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A powerful voice sounded out suddenly from behind the gathered Rockets. "I'm afraid you're misinformed, Atlas. I do exist."

Standing in front of the double doors that led into Team Rocket's lobby was a man with meticulously styled long blue hair pulled into a braid. He had sharp golden eyes, a neatly-trimmed black goatee and a pale complexion. He was dressed in a three piece black suit with a patterned red silk vest. A red R was embroidered on the left breast of his jacket. Though not as tall as some of Team Rocket's male members, he was a decent height. His shoulders were broad and he had a toned, lean frame.

Atlas' mecha shifted as he looked over the rockets at the man. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lucere Temero. I'm the leader of Team Rocket." Stepping forward, Lucere casually removed a red and black Poké Ball from his pocket and tossed it forward. It bounced once before firing a dazzling wall of light. The light quickly took the shape of a massive Groudon. The legendary Pokémon was black, with glowing red markings and matching red eyes. It was a Dark Pokémon.

"You should move your Charizard.." He calmly instructed Akemi. Once the Pokémon was out of the way he nodded. "Eruption."

The ground Pokémon let loose a roar, spewing a jet of lava at the defeated mecha, tossing it end over end across the burning sand. When the attack ended the metal Drapion was splayed out on its back. Gaps of melted metal dotted the charred machine, hanging open like wounds. If it wasn't broken before, it certainly was now.

"Return." Lucere held up his Pokéball and the dark legendary disappeared. He tucked the ball away and surveyed the gathered Rockets. "You two." He pointed at Kofuku and Faleen, "Take him to the brig." This task would be made easy by the fact Atlas was half hanging out of the Drapion's cockpit, now unconscious. "The rest of you, back inside." Lucere turned back toward the building and disappeared through he lobby doors.

At first, Rebar tensed. The cold was a little... strange to the small Pokemon; but being told what to do by what was essentially a big sister was not. It was absolutely infuriating, and the Eevee stalked forward with a puffed-out chest and some ready cries of protest.

"Stay, 'Bar." The Eevee cringed. That voice, it was not unusual to obey. Rebar returned to her trainer's side, just in time to hear her grumble dissatisfaction. Why weren't they listening to him, their attacker? Please. "Why, Mr. Atlas, don't you ever seem to get tired of being an a-"

And then the Eruption happened, and their were no more words at all. Teil openly gaped at the Dark Groudon; she was equally amazed at the man who owned it. ...Lucere. She stared at him as she struggled to rise again, Rebar at her side and big ouches on her back. He was really the new Giovanni?

The tiny girl nearly fell off the mecha at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. As soon as she saw the man, there was no mistaking by the way he was dressed. He was indeed their leader - they had been right all along!

As Lucere stepped closer with his dark Groudon, after a quick and nervous salute Akemi immediately did as he requested and ran to safety with Hikari following her. This was almost too good to be true. The mecha now completely destroyed, the unconscious Atlas would be taken prisoner.. he would most likely prove useful.

This had obviously raised everyone's spirits - there was no room for doubt anymore. Team Rocket would indeed rise again. These thoughts kept circling in the young Grunt's head as the crowd slowly started to return back into the lobby.

Kofuku and Faleen would have no trouble with Atlas. He stayed out for the entire drag to the brig, where security personnel would be able to take him, freeing them to return to the lobby.

While everyone gathered in the lobby Lucere took a spot at the front of the room across from the doors. Several executive agents cowered nearby, looking completely baffled by their boss mingling with these people.

Once everyone was in the room he folded his arms, "You all did well out there. It seems appropriate that we should claim such a victory on the anniversary of Team Rocket's founding. When Team Galactic realizes their scout has disappeared I'm sure it will send a powerful message to their leaders. They may give up their plan to poach our ranks and eliminate us.. or they may strengthen their attempts. Either way we'll be ready for what lies ahead.

"I've no doubt that some of you paused to consider the wild claims being thrown around outside in regards to whether or not I really existed. I don't expect you to understand why I've secluded myself from you up until this point.. but I can see that operating behind the curtain isn't an option any more. Team Galactic wants Team Rocket to have a face. Now it does.

"You can expect some changes around here. Whether or not you understand those changes I'll expect loyalty from all of you. It's likely that they'll try again to convince our members to jump sides. I want to make it clear that an unpleasant fate awaits anyone who turns their back on our team."

Lucere fixed the gathered Rocket's with a cold stare that lasted several moments before finally turning his attention to Ezekiel. "You." He pointed, "Come with me. The rest of you.. enjoy your party." Apparently finished with his speech, he turned to leave, executive agents scrambling out of his way as he and Ezekiel stepped into the elevator and disappeared from sight.

Hayes looked back the sound of the voice; it was one you paid attention to.

Rockets drew back to let Lucere pass and silence radiated in his wake. Alphard clung to Hayes' shoulder, watching the dark man who wore power like a cloak with wide eyes. Hayes' expression was neutral, serious, his brow slightly furrowed. He remained one of the rank and file.

As the ground shook from the impact of the mech, Switch and Nemerle found their way back to Hayes' side, bathed in red light cast off from the lava.

"Nem?"

The Glaceon disappeared into the crowd; after a second, Hayes followed after.

Nemerle re-emerged near Rebar and Teillo and turned, tail waving as she waited. When Hayes appeared, she looked over to the Eevee, then between the two humans.

Hayes eyed the wound across the trainee's shoulders. "Need a hand?" Although covered in Jirachi, he offered his free one to help her back inside.

"Eeee!" Rebar puffed up again, hopping at the sight and sense of the Glaceon that had ordered her down earlier. Whether she was still upset at the command, or happy for the rescue was not easily seen.

Easier was to read was the Trainee, who looked up at Hayes with a reluctant gratitude. Teil had her pride; but she couldn't let it keep her from following orders, no matter how much she would've liked to. "Yeah. Thanks," she countered, a hand grasping Hayes' as she swayed to her feet. "I guess I'm not fast enough for Grunt work just yet." All the craziness of the last hour aside - this man was actually a little familiar... Had she seen him somewhere before?

The entire trip to the brig and back was really just a blur to Kofuku; she remembered bits and pieces of it, but mostly, she remembered the giddy, almost numbingly hyper feeling she had. She was in pure shock and awe still at the appearence of this incredibly important man, and the fact that she'd been chosen to receive and order from him made her stomach flip flop in excitement.

Taking a moment in the hall to straighten herself out, including smoothing down her skirt and unrolling her sleeves, Kofuku made sure she was presentable, knowing just who was on the other side of the lobby doors. Giving a glance to Faleen, she smiled nervously and followed her best friend into the room, keeping by her side as she listened to Lucere speak to them. Though his gaze was cold, Kofuku still couldn't help but feel that strange joy and pride bubbling up in her as she watched him.

Once he had left the room, Kofuku gave a big sigh and gave Faleen a silly, childish grin. "Oh my god...."

However, her smile was quickly replaced with concern as she noticed something over her shoulder, and she frowned a little. "Faleen, I'll be right back." Walking quickly over to Akemi as the girl slumped onto the couch, she looked the girl over, trying to remember back to the battle to figure if she was hurt. "Hey, are you alright? Do you need me to help you to the infirmary?"

It took Akemi a moment to realize that she was being spoken to.
It also required several blinks to get her eyesight back to normal.

"Oh.. uh.. yeah, I think I could use some help.. I'm pretty sure something's broken", she said in a weak voice to the purple-haired woman that stood beside her now.

Hikari was still out of its ball, looking over its Trainer with concern. Otherwise the girl probably would've been able to ride the Charizard down the hallway, but right now she wouldn't even have been able to hold onto its neck.
Apparently it really had been thanks to the adrenaline that she had been able to fight.

She lifted her head in the direction of TRP's voice then. A lot of Grunts and Trainees had suffered at least minor injuries.. Surely some had it even worse than she did. Luckily no one was killed or permanently injured, at least.