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Promoted. He'd been promoted. Of course, it had taken darn near a year for the higher ups to realize he was a trainee, not someone hired to be a long-term janitor for the base, but promoted was promoted. And it made Alba smile goofily to think about it. And to think, he could've still been wasting away at a dead end job at a rundown bar back at Saffron. Now he was getting promotions (even if it was only the one), and had a team of three Pokemon, despite never having any other Pokemon in his history. Maybe he wasn't such an unfortunate soul, after all.

"Alright, guys, let's call it a day," the recently promoted grunt called, grinning to himself as his team assembled before him. Ever since that training session with Claire some time ago, he'd been trying to get into a better habit of making the time for sessions at the training room. None of his Pokemon had evolved just yet, but he was feeling a lot more confident about the possibility of one day having to be in a Pokemon battle.

Spook nestled onto his shoulder as he led the group back into the small locker rooms. It wasn't anything fancy, or at least not in the one Al favored, but you weren't expected to need much when simply training Pokemon to practice moves. "Take a rest, Hazel. You did a good job today. Twitch, you, too. Spook?" The Chingling pouted, clearly stating that she indeed did NOT want to go back into her Pokeball like the Deerling and Pidgey had just done. "Come on, Spook. It'll make it quicker for getting us up to the dining hall." THAT worked! Spook was gone in an instant with barely a squeak. Al chucked, clipped the Pokeballs to his waist, and set to gathering what few items he had left sitting in locker 117.

Suddenly, a voice broke through the silence of the otherwise empty room. "Ross!" Al frowned. Not many knew him by name, and those who did call him by his last name were usually superiors with files in hand for reference.

Shrugging, Alba started to step out into the aisle around the row of lockers, expecting to see a white-clad agent with a clipboard. They did get the memo that he wasn't cleaning the bathrooms anymore, right? "Yes, sir?" he began to say, but what came out was, "Yes s-." All he saw at that point was a set of knuckles. And here he had thought a promotion would make things easier...

"Gah!" Alba gasped as he was slammed into the lockers by his shirt collar. The sound of a head colliding with thin metal could make for a very loud noise. For a moment, he felt sure there should be stars floating around his head (or maybe Staryu, his dazzed mind offered), but then the red-clad brute holding him pinned a few inches off the ground was speaking again. Something low and threatening, Alba was sure. He already knew exactly what this was all about, did he really need to hear anymore? He really didn't want to. He glared back fiercely, regardless.

Spook's Pokeball had been twitching since the first kick. She knew something was wrong. Why wasn't Alba releasing her? Something wasn't right! Another punch connected with Alba's gut, knocking what little air he had out of him again, before he was dropped to the floor.

The Pokeball opened, and the Chingling burst forward. "CHING!" How dare this human hurt her human! "CHIIIIIII-"

"S-Spook, no..." Alba tried breathlessly, but it came out more as a pained groan and wince as he clutched his stomach. Spook, however, was not happy. Her human was in pain, and there was a ring forming around one eye. "Spook... return." No. No no no. Not happening. She was not going back like nothing was happening-

"Poochyena!" Another flash of light, and the dog-like Pokemon appeared snarling in front of the well built man. The thug grinned evilly. "Found you a chew toy."

Alba felt cold at that, and Spook gave a nervous squeak. "Spook..." he wheezed, pushing himself up on one arm with a good deal of difficulty. Oh, Arceus, why did everything have to hurt? Didn't he used to have a better pain tolerance than this? Spook couldn't do this. He couldn't let her hurt a person, and she didn't know the first thing about an actual Pokemon battle, much less how to do one against her type weakness without Alba to say commands. He really was just a weak old man. "Spook... find... AH!" he was cut off when yet another kick landed against his side. The Poochyena lunged at the same time. Spook let out a shrill cry, ducked in the nick of time, and bolted from the room, out into the main training area, wailing all the way. Find someone. Find someone. Find someone. The Poochyena was hot on her tassels.

The large Trainee smirked. "Did you even tell them what you are? Probably not. You're garbage. Not worth the wasted space you walk in. But who know? Maybe they can find something to do with you in the labs." Despite himself, Alba dropped his gaze. "That's the only use you'll ever be."

"Chiiiiiiiiiii!" Spook wailed and levitated as quickly as her little body could manage at Claire. The Cookie Lady! She liked the Cookie Lady! The Cookie Lady had strong Pokemon and could help Spook's human! "Chi! Chi chi CHI!" Spook wasn't content with following. Her human needed help, and Claire, as far as Spook was concerned, couldn't move quickly enough! And in Spook's current terminology, "quickly enough" meant "before the first blow landed."

Inside the smaller room, Alba suddenly appeared in view of the open door. He didn't notice the approaching rescue party to his right, however. The assailant had lifted Alba and shoved him at the wall, and all Alba could focus on at that moment were two thoughts. First, ow. Second... where was Spook? If that Poochyena had gotten her...

He winced as he held his right side, struggling to stay standing. This wasn't so hard when a fist closed roughly around the collar of his shirt once more, holding him with near choking force. Injuries and not hurting people be damned. He'd kill this man personally if Spook was hurt.

"What's it look like, little girl?" the man-- late 20's, well built and muscled, not too bright looking, definite criminal record-- answered after he recovered, like it was the most obvious thing. "I'm teaching that piece of trash a lesson! Now back off if you know what's good for you."

Alba had flinched when he was suddenly released, fully expecting to be struck again. But then nothing happened, except a loud clamor, and someone else talking. Wait, what? He blinked multiple times, finally clearing his vision as Spook, still looking absolutely distraught, blocked his view completely. "Ling! Chingling!" Alba cringed as the sound bounced around inside his head, but forced a smile anyway.

"Thanks, Spook. Glad that... urk... you're okay." Since his left arm was busy shielding what would be a very nasty bruise to his right ribs, he patted the large bell on the head with his right arm, at the same time lowering her hover so he could see who his rescuer was- "Claire?" Okay, now THAT was unexpected. "Claire- ow- w-wait..." He grit his teeth and put all of his weight into leaning back against the lockers he stood/slumped against.

What? No! Nononononono! "Claire, don't-" Alba hissed when he tried to straighten and stand on his own two feet. Damn it, why hadn't he bothered to fight back? The trainee kept calling him trash, and that's exactly what Alba had felt like when he found out the reasoning behind it. But now it wasn't just him in this. Spook and Claire...

No.

Just no.

"Spook, wrap!"

"Chi!" Whatever the trainee was expecting, it wasn't a face-full of Chingling. He startled and took a step back, and the Pokemon lifted up and out of the way in time for Alba's fist... to have not much strength to it. Hey! It was still a punch! Just... very not effective.

The man chuckled, and grabbed Alba by the wrist to twist and shove aside. "No wonder they gave you the boot!" Alba hit the floor again, gritting his teeth to the point he was sure there could almost be damage. "You're seriously siding with that?" he demanded of Claire, giving an amused scoff. "You're probably just as bad. Just another traitor!" And with that, he took the first swing at Claire.

Alba grunted, but otherwise stayed quiet. Not good. Very not good. This guy was going to attack Claire now- but then Claire made the situation do a 180, and he just blinked up at the scene. "Yeah, no worries. I'm down," Alba answered from the floor, this time not too worried with getting up. He could be the punching bag dummy again if needed, but for now, Claire seemed to be holding her own quite well.

This trainee wasn't out, though, and obviously didn't know when to call it quits. "P-Pathetic? Pathetic?! You really don't know what he is?" Alba closed his eyes and just lay there, feeling completely defeated as the taller man waved an arm in his direction. Not only because he was, but because now Claire would know- "He's a cop from Saffron!" - that. Head, meet floor. "And you don't know who you're messing with if you think that's just going to fly!" He stepped forward, pointing a finger at Claire in what was intended to be a threatening way.

"What are you, a grunt? Some rookie? I'm supposed to stand here and take this from some... whatever you are? Well, not today, Missy. I heard all about that League guy getting caught, giving away all of Team Rocket's secrets-"

Alba rolled his eyes from his spot on the floor. This guy really did need to check his facts, starting with who all was there when Lance was caught, if that's the argument he was going for. "She's an agent rank, you moron. I'm the grunt." Probably not the smartest time for him to be throwing out insults, he considered, when he heard more than he saw the man's temper flaring again. Still, he'd been open about his past profession when he'd been recruited, and it was all there in his Team Rocket paperwork. It was the mob mentality, that he could be a spy like Lance, that worried him now.

"I- A- P- You-" The trainee fumbled about, either trying to think of a way to save face or debating if it was even worth trying. Or he'd forgotten how to tie his shoes, was the silly and random thought that came to Alba's mind. Arceus, he needed an aspirin. Or ten. "Yes, ma'am," the man finally settled on saying, even if it clearly wasn't what he really wanted to say. Glaring between the two, he started to stomp angrily for the room. Not like the stupid cop had even shown any sign of remembering who he was-

"Davis James." The trainee froze. "Arrested ten years ago for possession, resisting arrest, and for attacking a police officer during that arrest. Pr-Previous charges," Alba continued, rolling onto his side so he could push himself up to be sitting against the lockers. Spook was right there beside him, clinging to him and looking him up and down worriedly. Her human put a reassuring hand on top of her head to calm her down for the moment, "include shoplifting, a string of parking tickets, reckless driving, and at least three calls to the residence for domestic disputes. No charges pressed for the calls, but you were ordered by the courts to seek help in anger management."

Alba lifted his head so he could stare at the trainee in a very "screw you" manner. When he spoke, it was low and hoarse. "You were betting that I wouldn't remember you, probably thinking you could have your payback and kicks and then go about your merry way, with myself either in the dungeons as a spy, or cowering like a kicked mutt as I go about my duties. Or maybe just plain dead. But I swear to whatever deity could ever be listening, you piece of filth," he all but spat the word, "not everything you read is true. I remember very, very well. And I have no problem with sharing exactly every little secret you hold dear, because you know I've seen your records, and you know I've done the background checks. Besides," he nodded to Claire, "you're the one who just attacked an Agent. A superior officer. How, exactly, do you think that's going to 'fly?'"

The man was beet red in the face. He continued to shift his gaze angrily between the two for another moment, before finally making his retreat out to the main room. Once there, he recalled his downed Poochyena, and left for... wherever he was going. Alba really didn't care where the brute went. "Well... that was eventful." He chuckled lightly, but it was quickly followed by a hiss and flinch as he hugged his chest. "Ow."