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Shadow wasn't comfortable with his work any longer. Though he had been in Team Rocket's employ for quite some time, up until now, he'd been fine with his situation. He had been a Rocket ever since he could remember, actually, since his memory didn't seem to extend that far back for some reason. Maybe a few months...? Ever since he'd changed, at the very least. What was time to a ghost? Having been lost and confused with his new form, uncertain of where to go or what to do with his new body, Team Rocket had taken him in. Since then, he'd been doing work as a basic grunt.

They had studied him a great deal, it was true, but when he proved to be difficult to test and probe as a ghost shifting in and out of a tangible state, they gave up. It wasn't as if he chose to have such a fickle body - in fact, he had to concentrate to keep it corporeal - but he was also somewhat glad they had decided to leave him alone as an experiment and put him to work doing other things. Due to his fear of sleeping and his lack of a need to do so, he often patrolled the hallways of the Rocket base, particularly at night, as a hall monitor.

Lately, however, the Poke-human had been required to do more than just janitorial and hall monitor work. Though he despised using his techniques, he was enlisted to put them to use and go out with other Rocket member teams into the field in order to bring back specimens. Other poke-humans like him. It was weird to see others, whether they were working with the Rockets as well or among the prisoners captured. They were all so different and varied. Shadow had always considered himself an outcast among the humans in Team Rocket, being what he was...but among these beings, perhaps not. But he couldn't afford to sympathize; that was like cultivating feelings for an creature in a pound who you knew was going to be put down.

And yet...how could he be deaf to the cries from the cages and cells? Choosing not to sleep, he heard them day and night whether he wanted to or not, unable to shut them out. Unlike him, these beings seemed to have had lives they'd been torn from and loved ones waiting and worried. It got him curious...what sort of lives could they have led that they wanted to get back to so badly despite being the oddities that they were? Had they actually found a place for themselves in the world even while being neither fully human nor pokemon? It seemed too good to be true, particularly to a ghost who had only ever known Team Rocket.

When he had been made to leave the base with a capturing team, he realized for a horrifying moment that he couldn't remember the last time he'd ever been outside the building. The air was different and the sun was so warm and blinding...almost cruelly so. He wanted to go back, but he couldn't; not until they'd finished their mission. It was easier than expected once they'd tracked down the shiny Munna. Only two of them were required to take him down, but the reluctant Shadow was made to be one of them. At first he protested, but once he realized that Koujen was in pain, he went right to work. Using Hypnosis, he forced the Munna's pained mind to rest and ease his suffering. That, at least, wasn't hard for the Gengar-Haunter hybrid, because he felt it was for the Munna teen's own good.

This was harder to convince himself of once he returned to the base. So many prisoners...so many cries of pain, despair, fear, and anger...they touched something in Shadow like he hadn't realized they could. It was like it awakened something in him - some sense of injustice that this wasn't right. But how could that be, when this was all he had done and ever remembered doing? Oh...because before, his work hadn't involved abducting others against their will and keeping them captive while experimenting on them.

Shadow did what he could when he could for the prisoners, but he was generally careful to hide his small deeds. Once in a while, if he noticed during his rounds as a hall monitor that someone was having trouble sleeping due to pain or stress, he would use Hypnosis on them to help them rest. Other times, when captives wept in their sleep or screamed from nightmares, he gently soothed their slumber with Dream Eater. He still disliked using his abilities as a ghost because it reminded him of the freak he was, but if it was just for this - if he could feel like he was doing some good for someone - at least it seemed worth it.

Just now, a new batch of captives seemed to have arrived. Some stirred and were waking from having been knocked out.


He tried to ignore them, reminding himself that engaging with these strangers in any way would probably just make it harder to deal with them later. He was their enemy after all, wasn't he? To allow them to believe anything else would just be cruel. But eventually, Shadow couldn't continue to just stand by in silence. What harm would it be to offer up something of an explanation? He felt they at least deserved that much. Taking a deep breath, he tried to think of what to say, how much, and how to say it.

"Please, all of you, stay calm," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You are currently captives of Team Rocket and are located at our base. You were brought here to be studied. The more inclined you are to cooperate, the more likely things are to go better for you. Resist, and the results may not be so pleasant." Red eyes regarded each of the beings before him. "Understand?"

Like many others, Switch had seen the news reports propagating rumors about pokémon and pokéhuman abductions. It froze her heart with fear and she gritted her teeth, strange as they still felt inside her head. A big trainer-pokémon camping trip had been planned in the woods for kids local to the Cotier farm. Having already made plans to go, they all, understandably, had their misgivings. Some had dropped out and others had found reasons to go.

For Switch, Mitja had promised that no one at Carwyn's would come to harm -- not the kids (especially Mariette), nor the dancers. Of course Whirlipede bouncer's boast had probably been as much to reassure herself as it was to hurry the Farfetch'd girl on her way. She had listened carefully to this teen she looked up to, and she could understand that kind of adult reasoning. But what had spurred her on was Mitja's request that she return stronger. Needless to say, Mitja would need the extra help, even if it came from a tough child!

Of course! Her camping trip with Rocío and other pokémon-trainer pairs was as much for enjoying the wilderness as it was to level. Get stronger so you can protect those you love. It was a litany near and dear to her heart. It was as good a method as any to meet that end.

In the end, the human and Farfetch'd girls had gone, leaving their fears at their backs.

"This is going to be great!" Rocío had exclaimed, skipping ahead on the route through the woods. Fragile though her health might be, she had been full of fervor on that day. And despite her worries, Switch had felt the same excitement swell within her breast as she waved her carved, leek-shaped walking stick named Bait: "Onward and upward!"

Those words and those feelings seemed so distant from her now as she looked upon her very real enemy with growing dread. "Stay behind me, Theo," she growled, pushing Rocío behind her. "Go hide," she added, guessing correctly that no humans would be in danger unless they decided to interfere. Perhaps the pokémon could draw Team Rocket away from the kids.

"No, Switch, I won't hide! We're a team now: we fight together!"

"Wha?" Switch's intake of breath brought her swinging around. She surveyed the campsite. Some kids were visibly shaking, but they all wore that look of determination that a warrior's spirit brandishes. Rocío wore it too. She was pale but her strength came from within. "All right. Let's do this. I've been working on a few new moves. Maybe we'll have to try them out."

But with such a force of resistance, perhaps it was no surprise that only a couple were picked off before they made their retreat. Rocío was furious, tears streaming down her cheeks unnoticed. She had grown up with these people and their pokémon. Over the past couple of days they had traded stories of capturing their first pokémon. They had all felt closer as a community even if they had always been separated by a moderate distance. These were days they would never forget. "Switch, we have to help them. I don't know how, but we have to get them back."

Switch nodded. Her own bearing shook with the same kind of fury, but she burned with cold fire. She felt nauseated by the question of what might happen if no one saved them, and it bounced around in her head, unspoken. "Let's pitch our tents. We'll see how well we learned our tracking lessons."

- - -

Frank's life as a pokéhuman had seemed as long as her life as a pokémon and longer. The days stretched back into an infinite corridor of confusion and delusion. The world was physically larger but no less alien, her thoughts a jumbled and panicked mess. She would have been thankful to find her way back to Kenley or that silent sentinel that had followed her for a little while. She had even decided that seeing Carlos' face again would be nice. Any familiar face would have been nice!

Instead, she found herself surrounded by menacing people in dark clothing. A bright-red letter she could not read dominated their shirts. A life spent in fear had taught her a few things: she knew all too well that expression of desire, and the malevolence of their pokémon tools. She was in a mob battle with many trained pokémon, some strong against and none weak against Rock-types such as herself. In short, she didn't stand a chance and she didn't know why! With a terrified whimper, she retreated with a grating of stone links.

But her fear empowered her with instinctual power that she used to confine several of her opponents within a Rock Tomb. It slowed them down, but they had time and patience. In the end they wore her down and overpowered her. For once, it all seemed to happen too quickly and fainting became a hot wash of dim bruising and almost comforting relaxation. Let the danger be realized when she woke.

- - -

Eclipse Monday's task as a hired-on member of Team Rocket was to locate and investigate new leads. He was just the speedy, sneaky, and absolutely adorable type to do the job. Under normal circumstances he was not to engage another pokémon or pokéhuman unless forced to do so. After all, he was the physical equivalent of a twelve-year-old, and while resilient sometimes subject to the surprising pitfalls of prepubescence. He didn't like the rationale, but there was no verbal argument he could present to sway his superiors' minds.

He liked to prove any side to an argument through action, anyway. But to a degree he needed to play it safe because he had others to think about. The reason for taking up this job had been for the money, to feed his boy Nigel and the boy's mother. Fun would come in time.

One fine night, Rocket moved in on a pokéchild needing some extra Dark-flavored "care." Reports described a Chandelure guarding his cemetary sanctuary saturated in unearthly woe and pain. The otherworldly chill of guilt and anguish were almost visceral, but it slid off of Eclipse like water.

"Target confirmed: one pokémon child. This Chandelure boy will be a challenge for you guys." He studied the place with keen earthly senses, relaying any likely traps and pitfalls present, such as large family tombstones, trees, and the mausoleum. As expected, primary dangers would be psychic, psychological, and any element-specific attacks the boy knew. "Shall I engage the enemy? Over."

Eclipse's words sounded professional and emotionless even to his keen ears. And for each reply, a string of words was sandwiched between the radio's thick hissing. It was just like in the movies; he loved to be the bad guy!

"..."

"Come on," he inhaled softly to himself. Sometimes a delay or interference prevented a speedy reply.

"Please repeat, over." He sighed when no one responded for several seconds. His ears, his hair, his sparse yet silky fur and whiskers, all quivered. Every change in atmosphere and tension vibrated like a spider's web around him. But in his excitement, fine-tuned muscles began to burn with impatience. Come on...

"Come on!" he hissed. His heart pounded in his head, his brain was losing ground and looking for escape.

"Copy that, Monday. Get into position. Back up is on its way. ETA is..." la la la... any ETA was too long! He was only half listening as the voice droned on in his ear while he did as he was told. But he would not wait for long. As Team Rocket surrounded the area with eerie softness, he whipped around the area, a murmuring shadow describing the battle that ensued.

When he saw his chance he took it without hesitation. Eclipse wore a disarming grin that did not fool ghostly Fae and that the Chandelure did not see at all as he came up from behind. His sucker punch was no less effective: Aether fainted.

Team Rocket rushed forward with a sickening wave of precision. "Nice Feint Attack, kid!"

"Just doin' my job," Eclipse shot back as he hopped out of the way, trusting no one. But as he disappeared into the darkness, he saw Aether's prone form handled like a rotten sack of potatoes. For an instant of interminability, he wondered if Rocket would turn on him one day, leaving his boy forever wondering what had become of him? It was only then that he began to question his choice of profession. Then the moment was gone with a shrugging shiver and he moved on to the next mark on his list.

- - -

A cloaked and masked figure of small stature but no small fighting prowess quietly joined the ranks of Team Rocket. It had been a simple enough process, simple too had it been to survey their trappings of war! Rows of cages held back even the most powerful of pokéhumans, some of whom received more than a passing emotionless glance.

Perhaps obtaining consent was overrated, he thought to himself, his hand reaching for and resting upon his belt of pokéballs. He smiled faintly to himself. Nah. His companions had helped him capture their fair share, but he intended to help them back out again, too. Eventually. Probably.

It was not long before the cloaked figure with an unnerving air about him caught the eye of the science staff and finally one at the very top. He seemed to be studying the caged specimens and their charts with an abnormal amount of interest. When Dr. Murphy’s shadow finally fell upon him, Havard was far from surprised. "Hello, doctor."

(( Shrunk the text due to lengthiness... sorry! ))

Unconsciousness had only been realized upon the groggy haze experienced as the brain’s internal power switched had been flipped back into its rightful position -- slow at first, until a sharp pain from two different sources seemed to strike at him in conjunction with one another. A hand snapped to his forehead as the boy rolled over, avoiding the light before his eyes ever opened. The faint yellow glow from Aether’s eyes seemed just as dim as the unkempt confinement that now surrounded him. What had happened..? He rubbed at his head, as though directing attention toward the lessening of his headache would help him come to a better understanding, despite knowing it was something he never saw coming. Something that had stricken him with force enough to immediately incapacitate, was it..?

Ugh, it was no use trying to reason through, with both the fog of critical damage as well as the screams and shrieks that seemed to fill this warehouse to the brim. The chandelure shut his eyes again, irritated. He hated the living. Why did they have to be so bothersome, and force their wills on others? It seemed he was more aggravated with the other victims than he currently was with the perpetrators of the capture in the first place, if only because they were the more prominent culprit at present.

“A-Aether..?” a shaky, if familiar, voice came up beside the boy.

He didn’t need to look to know who it was, and he focused on the gentle tone to drown out the shrieks. “Where are we? Did we--“ he cut himself off with a grunt, realizing what was happening, and once more opened his eyes to see those on guard duty across the room, “--hn. I see.” He could not have lived as long as he had without knowing Team Rocket’s main goals, even if he had never been properly introduced. After all, they did nearly destroy half the world with their shenanigans a year ago.

“It’s disgusting in here,” Fae groaned, pulling her skirt closer, as though she could muck up her spectral garb. Her treading tone informed Aether that it was a mask of a complaint -- she was terrified of the place, and the circumstances the boy now found himself in.

The chandelure, however, remained indifferent, himself seated on the floor of what was little more than a cell. He leaned forward, testing the limits of his sights past the bars, but he could not see any of the other captives. Judging from the racket they were making, however, they had likely found themselves in a similar predicament. Off-handedly, he responded to the girl, “You’re talking to someone who makes his home in a cemetery.” Reaching, he placed a metallic hand on the bars before him, and let it rest where it landed.

“Can you faze through?” Fae asked curiously, spotting Shadow as the teenager attempted to calm down the others. Just so long as it wasn’t that strange umbreon from before…

Aether flashed a slight, wry smirk, “You forget what kind of ghost I am.” Even if he were still fully pokémon, there wasn’t a chance, not unless he could use his innate Infiltrator ability. No go, though; this wasn’t a Pokémon’s move. Regardless, he kept his hand put, as though trying to will himself through the bars; honestly, he was only trying to get his bearings. That was a nasty strike to the back of the head, and the spirited cacophony wasn’t helping.

* * *

“Fiiiiinally. That couldn’t have taken you longer!” Wynter’s voice released the tension building up in one exasperated sigh, much as a babysitter might had they caught sight of the returning parents’ car in the driveway.

Jet almost wasn’t listening to the girl on the other end of the communication link any more, especially when all that was attributed to it was a bunch of bemoaning and whining. However, with the Rocket base in sights past the cover he took, he realized he had neared the time he was dreading, for very similar reasons to the young witch. Tentatively scoping the immediate vicinity for security, he tucked himself back in the cover of the surrounding shade, “And… I’m just supposed to wait here?” He frowned, “For how long.”

“Long enough to cool it,” the girl huffed, interference rising on the line signifying her hand raising to take the earpiece out, “I’m getting food. Stay put.”

The silence held in the air for a moment until Jet realized that Wynter was not one to joke about something so ludicrous. “Are you-!?” he growled, cutting himself off before he raised his voice to match the frustration. He let go of the emotion as easily as it had come and flopped back against the nearest thick trunk; it wouldn’t do any good to get irritated. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he just had to remind himself, “…Just so long as I get to blow the place up.”

Peering outside the underhangings of the forest again, Jet began to study up on the security detail and routes while he was here to waste time. There was something that was bothering him, still, and he slid himself back out of sight in an attempt to figure out what it was. He still felt unusually tense; people annoyed him all the time, but this was something disparate.

Tracking down his hunch, he slowly stood to his feet, his attention aimed to the opposite direction of the base he was to be infiltrating. Something was shooting into the area fast, and it had enough destructive force and wild rage to--

This wasn’t good. This wasn’t good and he knew it, but something about the opportunity made his grin stick. Maybe this wouldn’t be so boring after all.

Swiftly, he backtracked a ways, heedless of his partner’s command. If Jet was going to stop a cataclysm from happening, it couldn’t be so close to headquarters, and couldn’t have been in such tight quarters. Once free of the snags of concealment, he went to work setting the stage based on projection of where he felt the energy closing in the most. With a snap, the giratina turned the dial up on the weight of Gravity of the surrounding area, hoping to slow the oncoming force down. He didn’t see Iah yet, but he knew to be cautious… that was some dangerous malevolence he was feeling, bloodthirsty in nature enough to make his angelic-cursed skin crawl.

Arceus, did he miss that feeling…

* * *

Daphne emptied her arms of the trays she was carrying back from the cells where many of the captive poke-people were being held, holding little time up as she wiped her forearms off on a towel and swiftly returned to where she was commanded to be. It was all habit, for it didn’t seem like this Rocket base was very stringent on their efforts for cleanliness.

Despite her hasty actions, it seemed the guard had not lightened his demeanor to reflect as much, still as irritable and impatient as ever. Maybe it was because of who she was, as another pokémon who had located a star for transformation, as many of the hostages had; wasn’t she the enemy? Maybe it was her own outer, stoic appearance, despite merely being a child, that unnerved him. Perhaps this guy just didn’t get along with people, who really knew? Either way, working undercover in such a hostile environment, the croagunk was all but used to it by now. She had quickly learned of the workplace environment, and braced herself. It really wasn’t all that hard.

The man wasted little time in making sure that Daphne was getting to where she was needed. He seemed to be in a rush, that was for sure, but why, she was less positive. It didn’t honestly matter what the reason was, but due to his quick aversion, he snagged his jacket on the doorknob out, nearly toppling him over as force collided with resistance. Daphne cringed slightly, more in reaction to the sound than in sympathy, but the action could have easily pulled something or caused a bit of whiplash. He seemed to have a few colorful words to say about it as he angrily wrenched the fabric free of its catch so he could storm off on his way, somehow grumpier than before. As soon as he was released, he removed attention from what was yet-another-annoyance. So much so, that it appeared he didn’t even notice the pocket had torn.

Daphne, however, had noticed. She was stationed as a guard to replace the man’s shift, making sure the test subjects were transported to and from their rooms without incident from outside forces. The spot was now marked with what had been jostled free from the confines of the man’s pocket. Curiously, she picked it up. Her thumb caught a button and the end of the contraption suddenly lit up, crackling to life. Eyes widened, she immediately dropped the thing, clattering back to the floor, before she realized what it was.

After a second to catch her breath, she picked it up, now more mindful to keep her fingers away from the button. A stun gun, eh? Well that could be useful. Her attention darting back up, Daphne attempted to locate the man on the other side of the facility, but she held her ground. Cutting her pause off with a sigh, she slipped it into her own back pocket. Maybe she’d give it back later, when the man wasn’t so apt to focus anger on whoever his sights had been locked onto at the moment…

She was kind of bored, but it didn’t show any outward change in her expression, though she’d have slouched if the opportunity presented itself. Instead, she kept her mind sharp but focusing on those that were milling about. Most of them she could recognize, though most were not anyone she had been acquainted with. There were an awful lot of new recruits… and a surprising number of them were transformed pokémon.

* * *

The clash seemed to be on even ground as the two children battled one another. Swift attacks, quick parries, and evenly matched in bouts of skill, it was apparent that both Mycah and Ransom had likely experienced the same amount of battles as one another. Not only that, but they were both trying to protect someone from experiencing the fight themselves -- or rather, being forced to jump in.

Of course, being ‘forced’ to fight did not carry over as an umbrella term for playing dirty with someone else who had no intention of fighting. Despite the fact that the occurrence happened within an exchange of shots, Mycah also stood his ground when Sofya had been grabbed from behind, a knife to her throat. She had not endangered anyone, so then why..?

Mycah could have easily turned his own blades against the Rocket member with a hostage, but the conversation that was exchanged sounded important enough to hesitate, just the smallest bit… but just long enough for both Ransom and Sofya to be knocked unconscious. It was a state of being that the boy was unfamiliar with, but his nerves’ tanglings across his frame eased on the tension. If they were asleep, at least they were not in imminent danger. They were also no longer a viable threat.

As soon as Ransom was apprehended, the hybrid boy’s gaze drifted to the blood caught on the edge from his right hand. It was just like when he first awoke into this world; he had, on numerous occasions, accidentally cut himself when trying to figure out how to use the appendages he was given. The same color of blood and everything… he wondered if it had hurt her as much as it had him as well.

He was snapped out of his distraction as one of the grunts grabbed hold of his collar and dragged him over to the van. They were taking the off-color torchic girl, but leaving the trainer behind. Mycah hesitated a bit, still being led away, teetering on the decision of whether or not to break free and see if the girl was alright. Of course, he decided against it when, as he was being forcibly shoved into the back of the car, he spotted Angel attempting to come to the girl’s aid. Just so long as someone was able to…

The ride seemed long, and was rather cramped. Mycah was not allowed to see where they stored their captive, and soon, the confusion diminished. He was really only able to go where he was led, and had no way to follow up on the questions that burned through his mind. The boy was practically on a leash, and was not allowed to wander too far on his own, least of all to the back of the facility. Many a grunt would scoff that he wasn’t worth the extra effort to keep him on their side, and that he should be locked away with the rest of them, but something was keeping them from forcing the issue on their own.

Mycah lingered about the outer wall of the base of operations, where he suspected they would be deployed from once more. There were no orders yet, as many groups were returning still and the traffic needed to be regulated. Despite the gaps in his reservoir of knowledge that he had to his disposal, he knew that they were taking these opponents with them somehow, further into the facility than he was allowed. For what purpose, he didn’t know… all he could wonder was what they could have done that would warrant a battle in the first place. Mycah was, however, easily manipulated; a lack of understanding for a situation was never a reason to prompt idleness.

Tamotsu’s eyes flickered open as he slowly began to come around. His head was spinning due to the knock-out gas that Team Rocket had used. It took him a moment to realize that someone had a hold of him, and that they were moving him. He instinctively began to struggle. As his vision began to clear he noticed that he had been in a cage, and was now lying flat out on a stretcher with someone hovering over him. That someone was clad in black with the same R emblem he noticed earlier. He remembered, from back in the day, the priests had told him about Team Rocket. How sinister and cruel an organization they could be. But the priests themselves had never had direct encounters with Team Rocket. So it could be said that they were just rumors; rumors that Tamotsu, currently was beginning to believe.

“Quit struggling,” the grunt finally said, in a gruff manner, having to strap Tamotsu to the stretcher to transport him. This made the ninetails even more uneasy. Unable to move even his arms, he began to panic. His eyes flicked from side to side as he tried desperately to see what was going on, but all he could see were the lights from the ceiling as the stretcher rolled it’s way down a corridor to the ‘exam room’. As they moved along the Grunt finally began to explain a few things; not that that the eased Tamotsu’s mind. For what was coming, did not sound pleasant in the slightest.

“You’re going to see a Doctor, Doctor Murphey. He wants to run a few tests on you and give you. So just hold on okay.” This time the grunt sounded a bit nicer. Was he sympathizing with the poor child or was there another reason?

Tamotsu had never been fond of check-ups or doctors for that matter; even the ones that gave you lollipops at the end of their exam. Plus, something told Tamotsu he wasn’t going to be getting a lollipop after this. He squirmed a little, until they arrived in the Exam room. The grunt began to unload Tammy onto an exam table and gave him fair warning; “If you struggle any more once I unhook you, I’ll have to use force, and you won’t like that,” he stated simply.

Tamotsu gulped, and nodded his head. Out of fear he would obey. After all, he was just a kid.

“Before Doctor Murphey shows up, I’ve been told we need a sample of your blood. The nurse will be in in a moment. So let’s just relax.”

Tamotsu brought his legs up in a fetal position and just sat their tense…waiting. The grunt had taken to leaning against the wall, simply watching. Pretty soon the door opened and a more elegant looking lady grunt appeared. She gave a somewhat wicked grin as she introduced herself as the one who be drawing Tammy’s blood today; like some kind of vampire that seriously enjoyed her job waaaay too much. She put on gloves and ordered the ninetailed fox to show her his arm where she promptly cleaned the skin and wrapped a band around the top of the arm so she could set about looking for a vein. When she found one she let out an “Aha! Here we go,” before taking the needle and sticking it and slowly beginning to draw the blood.

Tamotsu’s ears flattened against his skull. It hurt, this blood draw. It was painfully uncomfortable. And when she finished, she simply bandaged his arm as if it were no big deal. Tammy’s tails began to wiggle around behind him which seemed to make the nurse overjoyed. She had never seen a poke human before let alone one that was known to be a powerful psychic. She was very tempted to test the legend and pull one of the great ninetails tails, but before she could, yet another nurse appeared and said she would begin the normal pre check-up.

Tammy watched as the first nurse left with the blood sample, somewhat relived that she was finally gone. But still worried about this new nurse. But the new nurse just gave a standard exam. She listened to Tammy’s heart and lungs, and looked in his ears and eyes. She was even careful to stay away from Tammy’s tails. Which was probably a good idea. Most likely she was leaving those for Dr. Murphey to inspect himself. That didn’t ease Tamotsu’s mind at all. If Tammy didn’t like these nurses or grunts, what made him think Dr. Murphey would be any better?

After the nurses left, only the original grunt remained. And that’s when Tammy finally began to talk. “Why…why are you guys doing this?” he whispered, biting his lip, afraid of what the response might be.

But he got no response. So instead of trying to ask any more questions, he simply clammed up and just sat, picking at the bandage and eyeing the clock in the room. Who knew what would happen next? All Tammy was sure of, was that he wanted to get out of there; and fast. But would anyone come to his rescue? He sure hoped so.

Angel felt eyes on him as he knelt by the young woman laying on the ground, and he gave the Bisharp boy a hard look. He would recall that it was him who separated that purple Torchic from her distraught trainer. "I'm Angel, and I heard her name is Ransom yes?" "Yes. Please save her if you can." "All I can do is try." "Thank you...thank you..." she sobbed in quiet relief as Angel took to the skies chasing after the van from a safe distance.



Ransom was a bundle of aches and cuts, and when she woke up she was disoriented from pain and the slight blood loss of the wounds sustained during her battle. She groaned some and dug in her pocket, glad that Sofya insisted she keep some things on her person at all times. She popped a berry into her mouth and chewed on it, feeling a little stronger and clear headed. Checking again she realized she didn't have her potion anymore, so she'd have to make due with her slight berry boost. "Sofya..." her trainers name said softly, worried. "I'll get home to you soon...I promise." her fingers curled into determined fists. She wasn't about to take this laying down!



To say Iah was on a mission was an understatement. Sure he'd only met Riley the one time, but it had been enough to leave a lasting impression on the shadow Cresselia. One that had him in a murderous rage. This wasn't a good thing for who ever had nabbed him.

It was as he got closer that his swift travel became a crawl, and he snarled in rage, trying to force his suddenly heavy and uncooperative body to move. Realizing this wasn't about to happen he stopped struggling to move, and instead cast his mind out to see if he could sense anyone...his eyes closed and he relaxed just enough to do that.

Found yoooou.... there was a low hiss from Iah's mind, aimed at the presence he felt but had yet to see. "Release me!" his words growled out in anger, eyes snapping open then, darting around the landscape rapidly.




Alchemy was glad to be done with the captures for the moment, she wanted to grab something to eat, and a shower. Still she was beyond pleased with her haul having gotten the Keldeo and this legendary hybrid girl. "I wonder what sort of interesting things the doc will find out about them." she was looking at the two in cages as they were unloaded and taken to separate rooms. "Who knows Al, but the sooner we drop these two, the sooner we can take a break before we go back out." "I could go for a nap in a warm patch of sun as much as I know that won't happen." "You sure you're a Houndom and not a Snorlax." that comment brought a low growl from her, sending her human partner off with a laugh of amusement. Unlike the others he wasn't afraid of her.



Noble woke to find himself in a place he didn't recognize at all, and all around him he heard voices whimpers and cries. Pokemon and changed ones alike begging to be let out, some threatening, etc. He could hear someone begging for water...to be let out...and he tried to find the source of the voice... hearing the Dew from her. "A Dewgong? I hope..." he hoped she was okay. A water pokemon needed water after all.

It was when he found himself being manhandled to a stretcher and wheeled through the labs that he saw her, and he struggled to move his hand enough to be able to send a blast of water towards her cell, hoping it would hit her enough to help though the action resulted in him being clobbered upside the head with the butt of a gun, making him dizzy.

Hearing blood was going to be drawn didn't bother him as much as it could have. Until he caught sight of Amit something about his looks didn't sit well with him, and Noble began to struggle, and thrash, nearly toppling the stretcher he was bound to. They didn't want him on his feet, he'd be dangerous then, they all knew that!

Sverre gave a growling sound as he looked around the small cell that he was in, finding himself growing more and more agitated as more time passed. The fact that he normally had a whole island to roam on, a whole island that belonged to him, and he was now in a tiny room that barely let him stretch his wings. It was something that caused his tail to swishing behind him before he gave a loud, angry screeching sound before he lunged, throwing himself into the bars at the front of his 'cage'. It didn't really give though, instead causing him a bit of damage where he'd collided. It was likely that he would bruise, but a beast like Sverre couldn't be bothered with things like that.

Instead he started to prowl around once more, tail lashing, his feet going across the puffy remains of the mattress that he'd earlier shredded. He was an easily irritably creature, one that wanted to make a mess of the cage he was in, finding it to be a good way to waste energy. He couldn't get at the people that he wanted to get his claws on, couldn't get himself free of his cage, couldn't get home to his island, so instead he would merely make a mess of this place. It was the manner in which any wild animal might react when they were dragged out of the wild and put into a cage.

He continued to prowl around, continuing to make a mess, until a member of Team Rocket passed by. It was something that caused him to react by once more throwing himself into the bars, snarling, one arm reaching between the bars to claw at the gang member. The man side stepped, but didn't seem to slow down, obviously on his way elsewhere, too busy to be bothered by him.

*****

As he flew along Ramiel gave a little twitch, feeling various spikes of power that were akin to his own. Not those of a Zapdos per say, but something like him, like those powers of a Legendary. There were strange things out there, something dark, and something else, something really odd, that made him wonder exactly what it was. Was it something to do with those that had taken his aerodactyl away? Maybe, maybe not... what would other legendary Pokemon want with Sverre after all. It was a bit on the problematic side that he wasn't even sure who or what it was that he was dealing with. All that he knew for certain was the fact that Sverre was missing, that someone had taken him, and that he was without much in the way of a lead.

Should he follow the strange powers? Should he allow himself to be sidetracked in such a manner? Should he just keep looking for signs of his missing Sverre? Too many questions, not nearly enough time to answer them all.

Flapping his wings a bit faster, speeding up his flight, he continued his search for anything or anyone that might point him in the right direction. He needed to find Sverre, before he got into trouble, before someone got hurt, it was his fault. He hadn't kept a good enough eye on the feral creature, had let someone sweep in and take him away. It wasn't something that he should have allowed to happen. No matter, he would find Sverre and he would bring him home, back to where the aerodacytl would be safe and others would be safe from him. Damn fools, taking someone like Sverre away from where he belonged... how he looked forward to bringing down a thunder storm upon them.

*****

Petaya found himself tossed bodily into a cell along with the net that he was captured in. The door was closed behind him and locked, those who carried him in walking away, chatting among themselves as the little Joltik lay in a still heap. Instead of moving or struggling to get free of the net he merely laid there for a long moment. One of the men, as he was carried to the cage, had mentioned a 'doctor' that was going to see him soon. It was something that one would assume would be a good thing, doctors were a good thing, but in this instance it sounded ominous. It made him want nothing more then to either curl up in a ball and cry or to hide... maybe both?

Opening his many purple eyes he looked around a moment through the net he was still entangled in, spotting a bed that was nearby, and instantly he was scrambling to get under it. Only once he was 'safe' under the bed did he tried to get free of the clingy net. Escaping from the hold of the net he scooted forward to the foot of the bed, peeking out between the bars, trying to get a look around. There were other cells it seemed, holding... well, who knew what. From here he could see a couple others, and he hear something screaming from somewhere. He gave an all over shiver as he heard that sound, something that made him wonder if Team Rocket was also catching monsters along with little kids like him.

That was something that made him shiver, ducking under the bed once more, and from there just studied what he could see from him hiding spot. Not too much, not really, though there was something in another cage that kind of interested him. He looked like... hrm, what was it? Something... important. He couldn't say exactly, not really, but there was definitely something important about the guy that tried to ring a bell in Petaya's head. He hadn't gotten it yet, but he hoped to figure it out soon, without starring.

*****

The search for the missing Keldeo was ongoing, with Devin following along after the tracks that he'd found at the scene of where he felt that Noble had been taken from. He couldn't say that he was a master tracker but he was doing his best. He wanted badly to catch up with the perpetrators after all, to figure out who it was that had taken Noble. He would chase them down, give them a good kick with one of his large hooves, then he'd taken back Noble from them. His mind was whirling through various scenarios that led to Noble being taken, but everything that came to mind all seemed to come back to the same thing. Surely it had to be the fact that Noble was Legendary, right? Why else would someone snag him up?

Surely they must know that, once they got their stars, that people couldn't catch them in Pokeballs anymore? But what if they meant to keep and train Noble regardless? A thought that only caused him to be in that worse of a mood. He didn't want to think about that, that someone was off picking on poor Noble somewhere. Hand tightening on the handle of the axe he carried he sped up his steps once more. He had to hurry, before his kidnappers did anything weird or untoward to Noble.

There was so much noise now that everyone else was waking up. Chloe stretched out her petite body on the floor of her damp cell and slowly ran hands down her sore legs. The last thing I want to do is become stiff because of being shoved into a cage like this. She shuddered at the thought of just freezing up like some corpse to be tossed away. Surely it wouldn't come to that...right?

She had to bit the inside of her cheek as the names of her two dearest memories came back to haunt her. Neither of the boys would be here to rescue her...she had to remind herself of that. Just as before she would be on her own and would have to figure her own way out of this mess.

Still there was a lot of despair around her. Closing her eyes Chloe listened to the noises from the nearby cells. Despite her best wishes her own heart was thudding in her ears from nerves. What would happen now? Could she even begin thinking of a way to get out of here? For those who were near panicking if not already so, including herself, the girl started to hum softly. It was a sweet tune full of promise that drifted down the halls as she leaned against the icy bars.

1, 2, 3, 4...

In his cell Ilmari moved little seedlings through his fingers in a twirling manner. Up, down, over, inside, back...he watched them thoughtfully. What should he do? He had promised to give Tryce time, but the whimsicott was beginning to get worried. It truly sounded like things were getting heated in some of the other cells and perhaps a fight was starting soon.

If they get distracted perhaps then I could find a way to slip through. He smirked at the irony of life. Becoming a human had robbed him of older abilities such as just lifting through the air to squeeze through cracks to freedom. But then again I gained other things. Clutching the seeds in a tight fist he imagined punching the wall. Fists were good to have in these situations as well...he just had to wait to be able to use them.

His gaze swept around the room. Now how strong were these walls and bars exactly? If he paid close attention he could feel the faintest breeze moving through the hallways. It would be a shame if a strange hurricane happened to sweep through...


"It's super guarded you know." Raxka had sighed as she leaned forward to peer towards the facility, "What do you think you can do, just waltz in there?" After slowly scanning all the guards and the possible alarms she had glanced back towards her pacing companion.

"It's an idea." Tryce had nodded slowly before stopping to face her frustrated glare, "Alright, alright. It is Team Rocket though so how hard can it be to sneak in?"

Famous last words those.

Raxka had finally decided to done an disguise to try to weasel her way into the facility with a tied up Tryce, "We have a newcomer here." She purred tugging at the chain binding her companion to her hands. Bold and brave the ampharos had swiftly changed into her team rocket uniform like a pro. It always paid off to have such outfits handy after all considering how many times Team Rocket liked to step on their toes.

"Oh?"

Like normal both boys were too interested in their 'rocket teamate' to really question things. Winking Raxka had managed to wiggle her way past only to be interrupted by another member of teamrocket approaching. Leave it to a higher grunt to question a situation. Especially a glaring female grunt who obviously did not appreciate her coworkers drooling over someone else.

"I don't recall seeing you before...nor do I remember hearing about a new capture..."

"Darlin' there's so much going on here that I'm sure it's alright that you're confused." Raxka smiled ever so sweetly, "I won't let a soul know that you lost the newest information. This one here is a good catch and I have to get it in quickly before he wakes up. They said it took a lot of needles to get this guy down."

Of course the arguments persisted and just as Raxka had control of the situation again her 'drugged' captive suddenly let out a loud sneeze. At the same time his wings unfurled from his back revealing the identity of a familiar thieving fiend to Team Rocket. And just like that his movements made all hell break lose. Cursing under her breath the girl had to throw Tryce towards the grunts and reached out to smack them with a good jolt of lightning.

Still the results came clean as Tryce and Raxka quickly and quietly moved the now 'sleeping' rocket members to the side. "Just had to sneeze didn't you?"

Tryce wrinkled his nose, "I couldn't help it. That girl had so much perfume on that I could smell her a mile away." Truly though he had just been impatient with the whole facade. It was much easier this way, "No costumes from now on. Let's just stick to the shadows."

Raxka huffed, "I had it under control you know. Not my fault your big a** wings are hard to hide. Could have just walked up to them and sailed right in, but nope. Had to deal with you somehow." Tossing her head back the girl started walking along into the facility, "Don't even think my nurse outfit won't work better than this one on them." Medical facilities needed nurses right? She definitely had the next scenario planned out now...

Tryce could only shake his head and laugh softly beneath his breath as he followed.