Chapter 165: Team Rocket sunsets

Chapter 165: Team Rocket sunsets

Before going to the league, I had to deposit my newest pokemon at home. I marched into the living room and deposited Gible into Yolandas confused grasp.

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and zeroed in on the new pokemon.

Gib? said my new pokemon, very unsure of what was going on. I straightened and waved a hand at the people and pokemon in the room.

Gible, this is my family. Theyre nice, try not to bite them too much when they annoy you. Family, this is Gible, a pokemon I just rescued and who will be joining my team.

Gible shot me wide eyes while his stubby arms reached for me. My family sensed weakness and approached as one.

No! I clapped my hands as they started to move in. No crowding him! Hes very confused with everything, so! Yolanda is going to take him out to show him around the reserve. Empress will probably get involved if you introduce him to Teddiursa I should imagine. I waggled my raised index finger back and forth. There are not going to be any demands to hug him or pet him.

I pointed at Yolanda. Yolanda, watch out. He nibbles. Keep him away from Cranidos, because you know how that will end. Terra, hes a baby pokemon like you so be nice. Yes, hes a pokemon from another region.

I then knelt down in front of Gible and offered him my hand to grab hold of. Im sorry, but I cant stick around right now, because Lance needs me to help take out some more bad guys.

I locked eyes with Flint. Flint understood that meant I needed things locked down here. The distraction of the new, very rare pokemon would keep all of my family in one place.

Salvadore, you should go get Greta and start documenting this pokemon as it hasnt been seen in this region. Ive already fed him, so dont overfeed him too much.

I frowned and looked around. Every child in the room was twitching as though held back by an invisible restraint. I was proud theyd lasted this long. I decided to give Yolanda a bit of a head start, so I picked her up and moved her towards the doorway while putting Terra in her other hand.

Terra grinned at the new pokemon only to be pecked in the face. It didnt deter Terra from babbling at Gible.

And off you go, I said, nudging Yolanda towards the front door.

Every child still in the lounge room unfroze at the command and sprinted after Yolanda.

Flint stood with a concerned expression. Are you going to be alright?

I nodded, only for Sabrina to step up next to me. Ill look after him, she said.

Flint nodded quickly. Ho, hes in safe hands then! he said, marching off after the rest of my family.

I gave Sabrina an amused look. Mind if I get my pokemon checked over before we head out? I asked.

Sabrina teleported us to the medical bay and Chansey squawked in surprise. When she spotted us, she huffed and made a gimme gesture with her hands.

I deposited my team in a tray, and she started popping them open and looking over them. She sniffed when none of them proved to be injured. It didnt stop her from pushing some pink healing energy into them before nodding and returning to her magazine about gardening.

I stared a little at her, but she ignored me. A moment later Salvadore charged through the medical bay. and Ive never seen this pokemon! It had teeth for days! It could be a rock-dragon or something! Salvadore yelled as he sprinted through the medical bay with Greta and Crystal at his heels.

I hummed. I had to give him points for getting half marks on the dragon-type guess. It was impressive.

Chansey sighed and rolled up her magazine. She slapped it into her hands a few times before nodding and storming off after the trio. I blinked and realised there was a sign behind her that read: No running in the medical room!

Huh, she was about to mete out some justice.

Sabrina teleported us back to the League headquarters, where a number of other trainers were hurrying about. It was now rather early in the evening, but despite that, the League was in full chaos mode.

Men and women bustled about, and trainers ran into each other, only to ignore the impact and carry on. I saw several police escorting what looked like reporters out of the building. It seemed Lance was keeping things close to the chest, or the reporters had gone somewhere they shouldnt have.

I shook it off and ignored the chaos. Instead, I marched towards the central elevator leading up to Lances office. With Sabrina at my side, we cut a swathe through the chaos. People moved around us, not willing to impede us, but I knew many took note of our arrival.

When the doors opened at the top, I was surprised to find Lorelei standing guard. Hes got you doing guard duty? I said, annoyed on her behalf and also annoyed at Lance being petty.

She nodded. At least until a few other G-men arrive, he said. The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

I frowned. Alright, I said with a nod.

I walked in to find Lance locked in a stare-down with Pryce. Sabrina and my arrival caused their attention to shift, and for a moment, I felt their auras wash over me.

I shot them unimpressed looks. Whats going on here?

Pryce sniffed. I have been remiss in making sure that my granddaughter is being treated appropriately it would seem. The current Champion, Pryce said, some sting in his words as he reminded Lance that he, Pryce, had once sat where Lance was, and that Lance could be ousted as well. has apparently not been treating her as he should. I hadnt known, as my dear girl has been stoic about the entire affair, something I must applaud her for given how demanding this situation has been.

Lance worked his jaw. I have merely been setting her tasks appropriate for her skills, he said.

Pryce sniffed. You should reconsider what you think she is and is not skilled in then!

Riiiiiight, I said carefully, realising I was stepping on thin ice. Still, I had to say something. You have been a bit dickish to Lorelei though, Lance.

When he shot me a betrayed look, I raised my hands to ward him off. Its probably your instincts acting up. She is a threat to you, as you do have a rather strong dragon aura.

Lance nodded slowly. Perhaps I have allowed my instincts to speak up more than I should have. I will consider your statements going forth. He seemed pleased by the idea of his strength being what was holding him back. Or at least that his strength was being acknowledged.

Pryce snorted, showing how much he thought of that.

Lance grimaced before turning to the others in the room. Koga, Bruno, and Agatha all looked to be in various states of amusement about the way things had been playing out.

Sabrina nodded in greeting and then dragged me over to claim a seat, with her promptly sitting in my lap. I noted we were away from Bruno.

Lance raised a hand. Theres no need to sit down. Were going to go to another meeting room; there are too many people coming otherwise.

With Sabrina in my lap, I couldnt pinch the bridge of my nose like I wanted to. With one statement, hed just revealed how petty he was being. Something that Pryce didnt miss as the room literally dropped a few degrees in temperature as the former Champion glared at Lance.

Lance raised his hands. We still needed to vet the people coming in? When that didnt result in Pryce losing his ire, Lance nodded. Ill call her in now, he said with a huff.

Agatha cackled. Oh, it must rub you the wrong way to be on the outs now, Pryce, eh? she prodded.

Pryce swivelled his gaze onto her and Lance relaxed as he called Lorelei into the room. Pryce stared long and hard at Agatha, and she met his gaze without flinching.

Pryce narrowed his eyes. How long have you known about the Snorunt evolution for the females of the species? he asked, causing me to perk up with interest.

Agathas grin grew. Oh, that would be telling! Did you really only now find out why all those Snorunts kept appearing in your mountains? She cackled as a form shimmered into view behind her shoulder. The Froslass held up a hand to her mouth and giggled innocently, hiding her mouth like a fine lady might in polite company.

It was rather ruined by the scornful eyes staring at Pryce.

Pryce inspected the newly revealed pokemon with a critical eye. Long enough for you to raise a pokemon of its type into your Elite team, eh? he said thoughtfully. The door opened, and Lorelei stepped in.

She froze when she spotted the ice-ghost type. Thats! Grandpa? she said, apparently flabbergasted by the pokemons appearance.

Pryce shook his head. Its Agathas, he said tightly.

Oh, Lorelei said, blinking as she processed this. She tilted her head and inspected Froslass. Would it be possible to work with you on my own Froslass, Agatha? Id love to get my own Froslass up to strength! I have her ice-type training all set out but I only have Grandfathers observation notes on ghost types from fight

AHEM! said Pryce firmly.

I turned my head, feeling like this was the luckiest spectator event ever. Was Pryce blushing? What were in those notes? Agatha stared at Pryce. You took notes about our fights?

Pryce threw up his hands. You were one of the trickiest combatants during the war; of course I took notes on what you were doing or how you acted! You were a significant threat to Johto!

Oh but your notes continue well up to your time as Lorelei started to say only for Pryce to level a glare upon her. For a moment, I thought I saw the flickers of a smirk on her lips making me mentally sit up. Was she?

Pryce twitched, and I realised I was right!

Lorelei was teasing her grandfather! It sort of made sense that she would do this, seeing as shed had to endure his rather poor behaviour for a number of years only for me to apparently swoop in in the last few months and make him clean up his act.

I held in a grimace, knowing the worst was still to come.

Lance sighed, agreeing. They are not the major concerns we have at the moment. There are larger concerns that we have to focus on.

The raid upon the Goldenrod rail system revealed that Hannah of Goldenrod, and Samwise of Olivine are also in collusion with Team Rocket. Goldenrod due to finances, Lance said, causing a chorus of scoffs to ring out.

The rebuilding of Goldenrod, it seemed, wasnt something that was being accepted as an excuse by the others in the room.

Lance nodded. They will be taken in. I will have teams assembled for the Johto Gym Leaders led by Bruno, and Clair. He then held up his hands. Others in this room will have other targets. There are more, he said with a defeated tone. I felt a bit bad for him, apparently discovering the sheer scale of the rot that had pervaded Indigo was rather getting to him.

Lance clicked another button, and this time the room hissed.

Professor Oak stood and leaned in closer to stare at the display. He seemed to age a little before slumping. Ah, I find that I am not actually surprised, he said as he stared into the face of Blaine.

A number of articles appeared around Blaine, and I whistled as they continued to spread. Lance held a grim expression while Pryce seemed to devour the informationa look I couldnt quite place my finger on, taking hold.

Former Elite Four, Blaine and the current Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island. He is a leading researcher in a number of studies that were never approved, such as the use of Ditto in human tissue donations for longevity treatments, the experimentation of pokemon Flare states, and the sharing of certain League secrets such as where certain former military bases were located along with supplies. Blaine has been a major scientific mind contributing to Team Rockets development in the last few decades.

Samuel rubbed his face. Uh, he was always too willing to push the envelope of his studies

I raised a hand, Flare state? Whats that?

Oak sighed. It is a well-established ability for some pokemon to, while deeply injured, tap into reserves of energy that empower them further and allow them to fight harder for the duration of combat.

Samuel sighed again, his eyes raising to the roof. During the war, it was something that was regularly triggered. It was hypothesised that you could tap into this and permanently improve the power of a pokemon but doing so would require constantly injuring a pokemon to the point of being nearly knocked out or on deaths door. Such studies would no doubt enrage a pokemon and lead to nothing but more harm all around. It was a line of study I banned in my tenure as Champion, Oak said.

Oak put a hand to his forehead and rubbed it. Blaine argued against my ban on it and other studies that I deemed unethical Oak stared into Blaines picture. I suppose he ignored my orders. For someone that I consider such an old friend I cant say that I am surprised.

Oak turned his head to Lance. You want my help in taking him in, dont you?

Lance nodded his head. He and others will be dangerous targets, and I wish to make sure we have the ability to handle anything Team Rocket might throw at us.

I also want to be there when we take him in, Pryce said gruffly.

Lance frowned, I was hoping to have you focus on the Gym Leaders in the Johto area, Izuo especially, he said.

Pryce shook his head. No, I know Blaine better than anyone here!

Agatha snorted. I think I knew him in more ways than you did, she said teasingly.

It took a moment before I understood, but when I did, I shuddered as the image of Blaine and Agatha came together in my mind.

Agatha glared at the room at large. Oh, dont be like that! We were young at the time!

Samuel chuckled, and Agatha shot him a venomous look before muttering something under her breath that I didnt try to listen in on.

Lance coughed. Regardless, there are others that we might be able to use for this, but for now I am laying out the targets. He clicked, and a final face appeared on the screen. It was of a man leaving his middle years behind with a combed-back hairstyle and a bespoke suit.

A man of class and power. Someone that moved in the highest of social circles.

I barely held back a smirk as Giovannis face stared back at me.

Gotcha.

As we understand it currently, the man that leads Team Rocket and has been the largest beneficiary of their criminal activities is none other than Gym Leader Giovanni.

A few people shifted, but this didnt elicit anywhere near the level of excitement that Blaines reveal did.

Lance raised a finger. Giovanni has always been a man who has pulled a number of strings and remained beyond doubt. He is a known philanthropist, with his money coming through a number of investments that always seemed above board. He builds these investments with Team Rocket funds and will no doubt have a much deeper pool of pokemon than we have ever seen. He has a number of true Executives that he will be able to call on, and each of these are significant trainers in their own right.

More slides appeared showing off faces I recognised from the games; Petrel, Archer, Arianna.

Lance continued to lay out the facts. He has gathered these trainers to him through debts, loyalty, or other methods, but the Executives are deemed to be at least able to match a trainer that has gathered all eight of their Gym badges, with all of them having full pokemon teams.

Lance clicked, and a collage of pictures appeared of an armoured pokemon that I recognised as Mewtwo.

One of the other dangers that Giovanni poses, is access to an as yet unknown Psychic type pokemon that appears to wield considerable strength.

Lance clicked away a few times, and blurry pictures of Mewtwo fighting Moltres appeared, before shifting to an image of Mewtwo hovering above Vermilion. A video of Mewtwos arm waving that I recognised as from my gyms security cameras.

With a final click, a video of Silph Tower played. I frowned only to blink as the video panned upwards to show Empress Hyperbeam blowing away a section of the tower. Whoever had taken this video screamed in surprise but held the video up to continue filming, their own words gibberish and fearful, only for a form to move in the smoke.

I blinked as the smoke cleared and the armoured, tattered form of Mewtwo could be seen holding someone by the neck.

I reflexively rubbed at the bruise on my neck. Oh, damn, someone had gotten that on video?

I swallowed as I realised how far up Mewtwo was from the ground. Sabrina laced her hand into mine and squeezed.

Lance shot me a look. Brock, you and others submitted a report on this incident when questioned by one of the police, later that night. He tilted his head. You said you unleashed a Hyper Beam at that pokemon from one of your Tyranitar Lance paused and let that hang for a moment before continuing on, And it barely injured it? How would you rate its strength?

Its easily a Legendary pokemon not as strong as Moltres, but I believe that might be only a matter of time from what Ive read about Legendary pokemon, I said.

That caused a shift in the room as people mumbled.

What was it like? Was it angry? Oak said, staring at the image.

I blinked. The voice coming from the armour around it was, but I never got the impression it was.

It wasnt, Sabrina said. When I mega evolved my Alakazam I was able to talk with it and ask it to put you down. Until that moment, it had muted responses to everything around it, like it was just following orders as an automation would. When I interceded it seemed curious like a child, Sabrina said.

Hmmm, interesting, said Oak.

Lance hummed. I think then it is important that, should we require it, you be present when we move to take down Giovanni.

Sabrina inclined her head. I will be there when we move, she said with a firm tone.

Lance nodded his head. I am hoping To make this easy on us, I will be asking Giovanni and Blaine, separately, for specific reasons pertaining to them, to come to the League to talk with me. With them away from their power base, I can arrest them easier, he said.

I hummed. No way hes going to take it; youll be showing your hand.

Lance drummed his fingers. Im all for the simplest solution. Does anyone else have a better method of disarming Giovanni?

I frowned. It was logically, the easiest method if it worked. I could even imagine a world where it might work.

But it would rely on Giovanni being naive and delivering himself into our hands, and my mind was screaming at me that there was no way in hell it would work.

It was too simple.

It wouldnt work for Giovanni, or Blaine either, for that matter.

Samuel sighed. It might be necessary to simply raid their bases of power, he said. I shall intervene with Blaine if he doesn't see reason, I will be able to handle him with Pryces help.

Lance nodded and laced his hands together. Very well, let us work on a plan for how things will proceed on Team Rockets swansong. He locked eyes with everyone in the room.

Let me be clear. By the time the sun sets tomorrow, I want Team Rocket to be a footnote in the history of the Indigo region, he said.

Unconsciously, my spine straightened at his words, even as I smiled.

It seemed like a thorn that had been bothering me for far too long was about to be dealt with. Now I just needed to make sure I was part of the team to guarantee that Giovanni and Team Rocket fell.