First off, Pokemon and the related characters are property of Nintendo and not of me or cydra.

Exo-Gene and the related elements are a company I made up.

Finally…despite the name…this has no relationship to the pokemon episode of the same name

This is also an unofficial sequel to Cydra's Pokethropy Story, set a year after the events of that story. It is done with his permission

CPS Chronicles: Loose Ends

Co-authored with Cydra

Chapter 1

Central Station

Nullspace

Central station was the capitol of the NSC, a vast planet sized station near a shattered planet that housed close to 3 billon souls and had the facilities to hold twice that. It was a haven for those who wished to hide away.

Matt pondered this, looking across the street at the apartment where their target was. It was a month since the Exo-Gene incident, a month of seeking out the remnants of Kurata's contacts and partners. "Hey, Chloe...you think this'll be actually easy this time? The last bunch tried to escape with an unstable portal."

"Don't think they'll try that again," said Chloe, "Switching head's the least you could worry about with those." Matt nodded as the NSC security team that they were with headed towards the front door. "Party time." Matt said, drawing his blaster.

Aidan was looking at his comm when the door to his apartment literally disintegrated. He reached for his teleporter bracelet and actually touched it before the world spun and a blaster was pressed to his head. "Going somewhere?" said a female voice. "Erm...if I said yes, can I go?" he asked. "Not likely," said the voice as a pair of handcuffs clamped around his wrists, "Read him his rights, Matt." Aidan wisely kept his mouth shut. "This guys no fun." muttered the officer holding him.

--

Matt and Chloe had been invited to Aidans interrogation. Their boss in the CPS, Captain Leyton, Commander Neilsson and Captain Olsen were listening. The officer interrogating looked over at Aidan. "For the last time, where are doctor, Zine, Grouder and Kane?" he said angrily at Aidan. "I don't know," said Aidan, "When Kurata got busted, we all scattered. I don't know who went where."

The officer looked ready to punch Aidans lights out...when he smiled. "Ok...your choice." he said with an evil grin and spoke into his comm. "Get the combine confederacy ambassador on the line." "The combine?" said Aidan in a panicked voice, "You're bluffing!" The officer chuckled and threw a file across the table. It was a combine security drone recording a robbery of some kind. Aidan was quite clearly shown at the controls of a hover vehicle, waiting for the robbers. "You know what the combine do to criminals...shame you dunno anything. We coulda pulled strings...at least when you've done our time in Kryos you can still look human."

"Ok, ok, I'll talk!" yelled Aidan. "We're all ears," said the officer, whose mouth was stretching between those two points. "Ok...I dunno exactly where...but they took alot of research from Balwak a week before it was wrecked...headed for dimension G-142 on the border...thats all I know...I swer." gibbered Aidan. The officer grinned and looked at where the others were watching. "You get that?" he said and offered his 'comm' to Aidan, pressing a button that made a mint fall out. Aidan stared at it then went off into a tirade of colourful language that continued as two guards dragged him away.

--

Matt was laughing his head off at the trick. "I can't believe that worked." he gasped. "This is no laughing matter," snapped Neilsson, "Don't you have any idea what this means?" "Uh, sure, we know where Kurata's former scientists are and now we can bag them," said Matt. "But do know what dimension G-142 is?" demanded Neilsson. Matt drew a blank, "Sorry, hard to remember all those number names."

"Its a strategic place. The combine have been after it for years. The fleets we have there are all that holds the confederacy back. If they are forced to apprehend the doctors then its a sitting duck...but I see no choice." said Neilsson. Olsen spoke up at this "Arnold...are you crazy? That place has no Nullspace knowledge...a fleet turning up will cause hysteria and no doubt the local military would attack."

"Then what do you suggest?" said Neilsson, "A smaller group to quietly capture these three?" "Precisely," said Olsen. Olsen nodded. "Exo-Genes shown in the recent past that a small team can run rings round their security measures...and we have two veterans of doing just that right here." he said, gesturing at Matt and Chloe. Matt said "Can we name the price?"

--

Later...

En-route to Dimension G-142

"Well, he didn't have to be that rude," grumbled Matt as he and Chloe were being flown to their drop-off point. Chloe just smirked happily as the Skyraid flew past the multiple defence satellites that made up the Border between the NSC and their lifelong foes, the Combine. "Hope we never meet these Combine dudes." muttered Matt.

One of the other two occupants muttered. "Bah...you shouldn't say stuff like that." The person, Called Techo continued to make sure their security codes were transmitting. If it stopped the satellites would turned their lethal attention...briefly to the Skyraid. The last occupant, a newly recruited mercenary medic, called Anderson shrugged. "Well...least we ain't goin there, buddies." he said in a Texan accent. Matt glared. "I told you...don't call me that...it was fun for the first 120 times...but now its annoying."

Suddenly the intercom beeped, "Attention passengers, we are approaching co-ordinates. This is a reminder that all units must be in civilian wear only. We must not attract more attention than necessary." The message was automated from a comm satellite mixed into the mess of defence satellites. Ahead, they began to thin out to reveal two destroyer classes flanking a wormhole. "You know...most people have keep out signs." muttered Matt as the ship flew between the huge vessels.

"Hold!" said another voice over the intercom, "This is the NSC Jupiter Security Post. Identify your position and purpose or face forceful consequences." Matt sighed as Chloe said. "This is CPS registered vessel Skyraid on a operation for the NSC...transmitting details of contract." she said, clicking at a computer. After a minute, the voice said, "Contract acknowledged, proceed as you were."

--

The sky of Hoenn had been busy astronomy wise over the last month or so and shooting starts had become almost expected at least once a week so nobody paid attention. If they had, they would have seen this particular star slow to a halt and lower below the treeline outside town.

--

Matt looked at the grenade he'd been handed. "I understand the disguise...but blue?" he said to Techo. "Its supposed to be a great ball...I doctored us all some fake backgrounds...we can only have 6 grenades a piece though otherwise people'll ask questions...be careful of the master ball...its a pulsar grenade." replied Techo happily.

"Cute," said Matt, "But suppose some would want to battle us? Not in the way we're here to do, but with actual, what do they call the creatures here again?" Techo said "Pokemon or something like that...they got wierd names. Anyhow...Olsen got us these." he said, pointing to four sport bags. Inside each was a rifle along with four coloured pieces to attach to it. "Morph gun MK-12's...perfect and easy to hide...and anyhow...it says we're researchers on our files...not battle trainers so nobody should wanna fight us." said Techo.

Chloe said "Only idiots would mess with us..." as the foursome left the ship and headed for the nearby path.

--

"So where exactly are these guys hiding out?" asked Matt. "With a couple of local lowlifes," said Anderson, "Some organization that calls themselves Team Rocket." Anderson added. "Thats not all...Dante's been called in...apparently the good docs insisted on doing the hiring of security...don't dat guy gotta bone to pick with you?" he said.

"Hold it right there!" called a voice suddenly. They group looked to see a duo wearing black uniforms with a red 'R' on the chest. One was a green-haired man and the other was a blonde woman. "This is Team Rocket property," said the man with a rough voice, "Get lost now!" Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell are you two mafia rejects?" she said as the others smirked.

The duo grinned and the woman said, "To infect the world with devastation!" "To blight all people in every nation!" said the man. The two carried on while the group watched in astonishment. "What the heck is this?" said Matt. Then he heard the woman say 'Cassidy' and the man say 'Butch'. "Okay, that's good enough for me," said Matt, "Let's get rid of these bozos."

Matt pulled his Morphgun out his pack and aimed. "I'm tired, annoyed and you are not helping...SMEG OFF!" he yelled and with that fired at the two shocked Team rocket members, sending them off into the distance with the resulting explosion. Anderson whistled. "Now thats impressive...they musta gone a couple of kilometers." He said happily.

After that, a couple more Rocket grunts tried to take them down, to the same spectacular effect. "I swear, this should be a sport," said Chloe as the last grunt twinkled out of sight over the horizon. "This might actually be a good day," said Matt. Suddenly the sky clouded up and it started raining.

Chloe glared. "NEVER say that." she said angrily before sighing. "We might as well find somewhere to crash for the night in town...its too far back to the ship for now." The four of them were running over to town when they nearly ran into another traveller. By the looks of it, she was a travelling trainer, a 13-year old with brown hair in pigtails.

Matt stopped in time. "Sorry...we're kinda in a hurry...is there any hotels around?" he said. "I was hoping on finding the same thing myself," said the girl, "I don't care how long I've been outdoors, spending rainy nights in a tent is not fun." "Since you know the road to town, may we join you?" asked Chloe. "Sure," said the girl, "Should be just down this road. My name's May by the way."

"Names Se...Matthew...People call me Matt. Thats my sister, Chloe, Richard and..well we don't know but he calls himself Techo." said Matt. Techo shrugged. "I like the anomity." he said

Matt was about to say 'bounty hunters' when Chloe, seeing this 'accidently' kicked him. "Sorry, I slipped...we're researchers. Say...did you see some of our colleages...they're doctors called Zine Grouder and Kane." she said as Matt rolled on the floor in pain. "No, I haven't seen any researchers nearby," said May, "I think Professor Birch is in another part of Hoenn. Not sure about here."

May asked. "Did you hear some explosions earlier? I thought it was a voltorb hanging around but I didn't see anything." she asked. The mercs all froze for a second and gained poker faces that most politicians would have been proud of. "Erm...no." said Chloe.

Then May noticed a nearby roadsign. "Oh good, we are heading to Petalburg City. That's my hometown. It'll be so nice to sleep in my own bed again. Before I head off to the next contest of course." The town came into view in the rain. "Thats petalburg? Beats central...OW!" said Matt, looking at it.

"Yeah, it is great," said May, "Let's head over to the gym, I bet my family's waiting for me. I think we have enough spare rooms for you guys." The mercs all perked up at this. A chance to get out the rain was top on their current list of things to do. Techo was first to catch on to the word out of place. "Gym?" he said.

"The Petalburg Gym. My dad, Norman, is the leader." "Oh, right," said Chloe, feigning knowledge, "Just that we're so busy with research we don't think about gyms much." Matt muttered "Good comeback." in splitter which made him sound like he had a cough. The group headed past the buildings and to a larger one that somewhat resembled a dojo.

The inside of the gym was thankfully warm. "Dry...at last." said Matt happily. "VIGOROTH!" Matt turned in the direction the cry came from. "What the-" Suddenly he was bowled over by a large white creature that looked like a bipedal sloth with a somewhat crazed look on his face, like someone who drank way too much coffee. The other mercs laughed as Matt got up. "What hit me?" he gibbered and staggered around till he fell over again.

Matt attempted to get up again and spotted another pokemon who was watching with an air of amusement. "DOGGY!" he said happily and passed clean out on the floor. "Looks you've been out longer than I thought," said Norman, "Ok, you can stay the night. He looks like he could use some sleep."

Matt had already gotten to this judging from the snoring noises. Chloe looked around for the pokemon Matt had seen and saw nothing. She shrugged. "Thank you...we'll be out your hair by tomorrow." she said politely.

--

The next morning, Matt woke up to see a pokemon staring at him. "Munchlax." it said and proceeded to chew on the chocolate bar it had nicked from Matt's pocket. Chloe strolled by as Matt attempted to retrieve it with little success. "COME HERE YOU LITTLE CHOCOLATE NAPPER!...Oh...morning." Matt said, stopping briefly to wave before continuing in pursuit of Munchlax.

"Don't tell me that little butterball's gotten the best of you," said Chloe, a smile on her face. "Don't be silly," said Matt, "As if anyone shorter than my knee will ever get the best of me. Come back here!" He continued chasing Munchlax while Chloe laughed out loud.

Munchlax finally avoided Matt by turning and running between Matt's legs. Matt didn;t have time to turn before his face had an intimate meeting with the wall. "Ouch." he said faintly before sliding down the wall. Chloe laughed even harder and tossed Munchlax one of her bars.

As Matt was trying to regain his dignity and his balance, a young boy with dark hair and glasses walked in. "You must be those guys who came in with May," he said. He looked at Matt and said, "Got tricked by Munchlax, didn't ya? Not very professional."

"Eat my shorts." said Matt in a slurred voice, adding. "and that goes for the other two." he said before staggering off. Chloe sighed. "Forgive him. He had a hard night." "So, you're researchers right?" said Max. His voice sounded a bit dubious. "Yes...we only started a week ago and we're trying to find our bosses...they had to go ahead." she said in a now neutral tone. Something about this kid was off but she had no idea what.

"So, what field of research are you working on?" asked Max. "Security mostly." said Chloe. "We signed a non-disclosure agreement so no asking." she added before having an idea. The docs trail had ended in this area after all. "Have you seen these people around town?" she asked, pulling out photos of the doctors and of Dante.

"Him I definitely remember," said Max, pointing at Dante, "He was in a restaurant we were eating at. He had really lousy manners, shouting over everything." "He would...Jonathan has anger issues...his brother was in a bad accident recently..." said Chloe distantly, remembering Matts gloomy face when he'd come out of Lab one. She was sure it would come back to haunt him one day."

"Do you know where he is now?" she said. "There's some sort of facility outside of town," said Max, "I don't know who runs it." Chloe smiled warmly. "Thanks kid." she said before calling for the others.

--

Meanwhile, Max slipped away to find May. He found her cleaning her Skitty's fur. "What is it?" she asked. "There's something about those guys you met," said Max, "They don't look like any kind of researchers. I don't think they've been near any Pokemon before. They don't have any kind of scent on them. Except for a gunpowder scent."

"You think they're fakes?" asked May. "Probably," said Max, "There's something weird about them that isn't right. I say we should see what they're up to." "If they are fakes," said May, "It's probably a good idea that we keep an eye on them. I'll go get my backpack."

--

It was dark by the time the merc team decided to approach the Lab, its outer wall covered with spotlights. "Get the feeling these guys don't want visitors?" said Techo. Matt nodded. "Anderson...go get the Skyraid...closer the ship is, the faster we can leg it." he said. Anderson nodded before heading off.

"So what do we do?" asked Chloe. "Simple, we go in, find those snakes, tie them up, drag them out, and call it a day," said Matt. "Sounds so simple from your point of view," said Techo. "You'll learn," said Chloe.

The three sneaked up to one of the service doors in the wall, Techo quickly attaching a dragonfly shaped device to the code lock. "Ok...should be a minute." he said. "What about the guards that will definitely be on the other side?" said Matt. Techo smirked and pulled out one of the 'pokeballs' "Stunner...good for a whole hour." h said, priming it and throwing it over the wall. "There was a faint 'what the smeg is...' that was cut off by a loud crackling noise that ended with four heavy thuds. The door beeped and Chloe carefully opened it to reveal a courtyard with four armoured mercs lying face down and snoring. "Nice one, Techo." she said. Matt was looking at one of the mercs though. "Definitely one of Dante's. Great...of all the places to run into a homicidal maniac." he said. The three mercs had not noticed the two figures watching from the tree line, otherwise they'd have spoken splitter.

--

"Ok, that's definitely not research," said May as they watched Matt and his team talking, "Could you make anything out of what they were saying?" "Sounds to me like they're a bunch of mercenaries," said Max, "and they've definitely got weird weapons." As the two watched, Matt burned the lock off an exterior door...literally and the three went inside.

"We should tell them they're trying to steal something," said May. "Actually, it sounds like they're going to kidnap someone. But you're right, we better tell somebody."

--

Sgt Arlan was in a foul mood. What he'd done to upset the doctors to land himself perimeter patrol was beyond him but the three doctors were funny in the head, he was sure of that. He turned as he heard a voice calling him, turning to see two kids. "Hey...you aren't supposed to be..." he said before looking where they were pointing. The exterior fence door was open and either squad two were really tired or they'd been stunned. "Smegging hell...control?"

Max and May were starting to feel good with themselves until they heard the 'guard' say, "Shoot to kill, repeat, shoot to kill." "What about the civilians?" said Arlan. "Bring them to control...no witnesses." came the answer. Arlan turned to the kids. "Hey...get over here." he said, drawing an identical weapon to what matt and his mercs had been holding.

Fortunately, a loud explosion behind Arlan occurred, getting enough of his attention to make him turn around and swear. When he turned back towards where the siblings were, they were gone.

--

While Arlan was receiving his orders, Matt and the gang had managed to find their way into some kind of kennels. All kinds of pokemon stared with a mix of fear and anger, depending on their types. A few had bandages where blood samples had presumably been taken. "What the hell." muttered Techo, shining a torch into a cage with a treeko in it.

"Be careful," said Matt, "If they're doing what Kurata was doing, you don't want to be bitten by these guys." The treeko just cringed away from the light, as if expecting to be hit. "Aw...c'mon little dude...I ain't gonna hurt ya." said Techo as kindly as he could. Chloe meanwhile pulled a note off a cage. "They're all stolen domestics...but what kinda sick creep operates like this? He's worse than Kurata, whoever he is." she said.

"Maybe we can use these guys?" said Techo, "just turn them loose. That'll keep those creeps busy." Matt smirked, looking at a floating red and white ball that was glaring at him in a very unnerving way. "I like it." he said. Techo nodded and wandered over to a list of levers and began pulling them. The pokemon didn't need telling and made a beeline for any exit they could find. The voltorb floated over to the door and began glowing just as Dante opened the door with a full team beside him. "I got you now, you little…what the he?" he began and was cut off as the Voltorb used Explosion on him, sending him and his team back along the corridor and demolishing a exterior wall.

"Quick, before they recover their bearings, and their belongings," said Matt. The four of them quickly headed away from the chaos the released Pokemon were creating.

--

In a lab on the third floor, Doctor Zine was looking at a holo-readout of their latest formula. An angry looking charmeleon was strapped to a table and was still making every attempt to maul the other two doctors. "Dammit...I told you we should have just cloned one. This magi-virus is too unpredictable for use." said one of the other doctors, kane. The last one Grouder nodded. "I wish dante would hurry up and turn off that blasted alarm...its playing hell with my migraines."

Doctor Zine was about to reply when there was, of all things, a knock at the door. "Make yourself useful." he said rudely to the guard that Dante had left with them. The guard opened the door to see Matt and company. "Special delivery," said Matt as he deposited a stunner in the unwitting guard's hands.

The guard squeaked and then jumped up so high from the resulting charge that he banged his head on the roof, before crumpling at Matt's feet, who stepped on him as he and his friends strolled in. "Hi, I'm Captain Lynch and me and my team will be your kidnappers this evening...hands up please." he said, aiming at the doctors who just stared, still speechless from their arrival.

"Don't just stand there," hissed Grouder, "Do something." Zine looked indecisive, then he pressed a button that released the restraints on the Charmeleon. "No! Not that!" yelled Kane. The Charmeleon jumped up and looked around. It was confused as to why it had been let loose. Then its instincts kicked in and his narrowed its eyes at the biggest threats in the room...the humans with their weapons. "Chaaaar." it said angrily and lunged at Matt before he could even raise his blaster, clawing him across the shoulder. Chloe and Techo yelled in surprise and opened fire at point blank range.

"KNOCK IT OFF! YOU'RE HITTING ME!" yelled Matt. Then the Charmeleon let out a Flamethrower attack, which just made Matt scream louder. The Charmeleon hissed angrily then jumped out a window. Chloe ran to the window and fired a few more bursts at the retreating glow emanating from the pokemons tail to no effect while Techo looked at the wound. "Bloody lucky, mate. Just a papercut." Chloe however was furious, turning and shooting Zine in the leg. "You little newt..." she said, using one of the worst things that a splitter can be called as the pain forced Zine back into his splitter form, that of an anthro dragonoid.

"You okay, mate?" asked Techo. Matt, who was doing a very good impression of a 'well-done' steak, said, "Oh, nothing a 10 pound bag of ice won't fix." Chloe was advancing on the scientists. "Now then...you two...help your mate before I kneecap the rest of you and cram you in one of those ball things." she said, not even bothering to conceal the murderous tone in her voice.

The defenseless scientists rushed to meet her demands. "I don't know what twisted experiments you were doing with these Pokemon," said Silvia, "But it all ends tonight." Zine, despite his pain, laughed. "Oh...you'll find out in an hour...are we feeling ok, captain? You seem to be getting a fever." he said to Matt, in a taunting tone. Matt was indeed starting to sweat. "Musta had a poisonous bite...Anderson...where's the ship?" he said into his comm. "2 minutes away, boss." came the reply.

The small group walked out into the corridor just as 3 members of Dantes group ran round the corner. Matt and Chloe fired first, nailing one of them but were forced to dive for cover as the survivors returned fire, unconcerned when they hit Kane instead. "Ok, they're not taking any prisoners," said Techo, "We gotta get out of range now!"

Matt clicked in the purple mod to his rifle and aimed it round the corner. An orb of electricity shot down the corridor, causing an explosion that threw the remaining members of dante's responce team to the floor, out cold.

The group ran down the corridor, only for a grenade to roll out a side corridor and collapse the roof, blocking off Matt from the others. Matt turned, wiping smoke away to see Dante and some of his best men, smirking. "Long time, Matt...Having a nice trip?" he said

"Not really," said Matt, "but I can still beat you, and those two clones of yours you have on either side." "Looks like someone's got too many blows to the head," said Dante as he signalled to his men, "and yet not enough."

The two men grinned and pulled out tazer batons before charging Matt. One tried a thrust to shock Matt and was surprised when Matt effortlessly sidestepped it and spun him into a wall. The other tried to hit Matt over the head and ended up being flipped over the merc instead. They both got up in time for Matt to gut punch one down the corridor at Dante and the other out of a window.

"That...urgh...all you got? They're jokes." he said, shaking his head. He was feeling dizzy. Dante's comm beeped. "We got his team out in the courtyard...order?" Dante smirked and reached behind him to pull out his own peacemaker mode morphgun. "I'll be right there." he said, revealing it and shooting Matt before he could respond. Matt flew back and out the window with enough force to clear the perimeter wall before hitting a tree with a cracking noise. His last memory before he passed out was of Dante leering out of the window, giving a mock salute.

--

Dante didn't waste any time. He quickly headed for the courtyard. Matt's comrades were keeping themselves busy by punting any grunts that were stupid enough to try to grab them. "Going somewhere?" called Dante, "Without your fearless leader?" Chloe turned and almost blasted Dante's head clean off before being forced to kick a guard somewhere sensitive. She stopped dead however when she realized what Dante met. "You didn't." she said softly.

"He's got a tough hide, to be sure," said Dante, "But how strong are his bones?" Chloe tried to lunge at Dante with her bare hands only to be grabbed by two guards. Techo, who had also been disarmed looked as dejected as Chloe was. "The NSC'll have your butt on a platter...you just committed murder." he said to Dante. Dante shrugged. "Only if there's witnesses." he said. His men were about to shoot Chloe and Techo when a hail of laser rounds tore into them. "OH WHAT NOW?" yelled Dante, diving for cover as the Skyraid hovered into view, firing its nose lasers. "Sorry, I'm late, partners...Shall we be leaving?" he said over the intercom, not noticing Matt's absence.

"Just get that thing landed while we still have two…" she began, before being cut off by a squisjing noise and correcting "…one Splitter scientist to haul back," said Chloe's voice to Anderson. "You've got it, little lady," he said. Zine wasn't going anywhere though as Dante began heading back with some of his men toting anti-air blast cannons. "We can get that newt later. Lets go before they deadeye us." said Anderson, extending the ramp and hovering close enough for the mercs to jump aboard.

Once aboard, he set it to autopilot and grabbed a medkit before heading down. "Wheres the boss?" he said, confused. "We don't know," said Techo, "but we're hoping that Dante's just bluffing." Chloe just burst into tears.

--

Meanwhile, outside the lab, May and Max peered out from their hiding place. From the sounds of things, all the excitement was now at the opposite end of the lab. "I think we better head back," said May. "Yeah," said Max. Then he stopped, "Hey, do you smell that?" "What?" asked May. "I smell a Pokemon, a Pokemon that's been weakened a lot."

The two headed toward where a small weak glow could be seen at the bottom of a tree that had a huge crack in the bark about halfway up it. The glow was coming from a Charmeleon that looked like a semi truck had hit it at full speed. Its tail flame was barely flickering.

"We better get him to the Pokemon Center quickly," said May. "Yeah, wonder what attacked that could beat him like that?" said Max. The Charmeleons eyes flickered open for a second.

--

Matt had never been in so much pain. He was sure he had a few broken bones. He focussed on whoever was holding him and tried to hold his hand up. He looked at it and then passed out, deciding it was an hallucination. He hadn't had claws a minute ago...

Whats happened to Matt? Find out next time.

Please R&R and be nice…this is my first pokemon fic.