhlosion’s fire, it seems its attacks might not be easy for water to handle…
I recalled Alakazam, knowing he did his part. I then reached for Charizard’s Pokeball, my expression set on maintaining focus.
“Well, it’s like Gym leader Blaine would say.” I said, recalling the one time I battled Blaine back on Cinnabar Island.
”If you think you can handle the heat, then you gotta ‘fight fire with fire’”
I grabbed Charizard’s Pokeball from the my belt, the small sphere shrunken to about the size of a marble… I looked at the thing for a few seconds. There are still millions of times where I wonder how those things get so small. It’s quite the mystery how it works, but in order to shrink it, all you gotta do is hold the button down for a few seconds and maintain a firm grip.
Anyways, I pressed the button once, then the Pokeball enlarged to its usual size, then I decided to throw it high and slightly forward. As if detecting the intended result, the Pokeball snapped open, Charizard appearing in front of me. The now empty Pokeball fell back toward me, where I caught it with one hand, and without even looking.
“Hey, I figured Marshtomp wouldn’t be able to handle this one.” I told Charizard with a bit of a confident tone, “Typhlosion looks pretty tough… now let’s show them who the REAL tough guys are!”
“Let’s HEAT THINGS UP!!” Charizard Roared, fire bursting forward from his jaw.
“Ha, you think you’re hot?” Typhlosion jeered, “Then bring it!”
Typhlosion snorted a small flame and grinned, the opponent crossed his arms, and snickered.
OK, now it’s my turn to go on the offensive. “Charizard, use the Rising Flamethrower!”
OK, so technically it’s not an attack… but if I were to tell him to take flight right off the bat, there’s a good chance that the opponent will knock him down. The Rising Flamethrower is a combo of two moves, Fly, and obviously Flamethrower. The tactic works like this, Charizard acts first by unleashing a Flamethrower at the enemy where one of three things will happen. One, the enemy fights back with an attack of their own, causing a stalemate… two, the enemy will jump out of the way, or three, the enemy will defend against it with a defensive move. Once the enemy is either blocking the attack, putting extra effort in a stalemate, or otherwise not focused on Charizard, then Charizard will liftoff into the air, where I will think on the offensive.
Charizard let loose a focused stream of fire towards Typhlosion. As figured, Typhlosion countered with a Flamethrower of its own. Causing a stalemate between to focused streams of fire, pressing together. During the stalemate, Charizard began the second part by getting his wings set up for liftoff, while I placed my feet a little farther apart, ready to jump out of the way when the opposing stream of fire blasted my way.
“Steady…” I told Charizard telling him to wait on liftoff. He managed to keep the fire at an even amount of effort, no increased push, but no letting up.
Typhlosion was starting to increase power to its side. I instantly found that the fire was starting to swirl, in a few seconds, the compound from the Flamethrowers would explode. This mixes things up a bit, and in my favor as well.
“Charizard, get ready for Blastoff!” I called.
“Hey KID!!” Kevin shouted from the audience, “What’s with you and aircrafts!? Start making REAL Commands, will ya?”
I snorted with laughter, he had no idea how I operated… Sure, I have a big interest in flying, but flying is just too helpful… once you have complete control in the air, you’re almost untouchable. But when I refer to Blastoff, then something’s gonna go boom… and he knew it.
The swirl grew slightly bigger. This is it, I thought, it’s gonna blow! I crossed my arms in front of me, my left foot stepped back and I bent my right knee slightly, and leaned slightly forward, ready to stand my ground while still seeing what’s going on. “BLASTOFF!!” I yelled, Charizard quickly opened his wings.
Then it happened all at once, with a big concussive *BOOOMPHHH*, a huge fireball blew apart, sending both the opponent, his Pokemon and myself flying backwards. It was only a few seconds before I found myself sliding backwards on the floor and my head hitting the wall… which was about half a meter away.
I got up, slightly dazed, and walked towards the arena. I looked side to side for Charizard, he wasn’t on the ground (Typhlosion was, and ready to fight, along with the Trainer, who was staggering to his feet).
I looked up, and sure enough, Charizard was hovering in the air, flapping his wing slowly to maintain a somewhat fixed position.
“Alright!” I cheered, “OK, now, Strafe Northwest to Northeast, and approach with Fire Blast!”
Translation, “Move forward, dodging left and right, and use Fire Blast when you get close…”
Gaining a slight amount of altitude, then pointing above the target, Charizard started gliding towards Typhlosion… While gliding, he started tilting back and forth, strafing side to side slightly.
I looked at the opponent, he was tense, his face was in a nervous state of thinking. I could just tell, he was waiting for me.
Charizard was gliding somewhat slowly, About the speed of your average jogging man. Typhlosion was baring its teeth in frustration at not hearing from his Trainer…
I smiled. OK, gotta keep them fired up I observed, I know from personal experience that a skilled battler has to remain calm during a battle to be able to think straight and sharp.
“Charizard!” I called, causing Charizard’s glide to cease, and he hovered in the air, only flapping to stay aloft. He looked back at me, I smirked, and snickered aloud… “Hey, you notice the trainer? He’s pale as a ghost.” I started to laugh, “what’s worse, his Pokemon’s PISSED!”
The Trainer started to get angry now. But he remained unresponsive. Charizard got the message, and snorted a small flame to the side, and smirked as well… what was going on, is that he was using Taunt. Taunt is a move that playfully insults an opponent in the tension of battle, intended to infuriate the opponent. Once infuriated, the opposing pokemon will be so mad, that they will only listen for attacks, and if the Trainer doesn’t command for an attack, then the Pokemon MIGHT "take matters into it's own hands", and go on the offensive independently. By the looks of it, Typhlosion looked like it was almost at its breaking point of its temper… the opponent looks about ready to just run up to me and swing.
“I have had ENOUGH OF THAT ATTITUDE!!” he finally shrieked. TYPHLOSION, USE BLAST BURRRRRN!!!
My confidence was cut down to size when I heard the name. My smirk disappeared, and I got a bit tense at the knowledge.
Typhlosion knew the most powerful Fire type attack in the world… known as Blast Burn, when released, it’s like an extra sensitive grenade… one touch, and a shockwave of superheated fire will boom outwards for half a quarter mile. And enough to require immediate medical attention if any human being were hit dead on. What’s worse, is that the attack goes about as fast someone lobbing a baseball. So if a Pokemon threw it with enough effort, it would hit Charizard so fast he would be down with little knowledge of what happened…
“What!?” I cried in surprise, “Typhlosion knows Blast Burn!?”
Fire gathered inside the enemy’s mouth, getting brighter…brighter… now becoming a beacon. Typhlosion’s expression started to falter, it winced, meaning he was having a hard time handling the heat.
I tried managed to focus my attention on the energy that’s building… I grunted a “Ngh” as I tried to figure out what happens next. I assumed that Typhlosion’s wincing meant that it was still charging, even though it was putting a lot of strain on it.
OK, still got time. I thought, If Charizard happened to dodge that attack from that height, Typhlosion would find itself exposed for an attack.
“Charizard, wait for the signal to move!” I shouted.
“You won’t dodge this.” The opponent said, “Your Charizard will fall! Typhlosion, FIRE!!”
“DROP!!!” I screamed as loud as possible, to make sure Charizard heard me.
Typlosion’s eyes widened fiercely, it bent its head back slightly. Charizard knew what it meant to “drop”, and I know I trained him on it. Using his momentum, Charizard swung his body, belly facing up, he then forced his wings to push through the air, causing him to rocket towards the ground just as Typhlosion launched Blast Burn, in a large radiant grenade of bright orange fire… in the instant Charizard rocketed towards the ground, he used the same momentum to flip backwards, and then land on his feet with a loud *BOOM*, on the duration of about a few seconds. Charizard stepped back, though, to maintain balance.
“Counterattack with Hyper Beam!” I commanded.
“ERIC, WATCH OUT!!” Sam shrieked
I looked at her for an instant, confused, before an orange glow gave me the answer for her. I looked up, and realized that Blast Burn was hurtling towards the place I’m standing. Out of instant impulse, I began to book it to the left, towards the wall, and away from the stands where the audience was… Blast Burn made contact, the shockwave expanded so fast I couldn’t escape it unheated… and I just dove forward, yelling as I dove.
*BOOOPHSHH*
As the shockwave lifted me slightly, an explosion sounded on the other side of the arena.
Flung in the air by Blast Burn’s Shockwave, I landed flat on a surface, but then slid forward, hitting my head… I apparently hit a wall, from about 2 inches above the ground. I found myself with a bad headache, and then falling to the floor, facedown.
“Safety…” I muttered with my face to the floor, “Pokemon first, then Trainer before anything else…”

“Typhlosion is unable to battle, the winner is Charizard!” I overheard Syrus declare…
I raised my fist in a sense of victory (while still facedown on the ground) for a few seconds before getting to my feet… I looked back towards the arena, and Typhlosion, as declared by Syrus, was down for the count.
Figures… I thought, Typhlosion used too much energy in charging up Blast Burn, so it isn’t much of a surprise it couldn’t stand up when it finally fired, especially when it couldn’t move when Charizard used Hyper Beam.
I walked over to my original position on the arena… I smiled and gave Charizard a thumbs up, which I mean it as “Job well done.”
“NO!!” the opponent shouted, “Typhlosion… he was my strongest member…” the man looked towards the ground, “I forfeit, losing my strongest pokemon, I see little point in going on.”
“WHOOO!!” Mike cheered, “Another flawless victory for Eric Claid! Now do you see how he got Admin status!?”
I frowned at him, I knew this was just gonna insult the opponent. I looked forward, the Pizza guy who was my opponent was on his knees, his spirits seriously hurt with his Pokemon being defeated so easily. I walked acrossed the arena towards the defeated opponent.
“Mike, Give the guy a break.” I started lecturing, “he didn’t know how I battled, so it’s only natural that he wouldn’t expect this…” I reached towards the center of the battlefield as I talked… “saying stuff like ‘another flawless victory for such-and-such’ isn’t exactly a good sense of sportsmanship.” I stood beside Charizard now, and I was then getting to my point. “Y’see, I’ve trained my Pokemon partners to be able to take advantage of nearly any possible situation. Whether it be psychological, or situational. If I spot an open vulnerability, I strategize to take it.”
The Pizza guy looked at me square in the eye, then his eyes looked down. I smiled, and walked toward him.
“Hey, it was still a good battle,” I offered him a handshake… “I didn’t expect your Typhlosion to know Blast Burn.” he got to his feet, Recalled his Typhlosion, and took it.
“You’re pretty good, kid.” The man said with a smirk, “Perhaps Giovanni wasn’t crazy after all.”
“heh, I hope not.” I joked, “Otherwise we’d need a pretty huge nuthouse”
We both laughed, Charizard was snorting a little bit, and we shook hands, with a firm grip that recognizes a new friendship among Pokemon Battlers.
I felt a small ache in my stomach, which probably told me I was getting pretty hungry. “Well, now that the battle’s over, how about you have a slice or two of Pizza before you go?”

Chapter 9: The New Admin’s Assignment

I lied down on my bunk and sighed… the rest of the day went through a little irritably. The Battle was done too early, the pizza guy had forfeit when Charizard knocked down his toughest Pokemon, Typhlosion, and Blaziken and Marshtomp were not too happy with not getting a chance to show their stuff. Kevin seemed to have been satisfied with my performance, though, since he came up to me after we were walking out.

“I guess they weren’t exaggerating about you,” he told me, “you really are a pretty skilled battler. A little strange, with your battle conduct and stuff, but definitely something that isn’t a waste of my time…”

The party went through well, as we played various games, shared stories about what’s been going on (except me, because everyone knew what happened with me), and other stuff, we then made our way to the weight room, where I gave my daily beating to the punching bag, and occasionally lifted weights when I let Blaziken beat the bag. Charizard trained his wings and neck by trying to remain aloft with a certain amount of weight for a preset goal time… which this time, it was 65 pounds on his wings, and 75 pounds on his neck for a minute and a half. Marshtomp, since he was still a little young, ran on the treadmill for the entire time (frequently asking me to go faster).

Dinner tonight was steaks, with a side of corn, rice, and the daily usuals, aside from a pitcher of iced tea… I definitely felt a bit more comfortable about dining in my new admin’s quarters, since it came with a small table, enough for everyone but Charizard. Despite the fact I could now socialize with my partners, dinner was quiet as usual. Blaziken ate a little roughly. Marshtomp nibbled at his food, Charizard gobbled his food as usual, and Alakazam was looking at Blaziken and Marshtomp in caution… After dinner, I played a few games of solitaire after everyone went back to their Pokeballs to sleep. Now, here I am… laying face-up on my new bed, which I consider a bunk since it’s set up inside the wall (with an integrated door for possible privacy or concealment).

What a weird day. I thought quietly, reminiscing over what happened… It was only yesterday that I got attacked after another successful mission… someone trying to target me and all… I pictured the helicopter, my feelings of slight guilt when I climbed on, the man’s sudden yelp… even the rainbowish beam and the pain it caused…
Then I had that weird dream.
Red spikes flashed through my mind’s eye… the picture of my body, thrashing wildly… being stabbed.
Then I wake up in the morning, and find myself promoted… The letter in mailbox 64, the grunts calling me “sir,” Mike cautioning me, it all flashed before my closed eyes.
understanding Pokemon, Giovanni’s strange questions… those freaky eyes…
I found myself getting drowsy… and a little warm. hmmmm… I guess I’ll think about it tomorrow. The warmth that I felt got warmer… it was almost like…like that of a…….


12:00AM didn’t feel that late for some reason, and Team Rocket Admin Domino was lying face up on her hammock, confused…

”Bring Claid to me in the old chamber where an old friend was kept,” the Boss said.
“You mean Mewtwo?” Domino said, surprised.
“Yes, 009, but do not tell him the location, just lead him here. If I happen to be in my office, and I’m sure I have not forgotten anything, then tell the boy to look me in the eye.”
“Huh? I don’t understand, sir.” Domino told the Boss…
“Don’t let me down.” He said, before walking through the door…

“What was that all about?” Domino mused… “The Boss was very serious about it. But what was it about that kid?”
She rolled over to her left, still thinking… “That Syrus Mitchel guy said the attacker only aimed for Eric… not the Pokeballs.” She thought aloud, “Not to mention that the Boss was very serious about his request…”
Domino closed her eyes, in an effort to get some sleep… “what’s going on, anyways?”


I was lying down, yet it didn’t feel like I was… I was floating, above a volcano, with scorching hot magma spewing out frequently, yet it’s not necessarily making contact with me. It was the same as before, but it felt different somehow…

“I’ve been here…” I said, “Fire, Everywhere, but last time, I was burned.”

I felt warm, I looked around, and saw that the flames were starting to swirl, they wrapped around my hands, my legs… and then the rest of me in about a minute, they felt… warm, and cozy. The feeling felt so nice… it was hard to explain at first. It felt so warm, so soothing. It was like a mother’s love… so peaceful.
I still retained my train of thought, though, and that train of thought prevented the warmth from engulfing me…
“It feels so nice…” I said, smiling… “but, what does it mean?”

You’re innocent… a voice said.
“What?”
You’re so innocent… It repeated. why do you commit such wrongful acts?
The Warmth vanished, the volcano disappeared from sight, leaving just a blind black void. Then it rapidly felt cold… like the kind of cold as if you were sent to sit outside in the winter time in summer clothes…
I tensed up, reacting to the cold… and then I felt something else… something sad. I realized it instantly then, and all this sadness was the kind of feeling when someone has lost a best friend… when someone dies… like a mournful feeling…
I wanted to cry… this sadness hurt. I didn’t want to hold it in, but I felt like the only thing I could do was to do just that… to hold it in, and only let tears break out, flowing like small rivers among my face.
You’re unique among the rest, human child… you band together with evildoers and you’re willing to do deeds that bring the sadness you now feel… but yet, your innocent heart causes you to regret them… why?[b]
I found myself silent, I knew this from day one… that everything I would be doing, after I discovered what really went on, will be something I would regret for a long time… this mournful cold… the mother’s warmth. It was like something that’s come to haunt me…
“Who… Who are you?” I asked the Voice
[b]If those deeds continue, then your regret will be your undoing, human child.
I felt myself lightheaded… as if I was floating. I was waking up…
“But, Who are you?! Ahh—“

I rose up fast, wide awake… awake.
“Who--…. Who was that?” I thought aloud…
a rainbow… something echoed.
I sat there…in the dark concealment of my bunk. I thought about what happened, about the cold that came through me.
If those deeds continue, then your regret will be your undoing…
“My… regret, huh?”

The morning afterwards wasn’t too special. Breakfast was Bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, which were made in bulk for you-know-who… I was given a sheet of paper that told me of what Giovanni was to assign me… it said that I had been given a specific team of grunts, who were fine with respecting anyone of admin status. One or two of the grunts were given notes that I had to keep in mind, one had a bit of a reckless attitude, along with a constant need of a battle. The second one wasn’t all that easy to please. In fact, even over the course of two weeks of one reassignment after another, this guy will criticize anyone, even a superior (reports from various admins have confirmed it, though it was described as “questioning the authority”). I went through the notes, and folded the sheet of names that I was to use for counting heads, making sure everyone is attended and on time. Despite this being my first day as Admin, I’ve been around enough of the others to know how everything works… Well, almost everything.
Thankfully, someone came over to me as I walked out of my room, and explained everything to me.
When an admin wakes up, they are usually supposed to get a single sheet of paper with a specified mission ordered from Giovanni. Every admin is given a predetermined team of grunts, who are informed a day in advance, and must order that group of grunts to carry out the mission.
“There are a lot of phrases that a grunt has to hear from an admin. You might have heard a good amount of them, since you were a grunt at one time.” The man explained, and he was right about that. Anyone who’s been in some kind of boot camp involvement should know them… Atten-hut, Dismissed, those kinds of phrases. I managed to memorize them within a few minutes, the time I took walking down the halls.
“I know your reputation, kid,” the admin said, “I wonder how you’ll do since you’re the one in charge. Only one way to find out, eh?” he started laughing after that…
It didn’t really take long before I made it to the briefing room a half an hour early, where another group of grunts, led by Syrus, were dismissed. He gave me a smirk, indicating that he was hoping I screw up, as he passed by. I snorted towards him in an irritated gesture.
I walked into the briefing room, finding it a mess because of Syrus’s group, and cleaned up a little. Once everything was all neat, I decided to go through the list of names that were on the paper… I memorized almost all the names after reading them aloud a couple of times, up until I got to the last one… Kevin.
I raised an eyebrow… Hmm, is this someone I know?[i]
After I memorized the names, the grunts I would be leading had arrived, on time. As I examined each grunt, sure enough, Kevin was among them, and I recognized him alright.

“Mah name is Major, Benson, Wiliford ,Payne.” I said, quoting a funny movie I liked. “And I will be replacin’ Major dumbass whack, As your Commanding Officer.” I ended the quote, with saying “officer” as “Offi-SUH”. Most of the grunts gave a small laugh, others raised their eyebrows…
I sighed and raised my hands while I said “OK, OK, I was just joking around…” I started Picking up the two pages that shown the assignment.
“OK, people, My name is Eric Claid and I am going to be your supervising Administrator from here on.” I announced, turning to a more serious tone, “Unlike the other administrators, I can be a little more tolerant of everyone’s behavior, but bear in mind that I [i]will suspend any of you, if I find that you’re thinking you can walk over me.”
“Walk over you, huh?” Kevin decided to blurt out. Some of the grunts sighed. “What, you think we’ll treat you like a doormat?”
“Exactly, Kevin. Since I’ve been considered to break a record as the youngest Admin in Team Rocket, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone tried to use force to manipulate my rank…”
Kevin raised his eyebrows, in the kind of way that would be someone saying “what the hell are you talking about??”

………….

“You all have half an hour to get to your disguises,” I said, twenty minutes later, “if anyone does not come to the predetermined Transport on time, then you’ll bet there’s trouble. Dismissed!”
Everyone left except Kevin, who seemed to glare at me. I found myself a little curious about what he’s thinking, but right now, I figured I wouldn’t need Alakazam for this one.
“Is there something you want to say, Kevin?” I asked simply, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, actually, there is.” He said, giving me the tone that stated that he REALLY didn’t like me. “If you think you, of all people can order me around, you’re gonna have to show me something better than your goofy little battle style. I personally don’t like you, kid, and you’d be damned smart to watch what you tell me.”
Despite the fact that a comment like that would not fly with anyone else, this didn’t faze me. I remained in a neutral face and as I walked next to him (facing the opposite direction), I told him my piece. “OK, I can see where this is going, punk. But while this kind of stuff might get you as far away from me as possible, you’re gonna have to do better than that to piss ME off.” I told him, with the sense of forewarning, “And believe me, Kevin, while I’m more than willing to be a friend, don’t ever think you can get away with any stunts you plan to throw at me, because I have some creative ideas on discipline, and I know them to last for weeks.”
I walked past him, leaving that bitter food for thought to sink in… but before I went through the door, I stopped again. “you aughta be going to your room and getting into your disguise, unless you want to be lookout at the helicopter.
I walked out of the briefing room into the halls, and took a deep breath, relieving as much of the stress as possible from my shoulders. I let Blaziken, Alakazam and Marshtomp accompany me while going to my room. And I told them everything about the mission.

The Mission was another Pokemon raid. A Pokemon Center had just sent word of a delivery of stored Pokemon to a nearby research lab due to an outbreak of some strange virus that isn’t hurting Pokemon, but helping them instead. The strange virus, known as Pokerus, was put under the study of many pokemon scientists for YEARS, and even now, very little is known about it. Once an outbreak occurs with this strange virus, it’s a scientific gold mine. Except there was one catch… Pokerus only has lasted a week to 10 days at most, and these Pokemon were just turned in with the status of this virus, so who knows how long it’s been.
The plan was tricky, we were to disguise an ordinary van to look like the van that is to deliver the Pokeballs. Once we’re halfway en-route, we would then take the original pokeballs and replace them with empty ones, and then teleport out of there, giving the research lab the idea that they’ve been had, and that the two unknown drivers had stolen the Pokeballs.
The disguises I recommended everyone were those similar to engineers work clothes that were just cleaned, the drivers also have to bring one cap for each person in the front two seats, to conceal the main parts of the face. The five preset grunts I’ve chosen will rendezvous at the halfway point, a hardly used underground tunnel out in the path between Cerulean City, and Vermillion City. Once the Pokeballs have been swapped (with a time limit of 2 minutes to get the job done), I will enter the back of the delivery van, and everyone else will guard the two large sacks of Pokeballs to the tunnel until the confirmed retrieval helicopter picks up the cargo…

Once I was done explaining, I took another deep breath, realizing I might have not talked as short as I wanted, and I found that I was already at my room.
“Well, it might be interesting to know what this ‘Pokerus’ thing does.” Blaziken said.
“More importantly,” Alakazam noted, “is whether or not it has any side effects that are worth noting.”
“Either way, I think it’s justified to examine these Pokeballs. Most scientists I’ve known are idiots.” I said, walking to the sliding doors of the new closet, “Besides, the virus is easy to transmit. Just have the pokeballs come into contact for long enough, and it should be transmitted, not sure HOW it gets sent, though…”
I looked inside to check my outfits. The closet was a lot larger than I thought, and I found twice the number of disguise items in there. Not hesitating to marvel at my extended resources, I got the costume, and a few minutes later, the large mirror I looked at shown a seventeen to eighteen year old guy, with a gray long sleeved shirt, and similar colored overalls. The kid also had greenish brown hair, some freckles over his nose and cheeks, he wore very thick glasses, probably to say he had very lousy vision. I described this outfit as an engineer in training, another nerdy kid willing to take the mechanics job to good use.
“So, how do I look?” I asked Blaziken and Alakazam.
Blaziken stared at me with surprise, then at Alakazam, who smiled once again.
“Aren’t you gonna put on something other than a nerd?” he inquired.
“Maybe,” I replied, “but only when I don’t go any place technical.”
With Blaziken and Alakazam on either side of me, I walked out of my room, with some wild shades, and met everyone else at the van. The location of the delivery was set to be at a route between Cerulean City and Vermillion City. Ever since it was abandoned, the power plant has now been used as an underground walkway, and unfortunately, my biggest problems in this one are going to be in the forms of the Gym Leaders.
Unlike last time, there will be no one unable to take part in the battle. So if we get caught in the tunnel, where I suggested we leave to infected Pokeballs, then we’d be in trouble, especially when I’m not well prepared for facing a water Pokemon Trainer I’m not familiar with. The Cerulean City Gym has always been run by a trio of Gym Leaders, each of which were sisters of four. About a couple of years ago, though, after putting up with a losing streak, the trio has decided to let the youngest (named Misty) take over the gym and go out abroad on vacation. The Vermillion Gym leader, known as Lt. Surge, is known for using Electric type Pokemon. His strongest, Raichu (the evolved form of the ever popular Pikachu), can unleash a Thunderbolt attack so powerful it can leave an entire ground arena a rubbled disaster. Knowing my science well, unless I have a pokemon with the ability trait Volt Absorb, which follows it’s name by recovering a pokemon when it’s hit by electric attacks, Misty and Lt. Surge working together as a team can be VERY big trouble. First with water conducting electricity, everyone scientific knows this, and as a result, if Misty’s pokemon were to spread water among the battlefield, then anyone that’s been dampened will be hit by whatever Surge’s powerhouses unleash.
So, overall, despite this being my first mission as Admin, I felt I was in over my head. “OK, People!” I shouted so everyone would hear, “If we want to avoid putting up with one of the toughest battle combinations around, this mission is to be done with no mistakes. If someone messes up, everyone’s gotta fix it on the spot. If we get caught, we book it until we’re forced to fight. My Alakazam can’t get all of us out of there with Teleport, so don’t expect this to be easy. Everyone switch on your radios, and remember, no mistakes if we want to avoid trouble.”
After a lengthy reminder to everyone, a profuse amount of thought into the results and complications, We loaded up the two sacks of empty pokeballs and filed into the van. The assigned driver and passenger, the guys in the back (including me) with the cargo, all made our way towards Vermillion City. Now all I got is one current question: Why do I have this sudden strange feeling of foreboding?

Chapter 10: Dropoff

We arrived at the rendezvous point in about a half an hour after driving through woods… I had to plug my ears because I kept overhearing Pokémon yelling stuff like “Hey, watch it!”, “Human invaders!” and other random stuff as we plowed through (and what sucks is that I’m the only one who can hear all this, everyone else just hears the usual Pokémon cries). Over the course of a minute and a half, the cargo was unloaded, placed inside the building, and then everyone but Kevin and the two drivers had exit the van. I informed Kevin and the Driver that their temporary names would be “Postman” and that I’d be “Engineer”, and if any trouble were to come, they would say they have a flat tire.
After they were off, the rest of us kept watch. If anything were to be incoming, then we would tell them the sacks are full of parts for a project, and that we request we not let them go through…
A half an hour went by, and so far, everything went according to plan, the Pokeballs were put into the delivery van and they were on their way here. I radioed the Postmen that they still have to remain professional, and make sure Kevin doesn’t try anything stupid.
“Hey, Admin Claid,” someone called from behind me, “Can I ask you something?”
I turned around, looking at a man with spiky red-brown hair, his red clay-colored eyes focused at my own; He was giving me a Battler’s look, the kind of look a person would give when they want to hold a Pokémon Battle.
Well, there’s the all-action-no-wait person… I thought. According to the list, it told me that this guy’s name was Mark, I think.
“Erm,” I mumbled, trying to remember if it was his name, “Mark, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Mark said, still with an eager looking face, he was waiting for me to let him speak…
“What’s on your mind?” I said with casual Professionalism.
“Is it true?” He asked.
“Excuse me?”
“Is it true,” he took a deep breath, “that you’re the best battler on Team rocket?”
I was curious at that… am I the best battler in Team Rocket? I wouldn’t know. But if I was the toughest battler around, I’d say I am, but am I the best battler, I’m not sure. I raised an eyebrow and looked upwards with my eyes, in a thinking gesture.
“Uhh, that’s an interesting question to ask.” I replied truthfully. “ I personally don’t really know, I’ve been known to be tough to beat, with tactics that are different from your average trainer, but I dunno if I’m the best…” The two grunts behind him looked at me, surprised that I didn’t say I was the best. I chuckled at the looks on their faces, I pointed at them. “Judging from the looks on their faces, I think our friends over there thought I’d say something different.”
He looked back just fast enough to notice the looks, before they turned away, embarrassed. He then made a small snort of amusement, and I told the two guys it was just a joke. They both made a noise of amusement, though I didn’t distinguish it as a chuckle.
I looked back at Mark. “So why were you curious about my being the best or not?” I asked.
“Well, erm, Sir…” Mark hesitated, thankfully, I then figured it out from the look in his eye.
“You hope to challenge me to a battle, don’t ya?” I smirked at the satisfaction of predicting him. The smirk got bigger when he nodded. “Well, I don’t know if now’s a good time, but I’m sure I could accept your challenge if I’m available off the job.”
He offered his hand. “Shake on it, Sir?”
I took his hand and shook. “Yeah, and if it’s something casual, then you can call me Eric. “Admin Claid” is something I’d rather use for professionalism.” I smiled cheerfully, probably thankful that I got a bit of relaxation.
*BPHH* “Postman to engineer, Postman to Engineer,” my radio said, “We have a complication.”
So much for relaxation… “Go ahead, Postman.” I responded, returning to serious instantly.
“We have visual of the Vermillion Gym Leader eyeing the van,” the Postman said, “What are your orders?”
I gave it a second of thought… then I old the solution.
“Continue en-route to the Cerulean side of the tunnel, we’ll meet you there.” I commanded. They acknowledged what I said, and then I turned to the group. I briefly explained what went on, and told everyone to move out…
In about the time it took us to get to the other side (I had Alakazam carry the sacks with Psychic levitation), the two grunts on the van were already waiting. I sent out Blaziken, for a good reason. We were behind schedule because of Surge, and if anyone else paid us a visit, it’s gonna get ugly, I swapped out the wild shades I was wearing for the thick, but fake, glasses I kept in my overalls pocket. I then opened the back of the truck and grabbed one of the trays, Alakazam used another bit of Psychic levitation to hold up all the empty Pokeballs from one of the sacks then we packed the Pokeballs into the sacks. After that, it didn’t take long for everyone to pack the infected Pokeballs into the sack, though I took one of the Pokeballs and packed it into my belt, so that I could let my Pokémon catch a strand.
I entered the back of the van, taking Kevin’s place in the back. I recalled Blaziken back into his Pokéball and I begun to radio the base about sending in the helicopter.
“This is Administrator Eric Claid.” I said into the radio, “We are en route to the final stage of the pick up of Pokérus Pokeballs and request Helicopter Transport to pick up me and my squad.”
“Copy that, Admin Claid,” the operator acknowledged, “state the location of the pickup of the cargo.”
“Entrance to underground walkway south of Cerulean City,” I confirmed, “we are currently pressed for time, so I would request this be done swiftly.”
“Roger that.” The operator confirmed. “Transport will arrive in twenty minutes.”
“Affirmative, Claid out.” I said, before shutting off my radio.
We were arriving at the Cerulean City Pokémon Center, where I released Alakazam for the Teleport back to the rendezvous point… I still had to make sure of one thing, though. The complication was starting to nag on me, and I needed to make sure it was just a false suspicion. I turned on my radio again…
“This is Postman to Engineer,” I spoke into the mic, “Postman to engineer, do you read me?”
“This…ngh, This is Engineer. Go ahead.” Kevin said, his voice sounded strained, and that didn’t sound very good in my book. I pretended to ignore it.
“What is the Status of the Cargo, Engineer?” I asked, requesting a signal.
“We’re A-OK,” Kevin said, using the casual term instead of the professional “status is green” term, which was the sign for bad news.
“OK, then. We will be arriving back at the rendezvous point shortly, be on alert.” I said. I looked at Alakazam, he knew what I wanted him to do, but he nodded towards the driver and passenger, since they aren’t psychic.
“OK, you two, we got a problem.” I told the two grunts, “Kevin has just given the signal for bad news, I’m not gonna explain much due to time, but I will have Alakazam Teleport us behind the entrance building to the tunnel. If I say ‘False Alarm’, radio Base and tell them to wait in the nearby forest two miles east of the entrance. If it’s actually a false alarm, then, you’ll hear ‘all clear.’”
The grunts nodded in understanding. I then left the infected Pokéball behind me as I put my hands on the grunts shoulders, I then closed my eyes and a second later, we were out in the field, behind the entrance.
“Remember the plan.” I reminded the grunts, and then Alakazam and I crept into the entrance of the tunnel building… I strained my ears to try and listen, but I heard nothing but a few unfamiliar voices, none of which I could distinguish any words from.
Alakazam, who was levitating behind me, floated a little forward. I looked at him, with an idea occurring to me…
Can you use Psychic and levitate me over the steps? I thought towards Alakazam, I want to see what’s going on, but without making much noise.
Alakazam nodded, hopefully he means he’ll do it. I then found myself levitating, and then hovering slightly above the ground… carefully, I inched closer to the edge of the wall, and I finally saw what was going on…
The Grunts were down, either paralyzed, or tied up. And a group of men were with them. I got back up
“False Alarm, people… False Alarm.” I muttered into the microphone. “For the two grunts nearby, you know what to do.”
“So you gonna show yourself, ma’am?” I heard a burly, perhaps rough voice speak into the mic. I didn’t forget that voice… especially when I had to face this guy early in my early battles towards the Indigo Plateau.
The man talking… was the third Gym leader in the series of eight… a guy who looks down at trainers just starting out on their journeys. This guy has cronies if there’s ever a time where he can’t do something along (which wasn’t often), and his Electric Pokémon are some of the toughest around.
The man talking on the mic, mistaking me for a lady (I’d laugh if this weren’t so serious), and acting so confident… was the Gym leader of Vermillion City, Lt. Surge.
“Oh…Shit…” I swore, with my mic turned off, “This is going to get ugly… VERY ugly”

Chapter 11: Out of the eye, into the storm

“So, You gonna show y’self?” The voice of Lt. Surge said.
I turned the mic back on.
“Perhaps,” I replied, “when you realize, I’m no lady.”
I walked down the stairs casually, when I saw Surge’s face, I noticed all the color drained out of it. His confident smile found itself flipped over into a gawking moment of surprise (or shock, if you know what I mean, hee hee hee). I got down to half of the stairway, making my distance between Surge’s cronies, and myself.
“Hey, Surge.” I called, “Long time, no see…”
“YOU!?” he bellowed, pointing at me. He looked back, almost ready to laugh, “You losers bein’ led by DAT KID!?” he started to laugh, his cronies joined in. I noticed Kevin baring his teeth. He was humiliated, and I can’t blame him…
“OK, punk, you wanna throw down?” I said aloud to the nearest groupie. I grabbed Blaziken’s Pokéball and pressed the button… the capsule opened, and Blaziken appeared seconds later. The man grabbed the only Pokéball in his belt, lobbed it casually backwards, and a Hitmonchan appeared. Hitmonchan was similar to that of a boxer: humanlike with brown skin, a head with a crown-like shape on the top… red boxing gloves for hands, ghostly lavender cloth with the bottom a little extra made, and feet that I swear looks like that of ballerina slippers…
Blaziken walked down the steps towards his opponent. I smiled, because while I sent my fire type partner, I also had Alakazam hover close to my upper back, concealed from the others, in the case of emergency.
The two Pokémon faced each other. I made a “tch” noise of uninterest.
Eric, you OK? Alakazam asked in thought, you’re starting to act a little funny.
I ignored him. “Spot an opening, then take him down with a Blaze Kick or two.” I instructed Blaziken.
It ended that fast… Hitmonchan attacked with a Thunderpunch, and it wasn’t hard for Blaziken to parry it (to push an attack aside and leave the enemy vulnerable) and respond with a Blaze Kick in the gut and the direct torso, resulting in Hitmonchan being sent flying backwards a few feet, unconscious.
“Loser.” I said irritably… I don’t really know why, but winning a challenge this easily just felt irritating, like it wasn’t worth my time.
Eric, you’re acting strange, what’s wrong? Alakazam repeated.
Mood Swing, I thought back, Hey, can you untie those ropes from here?
Alakazam paused, A little less distance could help, but yeah, I can…
I smirked briefly, thankful to find it possible. OK, let them know they will be untied, but tell them NOT to move until I say so.
I walked up next to Blaziken. My eyes were half open in irritated uninterest at the most of the enemy crowd. I was not in a good mood, and I don’t think it was a mood swing this time…
“You OK?” Blaziken asked, breaking the silence. “Something’s different about you, Eric.”
I looked at all the other trainers (Plus Lt. Surge), and found they were waiting for me to make the first move. Kevin and three of the enemy cronies next to him started staring at Blaziken.
“No, I’m not,” I answered Blaziken, “I’m feeling a little pissed off at the moment… not a good day.”
“Perhaps… maybe it’s just the job”
“Yeah, Definitely the job description, maybe it IS the job.”
Everyone started looking at me funny, except Surge, who was about to laugh again. Unfortunately for my team, he burst out laughing again, and Kevin just got all the angrier. Fortunately, Alakazam was able to untie everyone else, and I realized I was making quite the distraction. I smiled again, and then I looked towards Alakazam and made another “tch” noise to get his attention.
Knowing Kevin’s expression, this is gonna get out of hand soon. I thought, Relay everyone to get their Pokeballs ready, but not to get up or release their Pokémon until I give the signal. And untie Kevin’s rope quickly, he looks about ready to blow!
The Lieutenant and his cronies were still laughing about my little discussion, but by the time I found Kevin’s rope untied…
“Well, it’s been so much fun seeming to embarrass myself and make myself look crazy…” I said, “But let me tell you two things. One, I don’t do drugs, I don’t get high, and yes, I know what my pokemon say. Two…..” I breathed deep, then, “AAAMBUUUSH!!!”
Everyone leaped up to their feet, and released their Pokémon almost instantly. I knew the main ones… a spherical pokemon with holes all over and a crossbones sign under the face, identified as Koffing, and its evolved form, which looks like an attempt to clone Koffing gone wrong. Three spheres, two with faces, one not big enough to even hold an eye, all linked together, identified as Weezing. Then there were the purple rattlesnake-like Pokémon known as Ekans, and the cobra-like Pokémon, known as Arbok (Ekans’ evolved form). Kevin’s Umbreon was also in the fray, along with Blaziken and the still hidden Alakazam.
The surprise trick worked, The lieutenant and his buddies were all too caught off guard to move for a few seconds. “Alakazam, immobilize them.” I said simply, and then the lieutenant and his groupies were glowing slightly, being forced to remain frozen the way they were, except with their expressions, which really were seriously panicked, and Alakazam revealed himself, hovering at my left.
“oooo,” I cooed in an insulting manner, “what’s te matta. Can’t move?” I gave Surge the kind of look one would say “I told you so”, and then the grunts started laughing, even though Kevin looked about ready to swing.
I then pointed towards Kevin and three grunts and told them to carry the sack to the Vermillion exit. The rest of us turned to walk away, Kevin snorted a swear word at Surge, which was perfectly justifiable. I stopped and looked back at the temporarily frozen group.
“’Shocking’, isn’t this…?” I taunted, “That’s what you get for being an overconfident idiot.” I snorted with laughter. “Smell ya later, ‘wittle baby Surge.’”
“Not this time, Team Rocket!” someone called from behind the group.
I stopped, realizing immediately who that was. The voice I heard was a girl about the age of fourteen to fifteen…definitely the tomboyish type, but only slightly. I turned around, and only about thirty feet away, at the bottom of the stairs, was a girl of the age of the voice, somewhere around fourteen to fifteen, with red hair in a single ponytail. She was wearing a flowing ocean blue tank top with bright, tan, girl’s shorts along with red and white sneakers. Cerulean Gym Leader Misty stood at the spot I entered in, and she’s the one problem I HOPED I wouldn’t have to come across.
Still, I didn’t think she’d announce her arrival with something so predictable…
“Uhh, Cliché much?” I remarked, staring at Misty, “I guess you’ve been running into Jesse and James a little too much, eh, ‘twerp?’” I snickered at finding I struck a nerve, and aside from Misty being harassed, she wasn’t the only one. For the past few years, former intermediate grunts known as Jesse and James became incredibly interested in this one kid’s pokemon, which happened to be Pikachu. But once they started pursuing this Pikachu and its trainer, a kid from Pallet Town named Ash Ketchum, they quickly became jokes to the rest of Team Rocket. Thing was, Ash is good… because he, Misty, and Pewter Gym Leader Brock were the main reasons for the failure in the St. Anne incident, despite there being quite a lot of grunts, and not really an admin.
Misty then gave me a half eyed glare, knowing her experiences with Jesse and James, I knew what she might be thinking, for whenever Jesse and James unveiled themselves, they ALWAYS announced what they thought was the Team Rocket Motto (It wasn’t anymore, the motto was long since changed).
“If you think for a minute that I’m gonna announce the stupid motto,” I declared, “Then you got another thing coming! Blaziken, Use Flamethrower!”
Blaziken shot a stream of fire at the ground near the enemy, the enemy flinched, which was enough to buy me some time. The Lieutenant’s little group wasn’t glowing when I starting seriously making tracks. The rate I was running almost felt inhuman, though, for reasons even I don’t really know why. I looked back and saw Blaziken in a distance, I recalled him, making sure he wasn’t going to be left behind.
“uhh, Eric…” Alakazam said vocally.
“What?”
“LEFT!!”
I strafed left, an Aurora Beam fired off past my right and hit the grunt that held the sack. The beam caused him to stagger and then fall forward, with the sack of Pokeballs on top of him.
“Dammit!” I cursed. I grabbed Blaziken’s Pokéball and threw it forward, releasing my fire pokemon again.
“Blaziken, hand me the sack, and help him.”
I caught the body sized sack and hoisted it over my shoulders (Wow, this thing’s lightweight!), the downed grunt was on Blaziken’s back, and we were quickly on the move again. I looked ahead, and I found some of Surge’s groupies must have stayed behind to cut us off.
I looked behind, and I looked in front, dammit… just another one of those moments where the good guys might actually win against a masterminded evildoer. I found I was in a bad spot… and I had to think fast, if Misty and Surge got here, then their combined strength alone could wipe us out.
“Blaziken, use Flamethrower!” I ordered, “Everyone else, Plow through the enemy flank, NOW!!”
I looked back to determine how far the enemy was behind us (not that far, Damn!), then looked back. The groupies were down, not seriously injured, but unable to stop us.
Misty and Surge’s group were getting closer. “GO GO GOOOO!!!” I shrieked.
“We can take them!!” Mark said.
“No we can’t, now MOVE IT!!”
“Why not!?”
I couldn’t BELIEVE this guy’s recklessness! “Water is weak against Electricity, but together they make a powerful combo. We’re FRIED if we fight here, now MOVE!!”
Mark was not happy about my urgency, but he moved on anyways. We reached the surface afterwards, and I completely forgot about the chopper. I turned on my radio to check on it…
“This is Eric Claid requesting status of Chopper, this is urgent, We are on the Retreat from two gym leaders and a small group of trainers, over.”
“Roger Eric Claid,” the pilot said, “The Chopper has you on visual south of your direction”
South of my direction… I thought… then it hit me, they’re behind us!
I looked behind me, and sure enough, a chopper was hovering in the distance… far enough not to be heard. I looked downward, now in front of me, and found that Lt. Surge (and Misty) has also spotted it…
“Well, it’s all come down to this…” I said, finally facing the fact that running is no longer an option, “We’re taking these Pokeballs for the sake of research. Either you let us pass, and We start the research at our facility… or you get in our way, and we’ll force our way through.”
“But we’ve already got someone to research it,” Misty protested, “Why not let them take care of it?
“Because, scientists around YOU don’t know what to look for… not even some of the best professors could figure it out!”
Surge was enjoying the moment of triumph at cornering me. He and his cronies had their Pokémon set to battle, Misty’s Pokémon were also out. At the same time, everyone else’s Pokémon were also out. For me, though, Charizard and Marshtomp were still in their Pokeballs.
I assessed the situation quickly. In order to get to the chopper, I had to go past these fifteen or so trainers, and TWO Gym Leaders. The gym leaders had four to five strong pokemon, with the cronies having one or two wimps. All I had with me were five men, and a guy a year older than I am, each with two to three Pokémon, while I had four. I looked around with my eyes alone, there were three Ekans, two Arboks, four Koffings, and one Weezing.
Alakazam must have read my mind ahead of time, because then he started informing me of what the Pokémon can do. All the Koffing and the lone Weezing can use Sludge, Explosion and Smokescreen (sludge spits out a black substance that, when aimed well, can nearly blind an enemy; Smokescreen and Explosion are a no-brainer). All of the Ekans and Arboks can use Poison Sting, Wrap and Toxic; Poison Sting fires off solidified liquid darts with a weak poison that can make a pokémon fall ill when hit with a large quantity, and Toxic spews out a dangerously powerful, poisonous liquid that can make anyone not immune to it VERY sick, VERY fast.
The plan formed already, but I hoped Alakazam was able to handle it… I looked at him, and he nodded. Oh, remember how I said it was gonna get ugly? If they don’t step aside, it happens right now.
The Standoff lasted for about fifteen minutes, which was amazing that no random trainer passed by… I DID notice a news van parked about a mile away, next to the Cerulean tunnel entrance.
Oh goodies, WE’RE ON TV!! I thought sarcastically.
*bshhhshhshsh* “—ndoff has lasted for a good five minutes” I heard someone say through the mic, “Will Team Rocket be able to escape the two Gym Leaders AND the small mob of trainers?”

I found this standoff to last long enough. “OK, people.” I began instructing to the grunts, “This is gonna be one of the toughest battles you’re gonna face in your entire career, and victory here will earn you guys a LOT of good points with the Boss.”
“Now we’re talkin’.” Surge shouted, and his Pokémon stood ready to fight, the Pokémon in them were Magneton (a trio of Magnemite, an iron steel ball, with a screw on top and two magnets on either side of it), Jolteon (Electric Evolution to Eevee, yellow and white with spines all over, pointing behind it) and of course, Raichu.
Misty’s Pokémon also got ready. The Cerulean Gym Leader’s Pokémon were Staryu, a Brown Star-shaped Pokmon with a Red jewel of sorts in the center; and Starmie, Evolved form of Staryu, purple colored, similar in shape as Staryu, only with a second five-point star rotating on the back.

The groupies made the first move, “Magnemite, use Thunderbolt!”
The lone Magnemite let loose a swift strike of electricity, but the energy moved slower than regular lightning.
“Flamethrower, Blaziken.” I commanded calmly, Blaziken fired, and it immediately resulted in a stalemated explosion. I Recalled Blaziken and swapped out for Charizard, and then hopped on his back, sack over my shoulder and Alakazam hovering next to me.
“Kevin, Mark and…” I pointed to a grunt in between Mark and me, named George, “ You three keep the enemy distracted, use whatever you need to with whatever distant attack your pokemon have.” I pointed to the remaining two grunts. “You two, do whatever you have to and clear an escape route for everyone, got it?”
“Yes, Sir!” they acknowledged.
The smoke cleared, and from it were 7 or so Pokémon charging at us. Charizard took flight and flew towards the helicopter. I kept the microphone on, and listened to what was going on through the news bulletin.
“The Battle has begun! A Team Rocket member has flown up with his Charizard to get the package delivered, intending to leave his companions behind. The Gym leaders seem to be gaining the upper hand at the moment, so it’s only a matter of time before we find out where that package is.”
Desertion, like I’d want to leave my squad behind. I thought irritably, Idiots…
“Wait, is that--…” the mic said, I looked back to find an Aurora Beam shooting towards me
The Chopper was definitely not a good place for Charizard to fly close to. It doesn’t matter how tough he can be to face an explosion nearby, the helicopter blades would shred a human being with no effort, there’s no telling what it would do to Charizard. Through Alakazam, I teleported onto the chopper, and deposited the sack of Pokeballs. I released Marshtomp in order to watch the sack, despite his protests.

I then jumped down back onto Charizard, gliding back towards the battlefield, but behind the enemy, and out of the newscaster’s camera.

I sent out Blaziken, and then I had the most important part of the plan take root. “OK, guys, it seems we don’t have much choice, it’s time we used the Firestorm combo.”
Blaziken and Alakazam recoiled. “The Firestorm Combo!?” Blaziken blurted out, looking at Alakazam “Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Yeah, it is, but do YOU see any other idea?”
“Have you gone nuts, Eric?” Charizard said behind me. “You’ve been acting strange since the day you were attacked.”
I started getting angry, I closed my eye in an attempt to hold it back, I felt as if my frustration was like a fire.
I dunno if Alakazam noticed through my body language or by reading my pissed off mind, but then he decided to go for it…
“Fine, We’ll do this. But once this is over, we need to talk.”
“Alakazam! Are you--!?” Blaziken started to argue, I glared at him. But after a moment’s pause, he looked at Alakazam in a look of discovery. My Fire type starter Pokémon looked at me, and the expression in his eyes looked like that of worry. I ignored it.
“Let’s go.” I said quickly, and began running in the direction of the enemy crowd.
I flashed a look at my three Pokémon, a giant fireball was forming from the fire of the two Fire Type Pokémon. The Firestorm was almost finished, so I figured, it’s now or never.
I put my thumb and middle finger in my mouth, almost closing the airway, and I took a deep breath.
*PHWEEEWWEEEEEEE* I whistled,
The cronies nearest me turned around. Their Pokémon also turned as well, and as a group, they looked at me as if I were a goner (even if Blaziken arrived next to me a few seconds later).
Suddenly, I felt like I wanted to laugh, I don’t know why, it just felt funny to have something up my sleeve. I snickered at first, the cronies started looking at me, they advanced towards me.
Blaziken started to look panicked, not at them, but at me. I felt like I was in Comedy Central, the running gag is “idiots not paying attention to the trick up my sleeve”. They got closer, I just started laughing, I don’t know what was so funny about having a trick up my sleeve, it was just funny having one. I took a deep breath and activated the radio, and I made the last part of the escape plan take action.
“I know someone is broadcasting this battle, and probably even the radio channel I’m using.” I declared, “But this fight is over, and those of you thinking otherwise, look up.”
I paused, and as I figured, the reporter responded to it.
“As you just heard, a child has just announced that this fight is over, We are currently searching the air and we have not found—wait. What in the world!? A Charizard and an Alakazam are in the air with a giant fireball in front of them! What does Team Rocket have planned with it?”
I made the signal. “You all want to know what I plan to use it for? Here it is!” then at Alakazam and Charizard, “Alakazam, Charizard, Unleash the FireStorm!!”
Suddenly, orange missiles of fire shot out from the fireball towards the center of the enemy group. A couple of Pokémon tried to block it, but most of them hit in a wide area down the center, causing small explosions upon impact. Plus, since the crowd cleared out in that area, it left a path for the grunts to go through.
The two grunts I assigned to find an escape route told everyone to book it. I looked back. Charizard was refueling the fireball with Flamethrower, only to have Alakazam fire a second wave in a walled passage, preventing the enemy from catching up. I decided to listen in with the news again, and I felt satisfied with what I was hearing.
“The fireball was a ruse!” the reporter shouted, “The intended attack was a series of Fire Blasts fired at the group of trainers. They seemed to have cleared out, which left the Team Rocket grunts an escape route. Who would have thought Team Rocket has grown so smart, and will they ever be stopped now?”
“Tch, and that’s a wrap, folks.” I concluded as all the grunts dashed past the enemy crowd.
I filed the grunts past me as they rushed towards the chopper. Marshtomp was trying to keep the sack in place, as if there actually was trouble keeping it on the chopper without falling off.
I looked back once more at the diminishing figures of the two Gym Leaders and the cronies. Mission accomplished, it was risky, and it risked injury to people, but it worked, and we are able to turn in some specimens for research.
Unfortunately, I was far from fine at the moment, all that thinking was giving me a headache and a bad mood, and maybe a small feeling of weakness. So despite the fact that the grunts were real pleased at the performance I helped them do, I slacked back into my seat. I felt tired, irritated, and with a newfound migraine.
I figured I’d fall asleep during the chopper ride back to base, the reporter made her last bit about how it might be tough to explain this to the Trainers, before going off the air. Knowing everyone else, I’m gonna wind up on the news, and someone’s gonna wanna talk to me. Whether I want to or not, will determine if this headache goes away, and I doubt it’s gonna be anytime soon.
“Uuuugh,” I groaned, “What a pain in the neck.”

Chapter 12: Big change…

“OK everyone,” I announced wearily, “Everyone did pretty good today, so I’ll let everyone take one Pokéball from the sack, and let your Pokémon experience this Pokérus.”
We came back to base about a half an hour later, according to Mark. Syrus was waiting for me on taking the sack. Beforehand, though, I decided to let everyone take a Pokéball and pass on this virus to their Pokémon. After everything was taken care of, I dismissed everyone. Only about an hour later, I got comments from loads of people about what happened. Sure enough, it was on the news, and at a time where I actually got to see it.
“Team Rocket strikes again.” Said the reporter, stating the headline, “And with new tactics that seem to make them unstoppable. The Vermillion City, Cerulean City path had recently taken a blow to their pride when Gym leaders Misty and Lt. Surge were unable to defeat the tactics of this Rocket attack. Officer Jennys of Cerulean and Vermillion are still curious on why Team Rocket would want to steal Pokeballs that have been identified as infected with the mysterious virus known as ‘Pokérus’. Recent battle footage has shown that a young man, of about age 17, used a surprise attack comprised of the Pokémon moves Fire Blast and Psychic with his two Pokémon. This attack was all he needed to get Team Rocket out of trouble and away from authorities.”
Everything I said when I set the signal for the Firestorm combo was relayed in the footage. Everything that had been said by the on-scene newscaster was also broadcasted. People all over HQ were looking at me with interest, as if they admired me… I dunno if what I did was spectacular enough. But apparently they thought so.

I walked over to my quarters and locked the door. I then decided to slouch onto my bed, and I closed my eyes. I have never felt so tired before, and I felt like I was growing a fever.
I released Alakazam, Blaziken and Charizard from their Pokeballs. I remember that Alakazam wanted to talk to me about hat happened. I felt weird, though, as like floaty all of a sudden, as if I wasn’t in control…
“Eric.” Alakazam said solemnly, “You feeling OK?”
I shook my head.
“Are you able to recall what gone through your mind during the battle?”
I thought back on what happened during the mission. My accepting Mark’s challenge to a battle later on, the suspicious moment with Surge, the complication… then the battle, my delivery of the sack to the chopper, then… then the rest felt like a blur, something tough to picture… it was as if I couldn’t see what happened before the moment of escape, but after the point of delivery to the chopper.
I tried to remember… I heard laughter, my laughter, and then I thought on what I said in the radio during that time on the news…

”It’s time we used the Firestorm combo.”
Blaziken and Alakazam recoiled. “The Firestorm Combo!?” Blaziken blurted out, looking at Alakazam “Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Yeah, it is, but do YOU see any other idea?”
“Have you gone nuts, Eric?” Charizard said behind me. “You’ve been acting strange since the day you were attacked.”

I suddenly didn’t feel floaty anymore… it was as if whatever was locking my memory or whatever was gone. Blaziken looked at me long and sharp. I broke eye contact first, though.
“Sorry, guys…” I said, “I guess I wasn’t acting like myself.”
“OK, as long as we all understand that,” Blaziken said. “I think a few rounds with the punching bag should get your mind off things, right?”
I nodded. I need to get my mind off things, and I felt pretty lousy since the mission, so I figured it might be wise to find something to do.
I got up quickly, and then immediately got a headache again. “Ugh, first things first, I’d better go visit the doc. This headache is driving me crazy.”

I walked off to visit the doctor, who was about five meters away from Giovanni’s office. The doctor had me checked up, and despite my normal body temperature, I was definitely showing symptoms of a fever (Severe headache, weakness, rapid dehydration, I went through five bottles of water and I’m still thirsty). It was when he took my blood pressure that he found something strange… my blood pressure was normal, but my arm remained stiff… and he found that something’s different about my muscles. He took a DNA sample and told me he’ll give me the results in about a few hours or so, before he let me go.
Weird, what might be up with me now? I thought, still a little weary…
I grabbed one of those bigger containers of water next to me, and just started chugging the thing without thinking. Suddenly, Alakazam came out of his Pokéball by himself, and I finally felt refreshed when I looked around.
“What the…” Alakazam uttered a swear word, “Eric, do you realize how much water you drank, and how big that container is!?”
I looked at what was in my hand, it was about three gallons worth of water, and I just downed half of it. I snickered hysterically about it.
“uhh, I guess I’ll keep this as my new water bottle. Ehh hehe” I said, freaked out.
Damn… I finally made it to the weight room, and I found a Machop and Machoke sitting near the weights, briefly looking up towards me.
“Ah, it’s just the kid.” Machop, about the size of a small boy. Grey skinned, got the kind of head that displays some dude with his hair gelled back. Despite its small size, Machop’s strong enough to throw the heaviest of dudes WAY OUT THERE. Apparently he must be thinking I’m just another punk…
“Hey, isn’t that the kid most of the Trainers have been talking about?” Machoke inquired. Machoke, evolved form of Machop, is just about as close to human as a professional wrestler. Grey skinned, like Machop; wear’s some kind of (ugh) “Speedo” of sorts with a gold colored belt with a red letter “P” in the center.
“Who, that Claid kid?” Machop said. “Beh, I’ll admit he’s good in a Pokémon Battle, but he’s toast in a fistfight. Sucks how they can’t understand me, I’d be makin Masta Sensei in no time.”
I couldn’t focus on the Punching bag, I was actually curious about what kind of Martial arts they could help me with. In Fact, I never really took much Self Defense, I just took all the basic training as a grunt, and that went far enough in a fistfight (despite the fact that yeah, I get pulped more often).
“Well, I can probably give you a start on that.” I said, “I recall that most of you Machop study a lot of martial arts, so maybe I could learn something from you.”
Machop looked at me funny, Machoke looked at me in surprise, Machop then looked back at Machoke.
“Did he just try to talk to me?” he said, “meh, maybe it was his Alakazam, he’s learned to talk through thou—“
“Yes, Machop, I’m talking to you… and by the way, Alakazam is still in his Pokeball.” I looked at Machoke, “And Machoke, what kind of things were said about me?”
Machoke looked a little awkward, having to respond to some thing I said. “Well, apparently, the first was from the other Pokémon, and you seem to already prove that.”
“Yeah, I can understand you guys now.”
“You’re serious…?”
“Yes I am.”
Machop raised his hands, “OK, ok, I get it.” We both looked a Machop. “So, you’re able to understand what a Pokémon can say eh? I guess you could make a good start for my potential career.” Machop sized me up, looking up and down at me. “heh, you look like you’ve got potential, though I warn ya, you’re gonna need about 2 hours of available time every day, you got that kind of time?”
I thought about it… the only time where I got something going on, is usually when I visit the Club. So if I skipped going to the Club for a while, I might have time to spend with Machop. I explained when I had time, and when it was.
Machop raised his eyebrows, and told me we have extra time, possibly three and a half hours a day. He also old me how his little program worked, Since Machop knows the most in martial arts, he’ll explain how each move works, and his partner, Machoke, will demonstrate it. The arts to be taught would be the usual, Karate, Kung-fu, Jujitsu, and then this other fighting style he calls “Break Fighting”.
“Break Fighting?” I asked.
“You know of that human show called Break dancing? Break Fighting’s something I invented based on that… you’ll need to have some serious flexibility to use it, though.”
Now THAT’S a surprise… a Pokémon inventing a fighting style based on something we do.
Machop then explained that he could let one, MAYBE two pokémon of mine learn alongside me, but only on the condition that they are closely monitored. I agreed, and explained everything to Blaziken, who found it just as interesting as I did.
“OK, so now that we have everything settled, you better tell your friends that you’re going to be busy for awhile.”

I arrived at the club, with little surprise, an hour late. Everyone was talking about what I’ve been doing lately, and it looks like Sam was trying to communicate with Kevin with little, but increasing, success.
“Hey, Eric, where were you?” Nikki asked.
“Making arrangements with someone.” I replied.
“’Arrangements’?”
“Yeah. So I’m probably going to be not in club for a few days.”
Mike, and eventually Kevin, started eyeing me suspiciously. Understandably, this was a first for me as well, since I never skipped Club before until now.
“So I guess we all gotta try cooking, huh?” Mike said, perhaps a little bummed.
I thought that one over… then I sent out Alakazam, an idea occurring to me.
Through telepathy, I explained everything to Alakazam, and asked if he could substitute for me in regards to cooking. I told him that I would be out of Club for awhile, and they would probably freak if they found I was learning martial arts from a Pokémon called Machop.
Sure, I’ll keep an eye on things, on the condition that you let me know what goes on afterwards. he said.
After that, I explained that I’m going to be elsewhere for a while, I’ll still be on base, but elsewhere… I decided to cook dinner, which was prime sirloin steaks with corn and mashed potatoes. Everyone liked the meal, as usual, and afterwards I strolled over to my room, various grunts complimenting what I did on that mission.
I got to my room, with my thoughts buzzing about what I’ll be doing. I lied down face up on my bed, and Blaziken sat down against the wall nearby.
Boy, I dunno how this might working out, but I’ve known Machops to be experts in martial arts. I thought, somewhere between excited and perhaps a bit hesitant, Still… he’s right about one thing, I’m not exactly as good in a real fistfight compared to a Pokémon Battle. So this might probably benefit me in more ways than one.
“Can’t wait, huh?” Blaziken said, interrupting my thoughts.
“Yea…” I said, in a trancelike tone.
“Can’t blame ya, though. While this could benefit you in a fistfight, this could benefit me in whatever battle I face later”
“hehe, I guess it’s a good thing I inquired about that, huh?”
“Yep.”
I felt peaceful, hanging out with Blaziken as if he were human; a best friend I can finally talk to. I guess the feeling I could just feel is peaceful. I never felt that like this, a feeling just so… warm… A feeling so cozy, I could just smile as I closed my eyes and relaxed.
“Hey, Blaziken…”
“Yeah?”
A familiar feeling passed over me. The feeling of knowing I’m not alone… the kind of feeling… It’s like being best friends with your brother, just such a happy feeling.
“I’m glad I can understand you guys now.”
I guess he probably felt the same by not answering, but I guess I decided to turn in now, since I was drifting off…

*KEVIN*
The PDA went off, and I knew I was getting a response from this new pen pal, screen named by RareHunterLucas by last recall.
The Admin has definitely been acting weird since the mission. Even Sam was amazed when Eric announced his being absent, Especially since this will be the first time he’ll be skipping Club, so everyone says.
Either way, perhaps Kevin can find someone he can talk to after all. Claid looks like a Likable guy off the field; but it’s like he’s a completely different person on the field… a merciless, and probably dangerous looking dude. Mike looks a bit goofy, and would probably cause things to get awkward. Frank, Frank just seems a bit depressing. Nikki might take some getting used to. But Sam… Sam doesn’t seem half bad.
Ever Since I’ve met Eric Claid, I’ve been having some doubts about who to befriend, and who to stay away from. Syrus Mitchell sounds like someone worth avoiding, that’s for sure. Sam’s a bit girly, but she ain’t like the other girls, she ain’t some diva who shows off her looks, more like just innocent…
I checked the mail, as I figured, it was from “RareHunterLucas”.

Hello, there shadowrain10,
I see u know Sam. well u should be happy I am not like her at all. Except for the fact that we both know my mom, lol. Well I hope that things work out with u 2. Oh, and Sam and I have NEVER met in person, only online. I am in Sinnoh right now. I guess Sam didn’t tell you that, huh? Well, I have to go now I am spending time with my Girlfriend… so ya bye.

I closed my PDA, and I sat down on my desk.
could I find some people worth hanging out with? Ever since my childhood with a drunken old whore called my mother, I’ve been a little cautious with the more outgoing type of person… even Darkness, my Umbreon, knows that… and yet, when he speaks out, it’s like he’s trying to tell me something. I wish I knew what it was, though. Eric’s Alakazam is able to talk to him through telepathy, and Eric himself supposedly rumored to be able to understand what a Pokémon says without help.
“What an enigma,” I said aloud. “I wonder if he’s as nice a guy as they say…”

*ERIC*
[i]It’s just like the last two times. I was floating over what seemed like a volcano. I was floating face up, with my back facing the crater. I then felt the warmth… except, it felt different. It didn’t feel soothing, like that of a Mother’s love. It felt fierce, fiery, like a rage… like that of revenge. The rage felt like screaming, like some sort of battle cry, as if it was going to some kind of war. I wanted to scream that battle cry, but I held it in, growling instead.
The Rage got stronger… as if it as fighting. I still managed to hold it at bay, but I ended up growling slightly louder…
I kept it at bay, but it felt like I was trying to hold down something huge. I then started to feel exhausted, my control was loosening, I felt like I was snarling, and I get the feeling that something was up.

*BLAZIKEN (3rd person)*
Blaziken was woken up by some kind of noise coming from Eric. He looked up and found Eric was seized up, all incredibly stiff and trembling. He put a hand on Eric’s arm, and it flung out, and sent him flying acrossed the room. Slightly winded, Blaziken got to his feet again, panicked. He then grabbed Eric’s belt, and tried to remember which Pokéball he was supposed to look for.
Dammit, which one of those had him?? he thought, frustrated. Then he remembered, it was the one left of the belt buckle. He grabbed it, Pressed the button, and it opened. Eric went quiet the instant that it opened, but he was still stiff.
Alakazam stood there, sleepy. He wiped his eyes, and then looked up at Blaziken.
“You better have a good reason to wake me up at this time of night, Blaziken.” Alakazam muttered, understandably irritated.
All Blaziken had to do was point at Eric, and then Alakazam understood.
“Good enough.” He said, “OK, this time we’ll get it. We didn’t have a camera the first time, but we’ll get it this time.”
Blaziken went into Eric’s bedside table, and opened the drawer. He felt strange in doing this, at grabbing the small rectangular box the humans called a Camera, along with a small black stick with a small piece of glass at the end, called a flashlight. He handed the camera to Alakazam, who made it float next to him. He then slowly made Eric’s left eye open up, and they both flinched at what they saw in the dimmed evening light.
Eric’s eye wasn’t the usual brown color that it usually looks. But more like orange, like the color on Blaziken. The black spot, called the Pupil, according to Alakazam, looked like it had been squeezed into a line. He started snarling again, and quickly, Alakazam turned on the flashlight. Something white caused Eric’s eye to glow brighter. Then Alakazam took the box, and put it to his face.
“Uh, what are you doing?” Blaziken asked.
*Click*
“Taking a picture.” Alakazam said.
“Taking a picture?”
Alakazam looked at Blaziken, and showed him the black box. Eric’s eye didn’t glow anymore, and instead, the back of the camera was glowing. Blaziken then saw a small rectangular piece of glass.
“You look through that peephole. And then press a button,” Alakazam explained, “and everything will instantly be portrayed in the camera, ready to be developed into photographs.”
“GRrrrrRRRRRGH” Eric growled, baring his—
“What the-…” Alakazam used a word that the humans called a “swear word”. At last recall, Eric called that particular word the “F-word”; a word that Eric demanded be put on as much restraint as possible. He insisted that the F-word is not to be said by any means unless for a good reason.
This was a good reason, though, because when Blaziken was told to point the flashlight at Eric’s mouth, he felt immobilized. His teeth had grown fangs, the two canines were longer, and sharper. The light caused those teeth to glow, but then they started shrinking.
*Click*
Alakazam took another picture while the fangs were halfway shrunk…
“Got’em.” Alakazam said simply.
“I wonder what’s going on in his head.” Blaziken mused.
“I already tried to read him, but something’s not letting me.” Alakazam said.
They stood where they were for a few minutes next to Eric, now sleeping peacefully again. They then decided they’d better get back to sleep as well. Blaziken put away the camera and flashlight. He sat down next to where he was before, and closed his eyes. But then Eric made a small moaning noise, as if trying to stay asleep, until he spoke in a murmur, but enough to understand.

“Legendary…rainbow…
You must be…..Ho-oh.”

*ERIC*
I felt in control again. The rage I had put up with for what felt like an hour, had disappeared. I was then filled with what felt like some secondary presence, as if there was someone next to me.
“Ho-oh.” I said. “The Rainbow Pokémon. Only seen by those who live in harmony with…”—realization hit me then—“Pokémon.”
”Not very many humans treat Pokémon as equals as much as yourself. You treat your Pokémon as you would a fellow human being. And as such, you’ve been selected as my human manifest.”
I thought that over. For something to manifest, means for something to take root in, to start in. but the way the Rainbow legend states it sounds like another word…
“You mean, I’m to represent you among other human beings??”
”Your ability and the pendant are proof enough.” Ho-oh said, still invisible to my mind’s eye.
I was silent then… once, I thought it was the pendant that allows an understanding of Pokémon. Now I realize that the pendant was just calling out, I was able to understand Pokémon without it, it just never came to me.
“Why do I feel that I’m able to do more than talk to Pokémon?” I thought aloud.
”That depends,” Ho-oh said, ”on the harmony between yourself and your Pokémon brothers…”[i]

I woke up, confused.
“Harmony… between me and my Pokémon…” I wondered.
Blaziken was still asleep, I checked the clock, “4:30 AM”… I figured I might as well get a couple more hours of rest, and laid down and shut my eyes…


The Manifest of Ho-oh has finally been realized… The Dark One was finally going to get it’s wish, to find a human body and mind to copy, and use it’s knowledge to create a world of shadow. The corruption already spread through what the humans called the “Orre” Region. But pretty soon, the Kanto Region, and this “Eric Claid” will discover the corrosive feel of what the shadow can accomplish…
”Soon, young human… that potential will be mine to control.”
Ho-oh was foolish… they [i]all are foolish. To choose such pathetic creatures to assist with their power. They were foolish enough to think these humans cannot be corrupted… once the human nears it’s peak of emergence, they will bow down to the shadow of the Dark One. The only thing left to do… is to have the human come within grasp…..

About more than a month later….

*KEVIN*

RareHunterLucas,

I think I’m starting to feel a little more comfortable over here in Team Rocket. Not because I’m learning to join in on their fun (which I still find is wrong, stealing Pokémon and celebrating. UGH), But because I’ve finally managed to socialize with everyone at Club.

It’s been about four weeks (that’s a long time, that’s for sure) since I started writing. And Claid still doesn’t attend Club. In Fact, I found the he was at the workout room, mimicking the movements of the Machop and Machoke, as if he was being taught by them. I asked him when I visit his room, and man did I find a shock. He was being taught Martial arts from the Machop and Machoke!! I dunno how that’s possible, since the Pokémon only say their names when they speak… but who knows, maybe he’s different.

Life at the Club has gotten a lot more entertaining, Eric’s Alakazam is as good a cook as Eric himself, and while it isn’t supposed to be a surprise, it is. Isn’t it interesting to have a Pokémon cook like a professional chef?

Good cooking aside, I think the most important thing is that thanks to you and Sam, I managed to learn what it’s like to really have fun with friends. I’ve finally learned to open up, and thanks to that, Darkness and I are finally able to have a lot more in common with the guys in the Club. Thank you Lucas,

Your friend,
Kevin

*ERIC*

“Focus, FOCUS!!” Machop shouted, “C’mon, you should be able to win this!”
Machoke swung at me while I was dazed from the last blow, I ducked quickly, and staggered a bit backwards. I regained focus and jabbed, one-two… I hopped slightly forward, Jabbing twice, then swing jabs to the right (I spun myself forward in a left direction, and extended my arms, in a helicopter set of swings). I found my arm being grabbed, I swung the other, it got clutched as well.
I was caught, Machoke had both of my wrists, one in each hand.
“Predictable.” He said.
Gotcha. I thought.
Instantly, I crossed my ankles and swung upwards, to the point where I could literally stand at a right angle to his head, and without a moment’s hesitation, I uncrossed them, striking Machoke with a pincerlike double kick to the head.

“OOOOOooo…” Machop knew that one HAD to hurt. But since Machoke is a lot stronger than a human, he wouldn’t get knocked out by something like that. Still, a blow like that was enough for him to let go of me.

“C’mon Eric, you can beat’im!!” Marshtomp, who was watching, cheered loudly. Using whatever center of balance I got once landing, I pushed myself up with my hands, and sweep-kicked at Machoke’s ankles. He jumped them, I shoved at the ground, and I was on my feet again, taking a step back so I don’t fall over. Machoke then sent a roundhouse kick my direction, I sidestepped it, responding with a left karate chop at the gut. The karate chop got blocked, I stepped forward and threw a right hook at the same target, the punch scored! Machoke doubled over, I rolled forward and shoved a kangaroo kick upwards towards the chest. Machoke was launched slightly, landing a few feet away.

“OK, That’s enough for today.” Machop said, I relaxed slightly, and walked towards Machop, who looked at me with a neutral face. I crouched down in front of him… “You’ve definitely worked pretty hard in getting where you are now, you can color me impressed that you’re able to handle Machoke one on one.” Machop said. “In fact, Blaziken didn’t do too bad either. In a Battle, I can see him using those moves in a pretty fancy firefight. I’ve pretty much taught ya all I can teach, kid. Congrats!”
Marshtomp was clapping and cheering “YAAAAAYY”, I was first surprised, at finding the in the course of four weeks, I learned a lot from Machop, and I was also encouraged to lift weights to help make learning easier. In fact, last I checked, and I was lifting weights that were so heavy, Blaziken gawked at me and Machop gave me a very impressed look.

I then felt satisfied at how my hard work is gonna pay off. I learned how to use methods that could break…
Machop then winced all of a sudden. During the last two weeks, he’s been doing that whenever I come near him after a workout, I figured that I needed a shower, and went off to do so… this was no different, so I decided to walk off towards the door.
“Hey, Eric…” Machop said, looking puzzled. “There’s something I want to know about you… I can tell you saw me wince, but what is the first thing you assumed as the cause?”
OK, so I go to shower, then Machop asks about it?
“I just assumed it was the workout, why do you ask?”
Machoke crossed his arms, “Because you’ve been giving off a scent that apparently humans can’t smell…” Machop looked at me in the eye, “You smell like you’ve got the growth virus. I think you humans call it…. Errrm.” He closed his eyes, thinking.
“Growth virus, Is it like Pokérus?”
Machop opened his eyes in that “I got it!” kind of look. “Yea, that’s it! You smell like you’ve got that Pokérus virus.”
I could just picture question marks popping up in a TV screen, overloading it, and then all of it crashing like glass… leaving me with a braindead look of cluelessness.
Machop slapped his hand on his face, in a gesture of frustration. “OK, let me explain… Whenever a Pokémon has the Growth Virus, or Pokérus as you know it, they wind up giving out a scent that only other Pokémon can sniff. For humans to know, they find out from your everyday Pokémon center.”
I took it in, and then I was getting a strange feeling about it.
“OK, now what does this have to do with me?” I asked.
“Well, haven’t you figured it out yet?” Machoke said, “You have that same scent, You have that Pokérus Virus… which is strange for a human.”
I looked at him in disbelief. ME, with Pokérus?? I thought, I had a lot of doubt in it… but I decided to look for proof. If I really do have Pokérus, what’s been changed with me?

I told Machop I’d let him know of anything new about it, and I walked out, with the though of finding out if I do have Pokérus…
*PEEP PEEP, PEEP PEEP*
Suddenly I found my PDA going off, for the first time in the four weeks I was occupied with practice with Machop. I checked my inbox. The one who sent it was…. “What the--!?” I blurted out.

The sender was from S. Oak, THE Professor Oak from Pallet Town and inventor of the Pokémon Dexter, or Pokedex, which stores info of every Pokémon known.

Eric Claid,
I know you’re part of Team Rocket, and while I can’t seem to understand why you would do such as thing as to join them, I need to talk to you. Meet me at my lab over at Pallet Town.

Professionally,
Prof. Samuel Oak

Blaziken walked up beside me and read the letter.
“Looks like you got an appointment.” He said.
Yeah, I got an appointment all right, and it’s probably about something BIG, especially if Oak wants to talk about it...

AUTHORS NOTE: OK, I get the feeling Chapter 12 might be a bit confusing. Bear in mind, now the big cards are going to be put into play soon… which will explain the many POVs.

Chapter 13: Spreading News

Finding that I left the “dojo” early, I was able to catch club just as Alakazam and Charizard were cooking lunch. Alakazam looked at me for a second, read my mind, and he admitted that he did sniff what Machop had, some scent that only a Pokémon can sense.
“Hey, Syrus.” I called, Syrus lifted his head and gave me his attention. “Is there anything planned ahead of time, any missions?”
“Yeah, you’re to be expected to get another mission sometime soon. It’s going to be a covert mission, though, so it’s admins only.”
“OK, can you let me know if it comes in? I don’t want to be late for briefing.”
“OK, sure.” He shrugged, in a guesture of saying “Whatever”, “Actually, where are you going?”
“To an appointment with someone…” I said, not telling them where.
Kevin looked curious, I slightly revealed my PDA; he nodded at me, meaning he got the note quickly. Alakazam just got finished with setting everything up for lunch. I figured I might as well get a bite to eat, so I sat down close to the door, thanking Alakazam for being the cook, who made fried rice with fried Magikarp (used to be one of my favorite dishes, though now I feel a little hesitant with the fried Karp. I ate it anyways, though).
I ate my food quickly, almost too quickly when I almost started choking.
Once everyone was done, I decided to make my exit. As I did though, I quickly typed a note in my PDA to Kevin.

Kevin,

I’ve got an appointment with Professor Oak in Pallet Town. I dunno why, though, so don’t ask. Also, do you think you can keep this quiet? I already know Giovanni would be all over my case if he found out that I paid a visit to the professor’s lab and returned empty-handed.

Thanks,


I paused at making my closing. I contemplated on getting myself a nickname. But… I guess I’ll go with a screen name that I’m familiar with, one that I used to use a long time ago before I got skilled at Battling.
Phoenix.
I sent the note, and walked over to the helipad to send out Charizard. Once he was out, he looked to the open area ahead. He looked at me, in a look of curiosity.
“Ready to stretch your wings?” I said, “’Cause we’ve got an appointment at Pallet Town.”
“Pallet Town?” Charizard asked, “That’s only a small glide away. Is this another mission?”
I was surprised at a question like that. A Mission at Pallet Town, I guess it’d be understandable to send in few people to a place not too far away. Still I guess no one would have figured, anyways.
“Oh, no, I’ve just been asked to meet with someone there. Off the job, you know?”
Charizard understood. He turned in a southern direction, and I also sent Alakazam for one last thing. I then asked to see if I’ve been bugged, or if I’ve been marked with some tracer of sorts that has a mic. He told me I wasn’t, and I then hopped on Charizard, put on the red biker’s cap I snagged from my room, and we set off for Pallet town.


It was supposed to be business as usual in the pokémon lab in Pallet Town, but today was different, because a strange virus had suddenly changed into something that could affect a human being. The bacteria was similar to that of Pokérus, the virus that sped up Pokemon’s growth. But too many questions were surrounded about this new bacterium: what does it do to someone infected; how does it affect the host; most importantly, can it spread and how easily?
“Um, Professor?” a voice said. “Professor Oak?”
Professor Samuel Oak looked up from the microscope and found that his assistant, a young sketch artist named Tracy, was a tad bit shocked at something…
“Tracy? What’s wrong?” Oak asked.
“It’s the news…!” Tracy said, still pale in the face, “I never thought I’d see Team Rocket get away from two Gym Leaders, but that’s the headline.”
“What?!” This news caught the professor’s attention. He’s know Gym leaders to be very strong Pokémon Battlers, and to find them defeated by a single trainer would be something. But for two of them to be defeated by Team Rocket was bad news.
Rumor has it that a friend of his, a young man named Eric Claid, was supposedly involved with Team Rocket. When he admitted to joining them to get stronger, ever since his loss in the Indigo Plateau Pokémon League, it hurt. What’s bothering Oak even more was, an E-mail was sent from an anonymous address, saying that a new virus has been discovered, and that someone from Team Rocket has learned to speak with Pokémon. Attachments were included with the E-mail, and while the research was puzzling, Eric Claid’s profile was the subject said to be able to talk to Pokémon.
“So this Eric Claid guy…” Tracy said, looking at the news article, “He looks a bit young to be leading a group in Team Rocket, isn’t he?”
Oak was silent for a moment taking in the fact that Eric has done things that he would most likely regret. “Yes, he is, isn’t he?” he said, “He’s almost a lot like Ash…”
Tracy looked insulted. Ash Ketchum was a skilled Pokémon Battler indeed, making the top 16 in the Pokémon League championship. Unfortunately, Eric made the top 8 battlers, in 7th place, which meant that Ash would have his work cut out for him if he were to face off against Claid.
“The only similarity I find in them, is their being skilled battlers.” Tracy protested, “Ash isn’t like Claid! Ash wouldn’t join Team Rocket!”
“Even then,” the prof. noted. “if what the rumors about him are true, he might be might not be as malicious as we think.”


Charizard landed down on the open field nearby Oak’s lab. I hopped down, and figured he probably would like some fresh air, so I let him stomp with me as I walked towards the front door. Charizard stopped to look around, and who wouldn’t? It was a clear day in Pallet Town, and it was very peaceful except for the occasional chatter from Pokémon, which was ranging from funny conversations to occasional squabbles over something.
“Y’know, I could enjoy living someplace like this.” Charizard said, a bit of a dreamy look on his face. “It’s so peaceful, and all natural.”
I smiled in agreement. “Well, if he’s fine with it, I could let you and the others roam around the fields while Prof. Oak and I talk about important matters.”
“Alright.” I could tell Charizard couldn’t wait to get a look around and meet the Pokémon that Oak looks after. If you think about it, it would make sense… Why would you NOT want to go out and potentially make new friends? Unless you’re antisocial, then it’s not a big deal to meet now characters. (I would have said “people”, but that wouldn’t make much sense in Pokémon perspective, would it?)
Once I made it to the front door, I did the first thing a normal person would do, which was to ring the doorbell. I pressed the button, and the traditional *DING-DONG* sounded faintly from where I was.
“Coming!” called a voice from inside. The door opened slightly, and a guy with green hair looked through.
I could tell he recognized me from the news because the minute he saw me, he went very pale and his eyes opened REAL wide. I was gonna ask right away if Oak was there, but since spotting the look on his face, I figured it would help if he spoke first…
“AHHH!!” the guy yelped, and he slammed the door at my face.
I felt my eyes turn into lines and a throb of anger clench at my forehead. I pressed the doorbell.
“W-w-w-what do you want, Claid?” the guy asked, apparently terrified.
I heard laughing behind me, I looked back, and apparently Charizard found the fearful denial very funny.
I looked Straight at the door. “Professor Oak said he wanted to talk to me.” I called, still trying to ease my irritation. “Don’t worry, this is business of my own account, so no one from HQ is watching me.”
“Tracy, Let him in.” an older voice said, “He’s telling the truth, I invited him.”
The door opened and I walked inside. Green Hair, whom I assumed was Tracy, was shaking. I felt bad, for him and for myself. While I made a good name in that of Team Rocket, I seemed to have made myself a bit of a terror of sorts everywhere else. Oak was standing at the end of the hallway, and he hasn’t changed a bit, since I last met him a few years ago before I took on the Indigo League. Unfortunately, when I found him looking at me, he looked concerned, meaning he only wanted to see me so he could get some answers from me, and it made me feel even worse.
“Um, been awhile, professor.” I said, a little hesitant.
“Yes…” He said, “It has been awhile.”
I avoided eye contact… knowing I probably hurt him of all people, because I was part of Team Rocket. In fact, I’ve never felt so guilty in my life. Taking sides with criminals with the hopes of getting stronger, for some time, it felt disgusting. Fortunately, I was able to push that aside and think towards the subject at hand.
I gulped, still nervous how this will play out. “So, umm, you said you wanted to talk about something… I guess it’s about time we know what it is.”
“hmm.” Oak nodded, “Well, Eric, I’ve actually had a visit from an odd stranger who wanted me to find something… he told me you can understand pokémon, and that you have a strand of a virus similar to that of Pokérus.” He looked at me sharp. “I know this will sound strange, even for me. But can I borrow a sample of… of your genetics…?”
“Blood?” he was right, I DID find that weird, why would a POKÉMON professor want a sample of HUMAN blood?
He nodded, and I went over to a small research table, and pricked my finger. I gave the sample to Oak, and I figured now would be the best time.
“Hey Professor, you don’t mind if my Pokémon have a look around the outside, right?” I asked, still nervous.
“No, not at all.” He said simply, “Perhaps I could see how they’re doing once I’m finished with this.
I turned towards the back door, and I found I was a little hazy.
Boy, This is just too odd. I never thought I had to actually study human DNA with this n—Wait. The same virus, in the boy’s blood!? How is this…?
I stopped, I didn’t even exit the room. Was I just listening to Oak’s thoughts?
“Hey, What’s up?” I heard in front of me. I was out of my trance, and I found Tracy was looking at me curiously. I felt a little better he was able to feel less shakey near me.
“Um, nothing. I’m just hearing random things.” I decided to change the subject quickly. “Hey, just out of curiosity, what kind of Pokémon do you have?”
“Well…” he said, “I guess my pokémon are pretty tough, and stuff… though I’m curious about what you did during that battle.”
I hesitated on explaining, but when I did, I suddenly felt more comfortable around him. It actually wasn’t a series of Fire Blasts, but just bursts of fire shot out from the fireball. Although the news saw it as Fire Blast, which is justifiable judging from the size.
Tracy was actually pretty interested in listening to me, because I didn’t expect him to find such an interesting way to handle fire. By the time I was done explaining, we were already outside, and I then released my Pokémon.
“Alright, guys, Welcome to the Oak Laboratory in Pallet Town!” I announced, “I have gotten the OK from the prof. about letting you guys explore the various habitats, but please, be considerate if you plan to socialize, OK?”
“Yay yay yay!” Marshtomp cheered
“Finally, the chance to meet other trainers’ pokémon.” Charizard said.
Alakazam looked at Tracy. Nice to meet you. He said telepathically.
Tracy seemed to flinch with surprise. “N-nice to meet you too.” He said, feeling awkward.
“So, what kind of Pokémon do you have?” Blaziken asked, looking at me in the gesture to translate.
“Blaziken wants to know what kind of Pokémon you have.” I told Tracy, who evidently chose then to release a couple of his Pokémon.
One of the Pokémon was kinda like a small blue ball with ears. It had a zigzagging tail with a bit of a smaller ball at the end. Just looking at it screamed “cute and cuddly,” and the Pokémon was known as Marill. The second Pokémon was bipedal, which was surprising for a bug type Pokémon, a light green coloring, this one had blades where the arms and hands (or claws) would be. Behind, was where the Abdomen was located; the look on it’s face looked fierce, ready to attack at an instant’s notice; I recalled that Pokémon as Scyther.
Tracy introduced his Pokémon to me out of courtesy, and I just said my Pokemon’s names because something formal… would take too long.
“Hiya.” Marill said cheerfully.
Scyther just nodded towards me, apparently figuring that humans can’t understand Pokémon.
“Hmm…” I observed, “not very talkative, are ya?” Scyther just rolled it’s eyes.
“Nah, he doesn’t really think there’s a point.” Marill said, with the tone that displayed “MOTORMOUTH” overhead in my mind. “Scyther can’t do sign language, like some other Pokémon, he usually prefers to speak when he knows he can lead some understanding to Tracy and the professor. Sometimes I wish I could talk to Tracy though, because he always gives me food that’s either too sweet or too salty. I usually like my foods with a good enough balance because while I can eat it up happily, I would have to snack on something else, just to satisfy my little taste need. Also…..” As Marill was talking, it was rolling all over the place, oblivious to what it bumped into. “Scyther also kept muttering how his taste wasn’t exactly sour or spicy enough. Perhaps Tracy aughta make a similar balance with sour and spicy.”
Suddenly, Scyther bonked Marill on the head with the flat of it’s blade. “Marill, you DO realize you’re talking pointlessly to a HUMAN; and second, I said the food was not spicy enough, and perhaps a little too sour. Though unlike you, I can put up with what I’m given. Now seriously, give it—“
Tracy stepped in between them, and Scyther was grumbling about how Marill talked too much, and that he was irritating the guest.
Marshtomp managed to climb up on my shoulders. “Wow, I never thought they would argue about food taste.” He commented, “That Marill character loves to talk, though. It’s funny when someone tries to shut him up, with little luck.”
I guess I had to admit, he’s right, it IS kinda funny that someone fails to quiet a motor mouth. “No kidding, huh?” I said, and we both laughed for a moment. I then looked at Tracy, who was looking at me funny (yes, ANOTHER person looking at me like that).
I decided to translate to him in the cliffnotes version.
“Marill says that it wishes you guys could understand Pokémon talk,” I explained, “because on regards to food, it winds up getting something either too sweet or too salty, and wants a balance between the two tastes. Scyther got on Marill’s case for a mistake in remembering Scyther’s taste, which is preferrably more on spicy than sour.” I then thought about it for a moment, then it hit me. “Wait a minute, you make the Pokemon’s food?”
“Uhhh.” Oops, too much to take in for him. He paused for a few seconds. “Yeah, I make the Pokemon’s food, though I never knew they wanted a different taste.” Something occurred to him. “Hold on… you actually knew what they said!?”
There was a silent pause, then Marshtomp suddenly started to laugh. When I looked over at Marill and Scyther and found why. Marill went quiet, and was staring at me in curiosity (or wonder, hard to tell with that little cute face). Scyther looked bewildered, grey eyes very wide, the kind of look that would be someone saying “What the hell!?”
“You…actually understand what I’m saying?” Scyther said, still with that look on his face.
“Yeah.” I said simply.
“I’ve heard word that there was a human who could understand Pokémon.” Scyther stated, “I already figured that Tracy and the Prof. aren’t the ones… I didn’t expect you’d be that person, though.”
I shrugged and rolled my eyes, “No one expects a human kid to have big things. But somehow I’ve been given this little ‘ability’, and rumor about me is spreading like wildfire.”
Tracy was confused at what was going on, and I’ve explained to him that since my ability to understand Pokémon was known, quite a lot of Pokémon have been hearing about it. It was almost as if they had a Pokémon news network, and I became headline news (sound absurd? Hey, it might actually explain this ability somehow being known to so many).
“Psst.” Marshtomp hissed at me, in the gesture of grabbing my attention. "Blaziken’s been wondering about having a sparring match with you to pass the time.”
I then realized, everyone was still here. I then let everyone go explore… even though only Charizard and Marshtomp actually left. Alakazam decided to hang around and referee the upcoming martial arts match between Blaziken and I. Then I found the Professor walking towards us.
“Tracy, you gonna tell him?” Scyther, who stuck around, elected to ask.
Tracy looked at me and I relayed the message, he nodded quickly. But when the Professor approached, we didn’t say anything because we found a look on his face that said “Something’s wrong.” Now I started to wonder now: is there going to be ANYTHING that’s actually going to be casual in a couple of days, because this serious attitude every day is starting to get on my nerves…

Chapter 14: Resemblance

“Professor,” I said, “what’d the results say?”
Oak hesitated, and he seemed to have been upset with having to tell me. “Tracy, Could you excuse us?”
“Sure,” Tracy said nodding, “C’mon Scyther.” But Scyther didn’t move. He just shook his head, then looked back at the professor.
“Scyther?” Oak was curious about Scyther’s behavior. I then looked at Scyther in the eye, and I figured it out, nodding. Tracy still left, and Marril and Marshtomp went with him. Charizard flew off, so Blaziken and Alakazam were the only ones remaining with us.
“Professor,” he said, “There’s so many things I hope to find out about this guy, and I think what you have to say might have something to do with it.” I translated what he said, word for word, afterwards, and Oak figured it was OK. I found Tracy enthralled in a sketchbook, and found he must have been sketching what’s going on… for the sake of remembering what happened.
“You’re familiar with Pokérus, since you were told to take a series of Pokeballs infected with them, Correct?”
I smiled, thinking about that lone straggler that I left in the truck during that mission. I wondered if anyone found it.
“Yeah,” I responded, regaining my poker face.
“Well, I was told there was a new virus similar to Pokérus, except that it’s something that affects humans.”
A Virus that affects humans, similar to Pokérus… I thought, Now I finally find out what it does, and more importantly, if I actually have it.
“According to what I already found, it seems this virus has an extraordinary growth effect on the human body, Superhuman strength and agility, sharpened senses… But it seems to have some side effects that are potentially life threatening… And it seems to only be spread one way, through a Pokémon recently infected with Pokérus in the wild.”
Recently infected Pokémon in the wild? I thought, confused for a minute, how would he know—oh wait, he’s only finishing someone’s research, in finding out what it does… hmm… I’ll bet that this might affect his reputation a bit if this went public from him first.
“What are the side effects; did you manage to find them?”
Oak nodded. “According to it’s code, it seems to cause critical fever-like symptoms for a day. It can sometimes cause the host to be irritable for a time, about a month’s time by my best estimate.”
I thought it over, because if I WAS a superhuman, I’d be more acute in just about everything, I’d be able to lift things I couldn’t usually, and I’d be incredibly flexible. But the side effect is that I would end up in a critical condition for a day… and for about a month, if I lived through the one day of critical condition, I would be in a bit of a bad mood.
“Professor, I got one more question.” I said, letting him nod for me to continue. “I was talking to this Machop one time back at HQ, he told me that those of Pokérus infection give off some scent that only Pokémon can sniff. Does the coding have some kind of scent giving… uhhhh, whachamacallit (wha cha ma call it, first time I ever used that word).”
Scyther snickered, I assumed it was from the confusion of finding a scientific word.
Oak nodded, I then took the fact that he’s already spoke too much on regards of a topic that is just not part of his usual profession. I guess Tracy found now to be appropriate to give my Pokémon a check up, since I found him with a tape measure, and measuring Blaziken’s muscle width and height.
“Wow Eric,” Tracy commented, “Your Pokémon are pretty healthy. What kind of a diet do you give them?”
Blaziken and I looked at each other, then back at Tracy.
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Oak raised an eyebrow, as if to say “Try me.”
“Believe it or not, they eat whatever I eat, and not in that little table scraps portion. No, they get exactly what I eat. I make a steak, I make one for everyone. And I try my best to maintain a good diet.”
Oak raised both his eyebrow, with a sign of interest. “No wonder your Pokémon look so healthy. So they don’t eat any of the Pokémon food?”
This aughta be a kicker I thought as I said “Actually, generic Pokémon food to most, is actually considered a snack to my partners.”

Just as I was gonna get another question, I heard someone calling “Professor, Professor!”
I looked around, and I found a Bulbasaur (looks like SOME kind of weird looking lizard with a bulb of a flower on it’s back) hustling it towards us. It seemed to be pretty panicked.
“Professor! Team Rocket’s at it again!” Bulbasaur cried, “They’re being held up by Muk, but they’re gonna get away!” It was pointing towards the woods all the time he was shouting.
I crouched over and met Bulbasaur eye to eye. “Bulbasaur, Would you happen to know any important features that can help me find who they are?”
“Umm.” Bulbasaur hesitated, then he spotted Alakazam. “They’re that same pair that come every time. One is a guy with weird blue hair, and the other is a lady with yellow hair.”
I found myself with a potentially amusing irritated face, eyes and mouth were all a straight line, and I was starting to twitch…
“Those two….” I muttered.
“You know them?” Bulbasaur inquired.
To it’s surprise, I stood up and said “Yeah, I know them, and the rest of Team Rocket find them as absolute jokes, second to Jessie and James in the losers department.”
I looked at everyone else who were gazing expectantly.
“Stay here, My partners and I got this covered.” I told them, and we followed Bulbasaur, who was running towards the woods.
“Hey, you seemed to be able to understand me, are they true?” Bulbasaur asked.
I started to get irritated with hearing that question. “Yes, they are, now how far are we?”
We stopped near a think brush, and I instinctively crouched down and hid…
“What’s dat Claid kid doin with the old professor?” the blue haired man, named “Butch” (people mistake his name loads of times, so think butcher without the “er”) was saying.
“I’m not sure, but we gotta radio this to the Boss.” Ms. Yellow hair, named Cassidy, replied. “That little grunt kid shouldn’t be out from base unsupervised.” After saying so, they pulled out a small laptop which was meant for video calls only. The numbers for a telephone on the right (nice and big so that it’s convenient not to make a mistake dialing a number), while there were arrow keys on the left, supposedly meant for navigating a contacts list.
They began dialing the number, slowly so that they don’t make a mistake (sad, isn’t it), and then I decided to be known then.
“Hold it!” I declared. “What in THE world are YOU two doing here!?
Both of them jumped and whirled around. I found them just hitting the button to begin calling. And I glared at them as the call was going through.
They stood up, as if imposing their height at me… I briefly looked down and saw that the call was answered by the Boss himself, but I could tell he kept quiet to watch… So, I guess it’s not ALWAYS professional with the boss.
“Grunts Cassidy and Butch.” I said, acting professional, “Would you care to explain what you happen to be doing away from base? I don’t recall seeing you two as freelancers.”
“Tch, an’ What’s a kid like you gonna do about it?” Butch said, plenty smug,” You’re still a grunt like us, and you can’t win a—“
I cut in, “fistfight?” Now, I was gonna be foul, “you must have been out of the loop, bitch, because one, I was promoted recently; two, I know martial arts; and three…” I tried not to laugh, but my big grin probably was enough. “And three, the Boss was listening to every word that was said just now…”
The two idiots made another one-eighty towards the video phone laptop, and I swear they literally went white. Sweat was running down the backs of their heads, the skin on them was ghostly pale. DAMN I wish I had my camera, this was beyond priceless. In fact, it was SO priceless that I was starting to twitch JUST to prevent from laughing. Giovanni promptly explained that I was promoted for the uprooting mission in Celadon, especially when something about it went seriously wrong.
“Since you insulted an administrator openly, I decide it be appropriate for him to show some discipline to you two.” Giovanni said, “Good day.” The computer went blank, indicating he ended the call. Blaziken and Alakazam, who were hidden with Bulbasaur, decided to make themselves known…
Despite them being dull witted, they know full well about me in a Pokémon battle, and they began booking it the opposite direction.

Without needing my say-so, Blaziken gave chase after them. Alakazam looked like he was trying to figure something out. But when Blaziken stepped a few feet away, Alakazam teleported out of nowhere and Warped Blaziken backwards before something purple shot up in a vertical line, walled around us. Cassidy and Butch suddenly stopped, and they began walking back at us. It was when they came close that I found that they were under hypnosis. The cause for this was the Pokémon Drowzee walking in between. Though when I looked at it up close, I found it to be very different than your average Drowzee, and it definitely wasn’t what collectors called a “Shiner,” or a differently colored Pokémon that give off a small sparkle as they are released from their Pokeball. While Drowzee’s original color was a mustard yellow, the bottom part was brown, as if it sat in some mud bath, and never got rid of the brown. This Drowzee had more of a purple top with a dark blood red for the brown. What’s more, is that it’s eyes were a bright red and I get this feeling that it’s giving me this evil smile. In fact, I looked at it straight in the eye, and I found something murderous about it… it was as if I had a tombstone with my name on it.
Blaziken and Alakazam stood still. I heard footsteps slow down, I looked behind me, and I found Tracy and the
Professor running, except they were frozen in midstep. Everything then felt like it was one big videotape, and the viewer pressed the pause button on everything but the Drowzee and I.
“Hello Eric Claid…” Drowzee said.
“Who are you, and how the hell do you know me?”
Drowzee poked it’s head, indicating thought, and when I heard the footsteps resume, everything else was moving, but it was me and Drowzy that stood paused. I heard beating on something, and Tracy trying to grab my attention. Alakazam and Blaziken tried to speak to me, but they felt distant. Drowzee started to snicker, and everyone suddenly went quiet.
“I’ve been wondering how a kid like you has so much power from that birdbrain.” Drowzee said vocally, Tracy and Oak were dumbfounded when I looked back briefly.
“It can talk!?” Tracy said, from what I can make out, since the voice was muffled.
“Yes, Boy, I can talk human.” Drowzee said arrogantly, “But to Eric Claid, he won’t be able to tell he difference, won’t he?”
I remained silent. OK, so this strange Pokemon knew as well… but I still had no idea what it was talking about.
“I’ve been waiting for centuries to find a host to copy, and I had high expectations for that host because I would copy everything they had.” Drowzee said, “I could take over, I could improve, and I could be a whole lot different with whatever you are.”
I had a bad feeling something was gonna happen, and I stepped back because of it. “What is that supposed to mean, what about me?”
The red color turned into a brown, the weird colors from the Drowzeee lifted, and above it’s head… was some black… thing.
I took another step back, starting to lose my sense of bravery, I clenched my teeth and found my eyes wide to prevent me from running. The shadowy coloring was draining from Drowzee, and once the… Whatever it was… was completely out of the Pokémon, the Drowzee collapsed. Cassidy and Butch were back to their normal selves, and they too were staring at the black glob. I heard two footsteps behind me, and I figured Tracy and the professor stepped back like I did.
The black glob flashed purple a couple of times, Blaziken and Alakazam were fearfully frozen in place. I started backing away, and I was scared witless. Too many thoughts ran through my head, and I felt like I was going crazy.
Wha—what is this thing!? I thought panicked, briefly looking at the Drowzee laying facedown on the ground, Am I going to die; is this thing gonna kill me once it's done with this copying thing?? No… I don wanna die… I DON’T WANNA DIE!!
Then it moved, faster than I could see it, and it hit me. I felt a cold wave slither through me, in my chest, down my spine, even through my beating heart, everywhere felt frozen cold for a second. Then everything went black, I was cold and blind. Then I couldn’t feel the ground. Though I felt like I was thrashing. Shit, I felt like I was going to DIE!!
NOOOOOOO!! I didn’t have anything else to say as I tried to remain conscious. I felt like I was trying to beat something away, and I was losing. What are you doing to me!? NO!! NO!! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!!!
I was losing it, and now I started to hear something in my head, something eerily familiar.
Hehehehehe, now your very being. Shall no longer be unique to you… it said…with MY VOICE! [/i]…in a way, you can think of me, from here on, as your dark side…[/i] it started to laugh… it was laughing as if it gone mad. I felt like I was in a cold dark room, unable to truly move, unable to--- no, no….. I won’t--…
I was cold, I was afraid, and I was confused… I suddenly thought of Shadow Pokémon, I dunno why, perhaps it’s the dark. Shadow Pokémon were pokémon who were sealed off of sentimental emotions, by artificial means, to become obedient fighting machines. Ever since the two Shadow Incidents in the Orre Region, Shadow Pokémon have been seen as illegal.
Wait a minute, “Shadow Pokemon”… no…. Not me. Not ME!
“NOOOOOOOO!!!”

Suddenly everything became orange bright. I felt my chest feel fiery. I looked down, and I found my pendant flaring bright. The cold was stripped away from me, I could feel, I could see.
I felt alive again… and my heart was beating at super speed. I felt different; I felt like I was on fire, only it was like this fire felt like a weapon… I felt like I could do anything.
I felt my feet touch the ground, I stepped backwards to maintain balance. My vision cleared, and I actually found my vision to be a lot sharper. I found Cassidy and Butch looking at me in awe, I found that Butch was sweating in the upper eyebrow, then under his eye just right of his nose, and….. eww, I found yellow crust on his teeth. It wasn’t very much, the rest of it was white… but he needs to floss more.
I felt a movement behind me, I whirled around and found a punch being thrown at me. I blocked it with my right wrist, and found that my hand was reddened at the joint between hand and wrist. A left hook swung, blocked it with back of right hand, it moved around, stopped with left hand, palm faced my face, glowed. “Hah!” a voice shouted, I grabbed the opposing wrist, turned, and threw the owner of the hand and wrist forward. Cassidy and Butch jumped away impulsively as the body slammed into a tree, knocking a few apples off. The body was black, perhaps shadowy, I couldn’t make out the face, even with this enhanced vision, it was as if it wasn’t even there. Suddenly, emerald colored eyes that look like mine became visible, until they became colored red. I clenched my fists, and I felt my very knuckles become a lethal weapon.
The enemy suddenly went from upside down, to standing on it’s….. “his”…. Feet.
“heeh hehehehehe, Good form, good display of stamina, and a good, strong mind.” He said, “I can’t wait to see what other power you can show me in the future…” he laughed as he disappeared into thin air.
I stepped forward in some impulse to chase, but stopped short at what he said.
“other… power?” I quoted, in curiosity.
I looked around, I guess Cassidy and Butch have run off; but looking behind me, Blaziken, Alakazam, Bulabasaur, and Professor Oak were looking at me; Tracy was scribbling in his sketchbook, and the area was quiet for a good sixty seconds.
“Eric!” I heard someone call from a distance, I looked up to the left towards the sound. It was Charizard coming to the ground, with Marshtomp on top.
“Team Rocket was at it again?” Charizard said, “well lemme at—Whoa. What happened to your hair?”
I patted my head, and on the front, it wasn’t any different: sloppy, and fuzzy except for a pair of points, like hair gelled into something solid, in a thin "V". When I patted towards the back, it felt smoother, like silky smooth, yet sturdy. I slid my hand down the hairline and stopped at a small…spiked area. I felt around that spiked area to find my hair split into two blades of sorts.
Then it occurred to me… that my hair was exactly like Blaziken’s head (all but the face, of course).
I then found my eyes falling towards that sketchbook Tracy was drawing on. Alakazam caught my attention, and I then agree to “Swap view” with him. We locked eyes, and after a sudden rush, I was then looking at myself through Alakazam’s eyes. I saw my jaw drop, into a look that says “Wow, this is TOO COOL!!” I started from the top down. My ordinarily silver black hair was turned a fiery orange, and just as I felt, the back of it looked like Blaziken’s… and I found the V-shaped front (usually over Blaziken’s eyes) on the front of my somewhat messy hair. My eyes were still their emerald green color, except that the pupils were slitted, like a beast’s eyes. I found that my fists were slightly reddened, and they didn't look like something… I dunno, melted I guess.
Eric, Clench your fists as if you were to throw a punch Alakazam told me, when Tracy and Oak looked down at my hands, which told me it was openly spoken. I clenched them as instructed, and as I squeezed a little stiffer, I found my hands glowing orange. I found myself squeezing tight enough for a human hand to start hurting, yet for some reason, it didn’t feel like I was clenching that hard, suddenly my hand erupted in flames. I found myself wide-eyed as I found I couldn’t move my hands due to psychic resistance, I tried to move them.
Eric, Relax, it’s not hurting you. Alakazam tried to reassure me, I didn’t listen; because… well, shit, because my HANDS WERE ON FIRE!!
Blaziken clenched his fists, and his wrists burst into fire. He then put the flaming wrists in between us, and the fire disappeared with his arm unscathed.
“Eric, it’s only for protection. Unclench your fists, and the fire should go away.” He instructed me. I did what I was told, and like he said, it disappeared.
My view returned to my own eyes. I looked again at Tracy’s Sketchbook, then I decided.
“Hey Tracy, can I see what you drew?” I asked him, he nodded as he handed me the sketch book. It was a headshot of me with my new look, and I found he did a closeup on my eye near the bottom of the page. Of course, being a sketchbook, everything was done in pencil drawings… though the shadowing was so full of depth, I was impressed.
“Wow.” I couldn’t say much about it, I was clearly impressed with such quality in the picture, I even dragged out the word to emphasize it. “Is it okay with you if I could have a copy of this as a souvenir?”
“Sure thing,” Tracy said proudly, and we all elected to return to the laboratory. Oak and I were walking somewhat casually towards the lab. When Oak was muttering things to himself about what happened, I still found myself thinking about what that dark being said before he left.

”Good form, good display of stamina, and a good, strong mind….. I can’t wait to see what other power you can show me in the future…”

I looked down at the healthy green grass as I thought over what he said. He said he couldn’t wait to see what “other power” I could show him in the future… but, what does he mean by “Other Power”? Does it mean that I have other unusual abilities deep down that I haven’t experienced yet? If that’s the case, how will they be shown; what might cause it to reveal itself?

Too many questions were swimming through my head, especially when that dark being looked a LOT like my shadow. I told the professor that letting the public know about what happened is up to him, but whatever he does mention me as “Pheonix” and not by my real name. He nodded, and I figured he would easily understand why, knowing my current reputation.
“Personally, I wouldn’t find any real need to want to show this to the public.” He said, “But if people ask about it, then I don’t think it’s wise to explain.”
“Okay.” Well, goes to show the prof. is just like any other scientist. You must have substantial evidence of your alleged discovery before it is confirmed as official. I actually admired Oak for that reason, because while he’s considered genius in his field of Pokémon research (along with creating the Pokédex), he’s never arrogant or the kind of person to take so much pride in his achievements. I sometimes try to be that kind of a person, but as it turns out, I have a competitive streak about me, and I strive to win without really considering losing… not for an instant.
“Eric,” Tracy said, handing me the copy of the sketch that I requested. I thanked him, and then he asked me if I could help him out with something.
“A lot of the Pokemon have been giving me a bit of a tough time when I give them lunch.” He explained. “When they eat, it’s with a bit of unwillingness. I get the feeling it’s the flavoring of the food. Could you help me find out what’s wrong?”
I thought it over, and I figured… I think this kind of help might help calm everything down… I’ve probably figured that they’ve had enough stress for one day. Making up my mind, I agreed to help him out with his problem. After all, it’s definitely not a good thing to worry all the time… right?