This is insane! thought Dean as he hid underneath the massive building. We’re outnumbered at least twenty to one, our abilities haven’t been fully developed, and our partners haven’t been properly trained. He leaned against the wall of the cavern. Insanity. Steph is stepping completely out of line here.
Eric patted Dean on the shoulder. “She isn’t. You worry too much.” He sat across the small tunnel from Dean. “Everything will be fine. They don’t know we’re here, we know their strength. They can’t run too far.” He rested an arm on one of his knees, relaxing for a moment.
My defenses again? I thought I had that problem fixed!
“You did. You’re just not focusing enough. Don’t worry,” Eric said as he motioned towards the line behind the pair. “They can’t hear anything going on up there. Just keep it bottled for now. You know what needs to be done. However, they might need some reassurance.” With that, Eric stood and headed towards the line. Young people. None of them older than fifteen. Mostly male, they all wore identical black uniforms. They were mostly shifting their weight, nervous about the upcoming battle and what it might mean for their lives afterwards.
Dean stood in the cramped corridor. His voice echoed through the cave as he began to speak. “Listen up, men! This will be a firefight! Some of you will not make it to the top. Others will give up, or run away scared. If you are scared, if you don’t want to take part in this, say so now, or finish what you start!” Dean looked down the corridor, searching the faces he saw. All eyes were on him. Not a movement from the front to the back of the line. Everybody was tense. Everybody was waiting for what was to come. Dean felt that he had given enough time for anybody to back out. “Excellent! For those of you who DO manage to make it to the top, you will get first crack as our target! This is your reward!” Dean turned away from his team and looked to the ceiling, the entry point to the building he had to infiltrate. “At this moment, we are dead men. We fight to reclaim our lives.” The intonation, so sacred to everything that Dean and everybody in Team Sprocket stood for, boomed throughout the cave, as each and every member of the team recited it to themselves. Dean turned back to his team, finishing the ritual. “Gentlemen. This is your final chance. Either make them see the underworld with their own eyes, or visit there yourselves. Either way is a victory for our side!” Dean sat amidst a wealth of cheers, and began to think to himself once again.
Dean looked at his phone once again, waiting for the signal from Flame and Wolf to begin the assault. He spoke to the small figure on his head. I’m really not liking this situation.
But, you love her, don’t you?
Yes, with all my heart. Everything that I am, I’m prepared to give to her. I’ve felt like that for a long time. You know this, yet you keep bringing it up.
The figure shrugged. Jealousy, I guess. Emotions are so difficult to gauge sometimes.
Dean picked the figure off his head and started stroking it. You know that I couldn’t do anything without you. I need you, as much as I need her.
The figure shrugged. Yes, I just wish that you could use one person to fulfill both desires.
That was impossible the moment I met her. He looked down at the ground, trying to collect himself. I don’t know what…
His phone beeped, and everybody in line began to tense. No time for this now. Gotta be strong. Dean stood erect. “It’s time for this to begin. Let’s do this!” He picked up the axe next to him, and started swiping at the roof above him. In mere moments, it cracked, revealing a bright light. Dean scurried through it, straight into ****.
Lightning crackled above his head the instant he stepped through the hole. Then fire. Then a rush of water. Leaves as sharp as knives. A desk. A chair. Some needle points. “They know we’re here, prepare for battle!” He reached for one of the balls on his waist and hurled it forward, revealing a creature. The people in the line behind him did likewise.
“Ralts, Totodile! Let’s take out as many of these guys as we can!” He picked up the axe and charged the closest figure to him, as a potted plant shot from behind him over his head and a stream of water shot underneath his arm. The first figure was incapacitated almost instantly, while Dean gave the finishing blow.
Then the next.
And the next.
Chaos all around him, all Dean could think about was attacking, making his way to the stairs. He beckoned as many people as would follow him to come, and he climbed. He started with over a hundred subordinates. He guessed that only about fifty made it to the first flight of stairs. This is madness!
Going to turn back?
Dean reached the top of the first flight of stairs, only to meet two lines of people in the lobby. He clenched his axe, his two best friends, comrades for the longest time, perched on his shoulders. “NEVER!” Dean charged the crowd, dispatching several of them plus their Pokemon with the first swing of his axe.
A shout came from behind him. “Dean, down!” Dean ducked as a flurry of leaves passed over his head, taking out yet another henchman. He paused, eyes locked on to Dean’s. His hands were raised over his head, wielding a metal baseball bat. Anything they can get their hands on, I guess. Dean looked back. “Thanks, Eric!”
“Don’t thank me yet, let’s just get through this!” came the hurried reply, as well as another grunt as a sword found another victim.
Dean nodded, and continued his relentless pursuit of the stairs before him, taking out any and all resistance that he found before him. Now, only a quarter of his initial force made it to the next floor. However, Dean was becoming more and more confident that he would make it to the top and fulfill his duty. More and more, he had become in tune with the room, the area, the building. It made him stronger, faster. More lethal.
The third floor. Another two rows of henchmen. Much tougher this time. All evolved Pokemon. The only unevolved Pokemon were the ones that could not evolve. It didn’t matter to Dean. Nor did it matter to Eric. They took out everybody in the floor, only losing a couple of their subordinates.
The fourth. The number of henchmen was down, but they were much more difficult than the floors before this one. All Pokemon were fully evolved. It didn’t matter what their highest stage was. They could not evolve any further than they had already been evolved. Strong as anything Dean had ever come up against. Didn’t matter, though. Within minutes, Dean had cleared the floor completely. Pokemon and humans alike passed out on the floor, unable to move, or even speak.
The fifth floor. Dean was starting to breathe hard now. However, he knew he still had much more in the tank. This floor was full of Gym Leader Apprentices, all of whom were working for the Organization. Even with unevolved Pokemon, they were still as tough as a Trainer could come across. Not only that, but the Trainers themselves would present a difficult challenge. They were much bigger and stronger than the henchmen Dean had dispatched on earlier floors. They were better armed, too.
Ralts and Totodile continued their complete dominance of anything Pokemon, while Dean, axe stained crimson, launched himself towards the Apprentices. Yes. Much stronger. Definitely worthy opponents.
Watch yourself. You’re starting to think like him. The voice in his head was very strong this time.
You can protect me, right? If I remember correctly, the closer we become, the easier it is to keep him from surfacing. Dean slashed another Apprentice, leaping out of the way before he was sprayed by the body he had left.
Ralts looked back over her shoulder after easily dispatching something with a bulb on its back. Yes, but I can only help for so long.
Dean looked around the room, knowing this was the floor he was looking for. Yet another body crumpled before him as he searched for something. Something that would help bring him salvation.
The room had long been cleared. Dean still searched. Eric came over to him. “Dean, what are you looking for?” He put a hand on Dean’s shoulder.
Dean shrugged him off. “When they built this building, they also created secret passageways that would lead to other parts of the building. It’s been said that the secret passage to the top floor lies somewhere on this floor.” Dean continued searching, tapping on walls, pressing every button and flipping every switch he could think of, until he came upon a floor tile that was distinctly different from the rest of them.
It was hidden in a long, narrow corridor that had very little light. Unlike the rest of the floor tiles, which were a nondescript grey color, this particular one was white with a purple diamond in the middle. “This is it,” Dean breathed. He then looked around him, searching for the rest of the task force that had come in with him and Eric. None of them were around. “What happened to the rest of them?”
Eric shook his head. “They weren’t strong enough.”
Dean punched his best friend. “Wrong choice of words. Do you really want him to come back out? I certainly don’t.”
Eric clutched his shoulder, stinging from the hit. “You’re right.” He stood tall, letting go of his arm. “You ready for this?”
Dean smiled. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The pair stepped onto the floor tile together, and found themselves standing in front of a door. Eric checked a device on his wrist, and nodded. Dean motioned to turn the doorknob, but noticed the bolt sticking through the middle of the double doors. He turned to Eric, motioning to his shoulder. Eric nodded. They stood, shoulder to shoulder, about ten feet from the door. Three… Dean tensed, knowing the amount of pain that he was about to go through. Two… Eric slapped his shoulder softly, knowing what was about to come. One… The pair couldn’t wait for their combined signal to go, feeding off the other’s adrenaline, leeching. The two prepared for the worst. GO!
They charged the door, breaking it down.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. So kind of you to drop in.” A deep, gruff male voice met the pair on the other side of the door, though it seemed to come from nobody. A single desk, a single oversized leather chair with its back turned to the door.
Dean summoned his strength. “Giovanni, this is your last stand. You will fall here, and Team Rocket will be disbanded.” Dean continued to heave his breaths. Ralts and Totodile by his side, waiting for the command.
Laughter. “You fools. Do you really think that you can take me down so easily?” The chair began to turn. “I’ve had your group scouted for months now. I know everything that you’ve been planning, everything that you are. Your hearts, souls, dreams, passions, all knowledge and information that I can use against you.” The chair finished its turn to face the pair.
Dean and Eric dropped their respective weapons, their companions completely unable to move.
Stephanie sat in the chair of the Team Rocket boss, smiling. “What, did you really think that Team Sprocket was anything more than a dummy operation?” She laughed. “I’ve been playing all of you for years! Giovanni doesn’t exist anymore! He’s gone into hiding. Some kid named Ash beat him completely. I’ve had this organization under my grip for at least three years. However, I needed a way to shed my former life.”
Eric shuddered, dropping to his knees. Dean couldn’t move. “Former life?”
“Yes. Flame, my arranged fiancé. Wolf, my best friend. Dean, my first love. Eric, his best friend. All of you needed to be eliminated in order for my ambitions to come true.” She put a hand on the table. A red ball grew instantly underneath her hand, opening to reveal one of the deadliest and most detestable creatures in the world. Black as night, with claws razor sharp and a single feather, Sneasel was a foe to be reckoned with. “Slash, take Eric first.” Before Eric even had the chance to take a breath, Slash was on top of him. In a second, his head hit the floor.
In another, his body followed.
Blood sprayed from the fallen corpse, splashing Dean a gleaming red. Slash, of course, was fast enough that it got out of the way of the spray.
Stephanie turned towards Dean, and the two stared at the other. “Why…?” Dean breathed.
Stephanie huffed and flipped her long hair. “I detest repeating myself, Dean.” She looked at him again, burning a hole in his eyes with her intensity. “Join me. I do not want to kill you. As I said, I love you. I always have. I always will. I will also not allow anybody to spoil my ambitions.” She clasped her hands, elbows on her desk, and rested her head on her hands. “What do you think?”
Dean collapsed on the floor. “You’re insane.”
Stephanie stood from her chair and walked over to Dean, taking his chin in her hands. She stared into his eyes for a brief moment, then brought her lips towards his.
Dean caught himself in a deep embrace. no… His pathetic thoughts could not even be heard amongst the raw emotion that had filled the room. No. Stronger this time, but still not enough to dent the thought and the emotions. NO. Stephanie flinched slightly, but continued her embrace as if nothing had happened. GET AWAY FROM ME! Dean could feel himself tapping his center, his core of emotion, the source of his abilities, and the greatest curse he could cast upon himself. The power of this core exploded from his skin, sending Stephanie reeling for a few steps.
When she looked up, Dean was standing. “You… Are not Stephanie.” He looked towards her, fire in his eyes, raw emotion flooding his system. “I will… Get my… Steph… Back…”
Laughter, this time more controlled than before. “In your condition? Please. You wouldn’t stand three seconds like that.”
Dean walked towards her. “I don’t have to.” He turned towards the wall. “Totodile, Water Gun! Ralts, Barrier!” The wall exploded, and Dean and his partners flew through the hole they had created.
Stephanie simply stood, stunned, unable to move. She tossed her hair. That Dean. Always trying to impress me. It won’t work this time. She turned and sat back down at her desk, and contemplated her future.
Dean could feel Stephanie’s thoughts as he used Ralts’ ability to fly away. “Not impress. Not this time,” he whispered to himself. “I need time. Time to improve myself. Time to improve my abilities, and those of my partner.” He looked down, only to find helicopter wreckage at the base of the tower he had just escaped from. He knew, without even needing to check, that there would be corpses in the wreckage. Two of those corpses were Wolf and Flame. He looked back to the hole he had just escaped from. “Goodbye, Stephanie” He turned his back upon the massive tower, the Team Rocket Headquarters, more commonly known as the Silph Corporation, and allowed Ralts to determine the direction they would travel. The wind, the earth, the sky, all seemed to work as one, as the trio of companions traveled until they disappeared from sight of the building that had housed so much pain and suffering.
Eric patted Dean on the shoulder. “She isn’t. You worry too much.” He sat across the small tunnel from Dean. “Everything will be fine. They don’t know we’re here, we know their strength. They can’t run too far.” He rested an arm on one of his knees, relaxing for a moment.
My defenses again? I thought I had that problem fixed!
“You did. You’re just not focusing enough. Don’t worry,” Eric said as he motioned towards the line behind the pair. “They can’t hear anything going on up there. Just keep it bottled for now. You know what needs to be done. However, they might need some reassurance.” With that, Eric stood and headed towards the line. Young people. None of them older than fifteen. Mostly male, they all wore identical black uniforms. They were mostly shifting their weight, nervous about the upcoming battle and what it might mean for their lives afterwards.
Dean stood in the cramped corridor. His voice echoed through the cave as he began to speak. “Listen up, men! This will be a firefight! Some of you will not make it to the top. Others will give up, or run away scared. If you are scared, if you don’t want to take part in this, say so now, or finish what you start!” Dean looked down the corridor, searching the faces he saw. All eyes were on him. Not a movement from the front to the back of the line. Everybody was tense. Everybody was waiting for what was to come. Dean felt that he had given enough time for anybody to back out. “Excellent! For those of you who DO manage to make it to the top, you will get first crack as our target! This is your reward!” Dean turned away from his team and looked to the ceiling, the entry point to the building he had to infiltrate. “At this moment, we are dead men. We fight to reclaim our lives.” The intonation, so sacred to everything that Dean and everybody in Team Sprocket stood for, boomed throughout the cave, as each and every member of the team recited it to themselves. Dean turned back to his team, finishing the ritual. “Gentlemen. This is your final chance. Either make them see the underworld with their own eyes, or visit there yourselves. Either way is a victory for our side!” Dean sat amidst a wealth of cheers, and began to think to himself once again.
Dean looked at his phone once again, waiting for the signal from Flame and Wolf to begin the assault. He spoke to the small figure on his head. I’m really not liking this situation.
But, you love her, don’t you?
Yes, with all my heart. Everything that I am, I’m prepared to give to her. I’ve felt like that for a long time. You know this, yet you keep bringing it up.
The figure shrugged. Jealousy, I guess. Emotions are so difficult to gauge sometimes.
Dean picked the figure off his head and started stroking it. You know that I couldn’t do anything without you. I need you, as much as I need her.
The figure shrugged. Yes, I just wish that you could use one person to fulfill both desires.
That was impossible the moment I met her. He looked down at the ground, trying to collect himself. I don’t know what…
His phone beeped, and everybody in line began to tense. No time for this now. Gotta be strong. Dean stood erect. “It’s time for this to begin. Let’s do this!” He picked up the axe next to him, and started swiping at the roof above him. In mere moments, it cracked, revealing a bright light. Dean scurried through it, straight into ****.
Lightning crackled above his head the instant he stepped through the hole. Then fire. Then a rush of water. Leaves as sharp as knives. A desk. A chair. Some needle points. “They know we’re here, prepare for battle!” He reached for one of the balls on his waist and hurled it forward, revealing a creature. The people in the line behind him did likewise.
“Ralts, Totodile! Let’s take out as many of these guys as we can!” He picked up the axe and charged the closest figure to him, as a potted plant shot from behind him over his head and a stream of water shot underneath his arm. The first figure was incapacitated almost instantly, while Dean gave the finishing blow.
Then the next.
And the next.
Chaos all around him, all Dean could think about was attacking, making his way to the stairs. He beckoned as many people as would follow him to come, and he climbed. He started with over a hundred subordinates. He guessed that only about fifty made it to the first flight of stairs. This is madness!
Going to turn back?
Dean reached the top of the first flight of stairs, only to meet two lines of people in the lobby. He clenched his axe, his two best friends, comrades for the longest time, perched on his shoulders. “NEVER!” Dean charged the crowd, dispatching several of them plus their Pokemon with the first swing of his axe.
A shout came from behind him. “Dean, down!” Dean ducked as a flurry of leaves passed over his head, taking out yet another henchman. He paused, eyes locked on to Dean’s. His hands were raised over his head, wielding a metal baseball bat. Anything they can get their hands on, I guess. Dean looked back. “Thanks, Eric!”
“Don’t thank me yet, let’s just get through this!” came the hurried reply, as well as another grunt as a sword found another victim.
Dean nodded, and continued his relentless pursuit of the stairs before him, taking out any and all resistance that he found before him. Now, only a quarter of his initial force made it to the next floor. However, Dean was becoming more and more confident that he would make it to the top and fulfill his duty. More and more, he had become in tune with the room, the area, the building. It made him stronger, faster. More lethal.
The third floor. Another two rows of henchmen. Much tougher this time. All evolved Pokemon. The only unevolved Pokemon were the ones that could not evolve. It didn’t matter to Dean. Nor did it matter to Eric. They took out everybody in the floor, only losing a couple of their subordinates.
The fourth. The number of henchmen was down, but they were much more difficult than the floors before this one. All Pokemon were fully evolved. It didn’t matter what their highest stage was. They could not evolve any further than they had already been evolved. Strong as anything Dean had ever come up against. Didn’t matter, though. Within minutes, Dean had cleared the floor completely. Pokemon and humans alike passed out on the floor, unable to move, or even speak.
The fifth floor. Dean was starting to breathe hard now. However, he knew he still had much more in the tank. This floor was full of Gym Leader Apprentices, all of whom were working for the Organization. Even with unevolved Pokemon, they were still as tough as a Trainer could come across. Not only that, but the Trainers themselves would present a difficult challenge. They were much bigger and stronger than the henchmen Dean had dispatched on earlier floors. They were better armed, too.
Ralts and Totodile continued their complete dominance of anything Pokemon, while Dean, axe stained crimson, launched himself towards the Apprentices. Yes. Much stronger. Definitely worthy opponents.
Watch yourself. You’re starting to think like him. The voice in his head was very strong this time.
You can protect me, right? If I remember correctly, the closer we become, the easier it is to keep him from surfacing. Dean slashed another Apprentice, leaping out of the way before he was sprayed by the body he had left.
Ralts looked back over her shoulder after easily dispatching something with a bulb on its back. Yes, but I can only help for so long.
Dean looked around the room, knowing this was the floor he was looking for. Yet another body crumpled before him as he searched for something. Something that would help bring him salvation.
The room had long been cleared. Dean still searched. Eric came over to him. “Dean, what are you looking for?” He put a hand on Dean’s shoulder.
Dean shrugged him off. “When they built this building, they also created secret passageways that would lead to other parts of the building. It’s been said that the secret passage to the top floor lies somewhere on this floor.” Dean continued searching, tapping on walls, pressing every button and flipping every switch he could think of, until he came upon a floor tile that was distinctly different from the rest of them.
It was hidden in a long, narrow corridor that had very little light. Unlike the rest of the floor tiles, which were a nondescript grey color, this particular one was white with a purple diamond in the middle. “This is it,” Dean breathed. He then looked around him, searching for the rest of the task force that had come in with him and Eric. None of them were around. “What happened to the rest of them?”
Eric shook his head. “They weren’t strong enough.”
Dean punched his best friend. “Wrong choice of words. Do you really want him to come back out? I certainly don’t.”
Eric clutched his shoulder, stinging from the hit. “You’re right.” He stood tall, letting go of his arm. “You ready for this?”
Dean smiled. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The pair stepped onto the floor tile together, and found themselves standing in front of a door. Eric checked a device on his wrist, and nodded. Dean motioned to turn the doorknob, but noticed the bolt sticking through the middle of the double doors. He turned to Eric, motioning to his shoulder. Eric nodded. They stood, shoulder to shoulder, about ten feet from the door. Three… Dean tensed, knowing the amount of pain that he was about to go through. Two… Eric slapped his shoulder softly, knowing what was about to come. One… The pair couldn’t wait for their combined signal to go, feeding off the other’s adrenaline, leeching. The two prepared for the worst. GO!
They charged the door, breaking it down.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. So kind of you to drop in.” A deep, gruff male voice met the pair on the other side of the door, though it seemed to come from nobody. A single desk, a single oversized leather chair with its back turned to the door.
Dean summoned his strength. “Giovanni, this is your last stand. You will fall here, and Team Rocket will be disbanded.” Dean continued to heave his breaths. Ralts and Totodile by his side, waiting for the command.
Laughter. “You fools. Do you really think that you can take me down so easily?” The chair began to turn. “I’ve had your group scouted for months now. I know everything that you’ve been planning, everything that you are. Your hearts, souls, dreams, passions, all knowledge and information that I can use against you.” The chair finished its turn to face the pair.
Dean and Eric dropped their respective weapons, their companions completely unable to move.
Stephanie sat in the chair of the Team Rocket boss, smiling. “What, did you really think that Team Sprocket was anything more than a dummy operation?” She laughed. “I’ve been playing all of you for years! Giovanni doesn’t exist anymore! He’s gone into hiding. Some kid named Ash beat him completely. I’ve had this organization under my grip for at least three years. However, I needed a way to shed my former life.”
Eric shuddered, dropping to his knees. Dean couldn’t move. “Former life?”
“Yes. Flame, my arranged fiancé. Wolf, my best friend. Dean, my first love. Eric, his best friend. All of you needed to be eliminated in order for my ambitions to come true.” She put a hand on the table. A red ball grew instantly underneath her hand, opening to reveal one of the deadliest and most detestable creatures in the world. Black as night, with claws razor sharp and a single feather, Sneasel was a foe to be reckoned with. “Slash, take Eric first.” Before Eric even had the chance to take a breath, Slash was on top of him. In a second, his head hit the floor.
In another, his body followed.
Blood sprayed from the fallen corpse, splashing Dean a gleaming red. Slash, of course, was fast enough that it got out of the way of the spray.
Stephanie turned towards Dean, and the two stared at the other. “Why…?” Dean breathed.
Stephanie huffed and flipped her long hair. “I detest repeating myself, Dean.” She looked at him again, burning a hole in his eyes with her intensity. “Join me. I do not want to kill you. As I said, I love you. I always have. I always will. I will also not allow anybody to spoil my ambitions.” She clasped her hands, elbows on her desk, and rested her head on her hands. “What do you think?”
Dean collapsed on the floor. “You’re insane.”
Stephanie stood from her chair and walked over to Dean, taking his chin in her hands. She stared into his eyes for a brief moment, then brought her lips towards his.
Dean caught himself in a deep embrace. no… His pathetic thoughts could not even be heard amongst the raw emotion that had filled the room. No. Stronger this time, but still not enough to dent the thought and the emotions. NO. Stephanie flinched slightly, but continued her embrace as if nothing had happened. GET AWAY FROM ME! Dean could feel himself tapping his center, his core of emotion, the source of his abilities, and the greatest curse he could cast upon himself. The power of this core exploded from his skin, sending Stephanie reeling for a few steps.
When she looked up, Dean was standing. “You… Are not Stephanie.” He looked towards her, fire in his eyes, raw emotion flooding his system. “I will… Get my… Steph… Back…”
Laughter, this time more controlled than before. “In your condition? Please. You wouldn’t stand three seconds like that.”
Dean walked towards her. “I don’t have to.” He turned towards the wall. “Totodile, Water Gun! Ralts, Barrier!” The wall exploded, and Dean and his partners flew through the hole they had created.
Stephanie simply stood, stunned, unable to move. She tossed her hair. That Dean. Always trying to impress me. It won’t work this time. She turned and sat back down at her desk, and contemplated her future.
Dean could feel Stephanie’s thoughts as he used Ralts’ ability to fly away. “Not impress. Not this time,” he whispered to himself. “I need time. Time to improve myself. Time to improve my abilities, and those of my partner.” He looked down, only to find helicopter wreckage at the base of the tower he had just escaped from. He knew, without even needing to check, that there would be corpses in the wreckage. Two of those corpses were Wolf and Flame. He looked back to the hole he had just escaped from. “Goodbye, Stephanie” He turned his back upon the massive tower, the Team Rocket Headquarters, more commonly known as the Silph Corporation, and allowed Ralts to determine the direction they would travel. The wind, the earth, the sky, all seemed to work as one, as the trio of companions traveled until they disappeared from sight of the building that had housed so much pain and suffering.