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All of Team Rocket had been working relentlessly for a month after Luece gave them the order to find team of Galactics had Kidnapped.
The most important being the Executive Lore, that had come out to be The Rocket Boss' brother.

Earlier that day, A team of Rockets had been sent out, with a former Galactic to steal back the missing Rockets.
Not only had they succeeded in this mission, but the team had returned with none other then the Galactic Boss himself!

It was no wonder that the while base was in celebration mode! Nearly every Rocket was feeling the success of their hard work, and their pride for the team with the big red "R"!

Faleen couldn't help a smile as she walked through the halls of the HQ, smiling Rockets and up beat noises of chatter music and laughing.
It was rare that the air feels like this, so to have a reason to be happy as a team, was a truly wonderful thing.

The Agent had just finished her assignment of bringing Deimos down to the brig.
Had he not been an enemy, she might have felt a little bad for locking him up, since he really was he was as she always said, a child in a man's body. but she had done her job, without hesitation, and without a word to the man.

With that finished the engineer made her her way to the infirmary, where she knew most, if not all, of the Rockets from the mission would be.

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unlike the rest of HQ, the Infirmary was as calm, and quiet as it usually was, strikingly kept this way by the medics and doctors manning the rooms.
They were far more busy it seemed though, with the number of Rockets who had been injured on this mission.

Faleen was lead to the recovery ward, where most of the Rockets were being treated, or placed after various surgeries and checkups.

The Grunt Jerome was still in surgery, as of yet his condition wasn't for certain, but it wasn't looking good for the Tattooed man.

Bro and Boss were sitting in the recovery room with the rest of the team, looking somber and worried, just staring at the ground.

He'd been all right. Dehydrated, under-nourished and in desperate need of a shower, but those were all easily fixed. They'd treated the burns on his arms, told him he'd have scars, stripped off the t-shirt he'd never wear again, gave him a saline I.V. and told him to rest. That put him in a white bed in a white room, staring up at a white ceiling while he listened to shoes click on a tile floor.

It was the first time Hayes had been a disobedient patient in his life.

Getting caught was an inevitability, and he gave the stern woman with a clipboard what was left of his smile when she appeared and said "You were one of the hostages? You need to be back in bed."

"Actually, no. I've been here an hour, they took care of the burns-" He shrugged. "I'm feeling pretty good." The blond pinched an unburnt patch of skin on his arm to show how it snapped back into place. "I need a shower and shave and you don't need a scene, so 'f you could take this I.V. out I can go do that and be back by curfew. It'll be great." He was feeling somewhat lightheaded, but that was probably to do with being able to actually see. Who knew how Faleen had gotten a hold of his glasses; he'd have to ask her about that. There were a lot of things he wanted to ask her about.

The nurse gestured Faleen to the room that she had asked about, the agent thanked her politely, and she continued in to check on her fellow team mates.
She got two steps into the room before a few different things draw Faleen to an abrupt stop.

The Rocket Boss was sitting in the room, next to his brother while he was getting treated.
Her eyebrows arched in surprise, having expected them to get some other special room.
From the far end, the shouting and complaining of a familiar "Not quite Rocket" while he got treated earned a glance from the blond agent.
goodness, he was something else.

And then Hayes, Standing and talking with Lore nurse who was taking his IVs out.
Faleen couldn't seem to take another step into the room, suddenly REALLY nervous for some reason.
A feeling that was betrayed by the red flushing of her cheeks.

She stood there, unsure of what to say or do, considering leaving and coming back at a more appropriate time.
She had no business there really, not when everyone just got back and probably wanted to rest, not with the Boss there, she had no business being there when the Boss was sitting with his brother. She had no business being anywhere the boss was! It was the Boss!

Hayes turned and looked at her.
catching his eye her shoulders gave a surprise jerk as she straightened her posture, the hands behind her back tightened into one another and she forgot what she was worrying about.

He looked warn down, skinny, he had facial hair, and he looked like he was still in pain. It was hard to think of what they had done to him back at Galactic, hard to see her comrade, her direct superior in Tech in a state like this.
But there was something else.. something in the way he was looking at her, like he was... looking at her
He had never looked at her like this before... at least, not so blatantly.

"Hey." she greeted back, blinking a couple of times before she cleared her throat, stepping forward herself when he started to walk, putting on a gentle smile.
"Your welcome, Alphard gave them to me last week."

She seemed to remember where she was, glancing from Hayes, to Lore, and Lucere.
Her eyebrows arched and she shifted to address all of the higher ranks before her in a much more composed professional manner.
"Please excuse me- Sirs, Boss." She offered a polite bow, her arms dropping down to her side. "I don't mean to intrude, I was just coming to see how the team was doing."
She gave a quick glance around the room before ending her gaze back on Hayes, continuing her thought "The Tech department's been without its lead for some time." She said with a more pleasant smile, her eyebrows lifting up slightly over her eyes. "I'm sure they would all be please to hear that your walking around so soon, Hayes, Sir."

He'd forgotten what her eyes were like, all their subtle variegations. Her hair had gotten longer but her voice was what he'd heard, recalled inside the confines of his head. He listened to every word, even the ones that spoke about his absence, even the dividing 'sir.' Hayes cleared his throat. "Yeah, they- didn't leave a lot of marks." His eyes dropped away, came back. "I guess he hung around with you then. Thanks for that."

A crisp British accent cut through his thoughts; Frost had apparted in from somewhere and was talking about reports. He blinked at the other blond, feeling like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over his head. "Oh. Hey Frost. Uh.. thanks. Sounds like you guys kept things running; I'll be sure to read them."

He looked back at Faleen and the water evaporated.

This was getting awkward; it was all he could do not to reach out and close the distance between them. He clamped a hand to the back of his neck. "Listen, I-" missed you, thought about you, realized you- "-'m gonna go get cleaned up, all right?" His fingers twitched, brushed the back of her hand; he curled them back, forced his feet to turn away. "I'll talk to you later." Please. You were the worst part of being gone.

It was a downright shame that a certain informant hadn't been present to witness the exchange between the new tech department head and his very own partner. He would have had a lot to say, for sure, but as he was away, at least Agent Frost was present to break up the curiously intimate atmosphere that had started to form around them.

Grunt Nakura was still too busy tracking down a stubborn, red-headed agent who had been too reckless be able to get back in touch with headquarters on his own. When they returned, however, the missed post-mission party would just be one more thing the grunt could add to his list of grudges against the rebellious teen. Hopefully it wouldn't be the last time he'd have a chance to confirm his hunch about the relations between Hayes and Faleen.

As far as Grunt Shadow, the teen had gotten himself washed up and bandaged after the first-aid burn treatments from Grunt Arcadie on the ship. He'd shed his usual coat and jeans to be washed and opted for the standard grunt uniform to wear over his bandaged chest before restlessly patrolling the infirmary. There was no way he could just sit still in a bed and lie down.

It was as if he had already returned to his prominent grunt job as a hall monitor, with a couple of small differences. The first was that he was actually visiting said infirmary for a reason other than hall-monitoring - to search for his fellow Rockets there. Specifically, to check on those who had spent the last month in Galactic's base with him and to graciously thank the brave souls who had risked themselves to bring the captives safely back to headquarters. To Shadow, this was home now, and nothing compared to being back home.

The second change was that the Jolteon that had been given to him earlier was close at his heels. She had not ceased following him since they'd left the Galactic airship and she still refused to return to her pokeball for whatever reason. Her amber eyes watched him with something of a mix of contempt and concern, and Shadow couldn't help but be unnerved by her stare. More than once he'd thought she was going to shock him, and she looked like she'd dearly wanted to. Why did she keep looking at him like that? Was it something he'd done?

Unable to puzzle this out, he tried his best to ignore her as he made his way through the halls and past the rooms. Other Rockets were already paying visits to familiar faces, and one room even occupied the Rocket Boss himself, along with his brother, the Executive Loreven.

Things had been made clear to the grunt after they had gotten off the ship, but that didn't keep him from being embarrassed for being so horribly ignorant all that time. The shy underling quickly hurried past the room, noticing more Agents around and politely excusing himself as he passed. This was no place for him to be. He still felt like he hardly knew anyone.

Shadow figured most of the other captives would be surrounded by the other Rockets who'd missed them during their prolonged stay with the Galactics, so he opted to let them have their privacy before going to check on them. He had spent the last month cooped up with them, after all, and they were likely to be sick of each other's company. And Jerome - poor Jerome was still in surgery. Likely he wouldn't be allowed to have visitors for a while.

However, there was one face among the Rocket rescuers that Shadow did search for. Like himself, that one was a relatively new Rocket, and like himself, that one was a grunt. It wouldn't be so awkward to go visit him. So with Lindsay still sticking close and Shadow peering through the doors of each room he passed, the kid attempted to locate Grunt Rory, who had been pretty badly injured the last time he'd seen him.

Meanwhile, the lone Haunter that had been tailing along after the Rockets continued to do so as he phased off the ship, entering headquarters after some hesitation and acting for all the world like he belonged to one of the members inside. The pokemon had looked sympathetic after he'd heard that the Galactic commander was claustrophobic and that he was being sent to solitary confinement, but there was nothing he could do about it. It wasn't his place.

Passing through the halls, the ghost-type wandered aimlessly about, regarding Rockets as they passed and just generally observing the celebratory activities of the organization.

It hadn't exactly felt like it at the time, with the pain and the trouble walking that she'd found herself with, but Tambrey had actually been pretty lucky injury-wise anyway considering what had happened to most of the others she supposed.

She had burns from multiple electric shocks and the bruises and obvious trauma from being beaten rather badly.
The almost plant root-like burn patterns that marked where she'd been shocked were her 'favourites' so far. Hopefully they'd fade, at least a bit, but even then she knew she wouldn't forget how they'd felt.

Like the others time in the cells had left her undernourished and dehydrated, but even if she'd been able to walk properly, she didn't seem all the inclined to leave the bed she'd been assigned anyway. She chose to sit on the edge of it rather than laying down and, without her glasses being returned yet ('why would she need them in a bed in the infirmary?'), she was watching a blurry doorway.

There were still people in surgery... The people who had come to rescue them and people she'd shared a cell with.
This and other thoughts crept around in her mind and she stayed sat there, feet not quite on the floor, thinking and worrying while she appeared to be slightly lost in her own thoughts.

When Agents Frost and Faleen acknowledged him Lucere offered a small nod. He didn't seem overly concerned with formalities at the moment. He wasn't here on official business, after all.

From her bed in the corner, TRP spotted Seth's arrival. Her torso was heavily bandaged and she looked tired, but otherwise okay. "Hey Partner." She smirked up at the tall man, "Wondered if you'd show up."

As more people arrived at the infirmary, the volume of Star's whining came down. He seemed less inclined to keep screeching when he had an audience. Still wearing a look of displeasure, he watched the Rocket medic finish bandaging his leg, then shifted his attention to the other conversations in the room. He heard the Rocket he'd come to know as Faleen mention something about the Tech department being without its lead. He eyed Hayes. So he was in charge of the Tech department.

Star chuckled and spoke to anyone nearby who cared to listen, "I should probably offer up a reminder that I'll soon be taking over as the head of the Tech department." He smoothed his hair and cast a smirk across the room at Lucere, "Perhaps more than that. We haven't thoroughly discussed it yet."

The Rocket boss lifted his gaze to meet Star's. His expression was serious. "I suppose now's as good a time as any."

Star perked up, "Excellent! Well as I said the Tech department is a given, but there are numerous departments that could benefit from my expertise. Do you have a weapons department?"

Lucere reached into his coat and pulled out a small black communicator. "Please deliver Mister Sager's uniform to the infirmary."

Star blinked, "Ah... formalities first. Of course."

Only a minute or two passed before an Executive Agent arrived. A crisp black uniform was folded and draped over his arm. He acknowledged the boss with a glance before delivering the uniform to Star's bed.

Star examined the garment a moment, blinking. He eyed the Executive, then Lucere, "I'm confused.. I was under the impression Executive uniforms were white." He gestured at the nearby exec.

"They are."

Star's brow furrowed. He eyed the uniform again, then looked across the room at Seth and TRP. He knew they were both Elites. Their uniforms were black. He frowned and turned his eyes back to Lucere, "Elite isn't the rank we agreed on, Temero. I believe I made the arrangement clear, I-"

"That's a Grunt uniform, Mister Sager." Lucere clarified coolly. "Not Elite."

Star stared. Blinking, he lifted up the neatly folded fabric. Lucere was right. Just black fabric and a red R. No stripes. A hat tumbled from the folds and landed in his lap, "I.. I don't...." After the moment of shock wore off he tensed and glared at the blue-haired man. "That wasn't the deal we made!"

"Yes, I know. I lied."

"But.. but- but-" Star sputtered, cheeks flushing red, "I betrayed my entire team for a position of power here!!! I gave up everything for this!!!!"

"Which is precisely why you have no business in a position of power." Lucere's voice was still calm in the face of Star's shouting. "If it's any consolation, I've allowed you to skip the rank of Trainee, based on your former experience. Congratulations."

Still holding his new uniform, Star's hands tightened into white-knuckled fists.

Lore wore a smirk through the entire exchange. When it looked like Star was too overcome with rage to keep speaking, he nodded in the general direction of the bundle of fabric the ex-Galactic was strangling. "Think I can get one of those?" He turned his eyes back to Lucere.

Lucere blinked, looking a little startled as he faced Lore again, "Excuse me?"

"I look a lot better in black than white."

Lucere stared, then shook his head, "Loreven... Deimos has been captured. The risk of him finding you was the only reason I brought you here. Tethys may still be at large but clearly my decision to hide you in our ranks to keep you safe proved fruitless. I know how you feel about Team Rocket, you don't have to stay here."

Lore chuckled, "I know I don't have to. You should know by now you can't make me do anything I don't want to do. I want to stay. And I want one of those." He gestured at the uniform again.

Lucere's shoulders sank and he betrayed a small smile, "...if you're certain. But you don't have to step down to Grunt, Lore. Your status as Executive may not have been legitimate but-"

"Ah ah." Lore held up a finger, "No special considerations for being the boss's brother. You know how much I hate that. Besides. I'm not Executive material. Too stuffy for my tastes. Just look at that guy." He jerked a thumb at the Executive who'd delivered Star's uniform. The man frowned and folded his arms.

"We all know I'd be happier down in the trenches. Chilling with roomates. Eating in the normal caf. If I'm gonna reach a higher rank I'll work my way to it."

Lucere smirked. The expression seemed foreign on him. Sitting next to Lore it demonstrated how alike the pair really looked. He nodded and eyed the Exec. "Please retrieve another Grunt uniform in my brother's size."

"Sir." The Exec nodded and left.

Lucere patted Lore's arm and climbed to his feet. "I should get back to work."

"You should. Whole company's liable to fall apart if you keep slacking off down here."

Lucere rolled his eyes and adjusted his tie, "I'll visit you later. And don't sneak off. You need rest."

"Sneak off? It's like you don't know me at all."

Lucere sighed, still smirking faintly as he glanced at a nearby nurse, "I mean it. Keep him in here."

"Sir!"

With a nod, Lucere turned and left.

Lore watched the Rocket boss leave, then grinned, looking back at the infirmary's other occupants, "I dunno about you guys but I feel like throwing a party."

At the foot of his bed Espresso and Cappuccino jumped up and down, waving their nubby arms in celebration.

"Whimsi!!"

"Cott!!!"

Across the room Star was still strangling his new uniform, looking like he might lapse into a stroke.