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"Your orders? Disable security and secure an exit path. There will be three teams. Nicole. Mau." Nadja pointed at the two scientists, then beckoned. "With me. Cal. Leonard. With Kunai. Samantha, you're with Nikki and Hayes."

"Two groups will be on point; mine will retrieve the orb. Be aware - the guards have Pokemon and firearms. Use methods to dispatch them that won't summon others - no sounds or flashy attacks. Use ghost types where you can. If they alert others, let the other teams know."

Nadja's smile was a subtle curve, barely distinguishable by the light bleeding off the city. Intelligent questions from Mau. "Security is heaviest on the ground floors. One group will enter through the loading dock and deal with the electronic systems; the others will enter by the roof. I hope you don't mind heights."

"A street map, if you would." The redhead nodded to Hayes; he brought up another display, this time of Jinko's winding streets, clustered together in the way of cities built before automobile traffic. A little 'Oogle Maps' watermark glowed in the corner.

"Here." Nadja's gloved finger disrupted the projection at a red dot a few streets away from the little building icon with 'Natural History Museum of Kodo' in tiny text beneath it. She waited a moment more for any other questions, then nodded to the group and headed for the van. "Take the travel time to select your Pokemon."

Once everyone had loaded up, the vehicle started up again and headed into town. The strange pressure rode with them.

Nyx was both pleased and nervous about the group she'd been placed in. She'd just been promoted, and now she was being put in the spotlight in front of Miss Nadja. At least there was no way she could do worse than Mau. She laughed to herself. Mau.

After she climbed back into the van, Nyx had already started considering what pokemon to use. She had all six of her pokemon with her, but some of them were too big, or too flashy. Not that she hadn't tried to de-flash some of her pokemon before hand. She had no clue what the mission was before they arrived, but 'wear stealth suits' had given her a hint as to what preparations had to be made. Mendel the Chikorita had been none too happy about being mostly covered with black body-paint. Beaker, on the other hand, loved war paint.

Her smallest pokemon were Tesla, Bunsen, and Mendel. Bunsen was all but useless in battle, the only real move he knew was Tackle. Her other three, Newton, Langley, and Beaker, were fairly large; Not a problem for Newton, he was a ghost type, but it took her two best battlers out of commission for the most part.

"Hmm..." Nyx scratched around her nightvision goggles. Newton, Mendel, and Tesla. Pokeballs flashed bright light when they released a pokemon, so she'd need to keep Mendel and Newton out, just in case.

Cal was taken aback for a second before regaining her composure. She looked up to find the elite Kunai, leader of her group, looking her way. She didn't look happy to be working with them. Or was she sending them death glares to see if they were ready? From the rumors she had heard, Kunai probably just wanted to be left alone on this mission.

She adjusted herself in her seat to face Kunai properly. It was best to try and get on her good side. "I have four pokemon." She patted the pokeballs slightly, "A Pikachu, Ivysaur, Feraligatr, and Blastoise." She knew that the last two would take up a lot of space, but they were the only pokemon she had.

Sam just nodded as she found out her assignment. Really, she was going to object now? Uh-huh, no way. Although she wasn't exactly thrilled at being assigned to the blonde chick, it was just for one mission. At least she wasn't the oldest one in the van. And tech-boy seemed like he knew what he was doing. That perked her up immensely.

"Are we on the loading dock or are we roofward bound?" She asked, looking between Nikki and Hayes. "I have four pokemon with me," She held up a hand, mini-pokeballs wedged between each finger. "Shuppet, Gengar, Eevee, and Totodile." She thought a moment, chewing on her lower lip. "Eevee's pretty useless for sneaking, other than being small, though Toto might be useful if we get in a fight." She was pretty much thinking out loud, but she never said no to advice. Besides, they were supposed to function as a unit and information was always key to success.

Wow, he got paired up with Kunai? That took some serious bad luck. But there wasn't anything he could do about the assignments, unless he wanted to be kicked out. So Leonard just thought about his choice of Pokemon instead in the quiet van. Quiet, until Kunai started interrogating them.

"I have a Banette, Snorlax, Metagross, Feraligatr, and Drifblim." He answered. He knew that his Snorlax and Metagross would definitely be no help in a stealth mission, unless fighting breaks out. And he doubted that his Feraligatr could be stealthy, unless she was in the mood. So that left his Banette and Drifblim... one that hated his guts and the other completely useless in battle. Of course, he didn't mention this to Kunai.

Leonard clutched the Dark ball that contained Seance. He heard that Pokemon could tell what went on outside their Pokeballs. He hoped that she knew how important this mission was. If she didn't feel like obeying this time, it wouldn't be just Leonard that would take the fall.

Nadja pursed her lips with displeasure at the question. "Don't give them time to fire." It was a fair inquiry, though, and she continued. "If you meet with resistance, do what you must to silence, subdue and divert attention until the target is secured - but one way or another, we leave with the orb." A second attempt would be far more difficult; this had to be done tonight. The elite pulled her hood up, obscuring any recognizable features but for her grey eyes and a wisp of fiery hair.

Overhanging balconies cast shadows over the van as it moved quietly along the sleepy, winding streets. On lampposts, banners naming old historical districts alternated with those advertising the museum's latest treasure. In houses, residents stirred briefly at the sound of a vehicle easing through the night, rolled over in bed, and slept on.

Hayes was far more agreeable than his partner, but he was also driving. He shot a friendly smile and a quiet "Hey," at Sam, but let Nikki field the question while he concentrated on Jinko's labyrinthine layout.

The van paused, then shifted gears and backed into a dark alleyway, blending in with the shadows. The doors unlocked with a quiet 'clunk.' Nadja slipped out and waited for the groups to assemble. Once they were more or less in order, she issued a final command. "From here on out, unless it is absolutely necessary for you to speak, silence. Now. Roof teams - we go up here." She nodded to Hayes, Nikki and Sam. "Signal us when you're in."

"Ma'am." The blond agent flipped off a brief but respectful two-fingered salute from his temple; Nadja raised a brow at the casual edge to the respectful gesture, but let it pass. As long as he knew what he was doing.

Hayes took this opportunity to release his Pokemon - a Pikachu that twitched its nose at Nikki and Sam with an unimpressed "Pi," and a little legendary that burst from its ball with a happy 'Hayes!' that echoed in the minds of those present - and twitch his hood into place.

"Hey bud." Hayes' voice was hushed. "We're being quiet." The Jirachi's mouth formed a little 'o' and it took hold of Hayes' sleeve. The blond grinned at his mission partners. "All set?" he asked, and then they were off, sticking to the shadows as they crossed the street.

Light flashed in the secluded alleyway and condensed into a massive Metagross that surveyed the assembled Rockets impassively. Nadja placed a boot on a leg ridge, then the body's rim, and hoisted herself onto the flattened top, kneeling low. "Talos," she murmured, as if in greeting to the strange steel arachnid. In answer, it blinked.

The elite waited for the others to release and mount their transports, then spoke again. "Rise." The Metagross lifted off the ground, folded its legs together as it ascended between the buildings toward the roof. The dull red light kept pace with her.

Here they go. Nyx took a deep breath and released Newton, her Drifblim. She'd been practicing flying with the blimp pokemon ever since he evolved. His little blimpy hands had a habit of wandering places while he carried passengers, but there wasn't much you could do after you were high up. If, while in the air, your mode of transportation feels like groping you, and you can't fly without it, you just had to grin and bear it.

Nyx made a cradle with her hands and Newton copied the gesture with one pair of arms. She took a seat, as if on a swing, and he rose into the air after the Metagross and- oh hellooooo.... Newton noticed a shapely rump above him. THAT looked familiar. Usually it had a toothy-mongrel around it distracting him with biting. Newton made a kissy face as he floated up after it. He wouldn't do anything, of course, Nyx had given him a long long lecture about what would happen if he did anything but what she told him during this mission, and he remembered the last one. AFTER the mission, however. Newton's free pair of arms made a groping gesture.