Just a quick note before the story begins, the idea that trainers can see inside the Pokeballs to see their Pokémon was an idea I mainly derived from the manga.
Giovanni sat at his desk, browsing over paperwork with little to no interest. Team Rocket's activity had been severely downplayed as of late, their operation to slowly conquer the Unova region going much slowly than he had thought possible. Sure, that idiot trio had stepped up their game, but they were still low on his list. Maybe he should send one of his more competent soldiers..?
His mindset was interrupted as his Persian, which had always been his faithful partner, stood up from its position at his side, slowly padding away. The leader's gaze followed the Pokémon until it came to rest on his visitor.
"Back from your mission, I see."
Standing against the back wall of his office was a black clad figure, a red pin in the shape of an R pinned to a black longsleeve . A pair of black shorts accompanied with a belt lined with five Pokéballs, the sixth hanging from her neck. To finish it off were a set of high flexible boots that went past the knees and a metal jetpack backpack. The long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail was the only characteristic he could see besides the lithe figure, the soldier's face obscured by a high-tech visor.
"I assume you succeeded?" He asked aloud, resting his hand on a clenched hand. The criminal merely nodded, briefly bending down to stroke his Persian's head. "Excellent. It's always nice when a plan goes through perfectly." He smirked, nodding his head in approval.
"Ahem."
He looked up to see the worker extend their hand, rubbing the tips of their fingers together. Giovanni gave a small chuckle. "You're awfully impatient today."
"Perhaps because I don't approve of robbing a Pokémon nursery. "
"Ah. Well dear, you're usually the most skilled at picking out the best Pokémon."
"Whatever. Where's my payment?" The brunette retorted, crossing their arms. Giovanni gave a defeated sigh, fishing a pouch out of his desk drawer and tossing it to the worker. He watched as they opened it, thumbing through the bills to count them. The worker finally gave a nod of approval and turned to leave.
"Hold on a moment, Lily."
Lily Donavihn stopped, turning to face her boss. "Yeah?" She asked semi-impatiently. This had been her last job for the next few days, and she was eager to leave the base. She and her Pokemon both deserved a break.
"As one of my best, I'm positive you're aware of our ongoing project in Unova."
The brunette nodded, taking a seat in front of his desk. "How could I forget? I was just there last week with those three idiots. They almost destroyed several days worth of surveillance and planning. Why do you even keep them around, Giovanni?"
The Team Rocket leader sighed, rubbing his temples. "They aren't completely incompetent. Besides, their loyalty and devotion to our cause make them willing to do whatever I ask of them, unlike you." Her boss interlaced his fingers. "And take off that visor. You're too beautiful to hide it."
"Whatever." Lily murmured, slipping the mask into her backpack. Blue eyes narrowed at the leader. "So where's this conversation going?"Giovanni gave a chuckle in response. "Well Donavihn, since you're always so successful…" His expression grew more serious. "- I'd like you to head to Unova to spearhead the operation."
Lily crossed her arms. "No."
Giovanni raised a brow. "And why not?"
"Because after today, I'm off duty for at least a week. I don't feel like poking around like a rat."
The leader sighed, running a few fingers through his hair. "Lily, dear, I assure you you'll be well compensated. Besides, you're next job is in Unova anyways."
The brunette's ears perked up. "…Fine, but Aelita's too tired to fly me there and Poseidon's resting. I'll need transport."
"That's fine with me. I'll need you to leave within the hour, though. Say your goodbyes and whatnot and head to the heliport." At this, Lily got up from her chair, craning her neck. "Alright. I'll send a message upon arrival." With a nod as an answer from her boss, she gave the Persian a farewell smile before heading out the door.
"Yo Donavihn, nice work today!" A male co-worker praised as she walked by. "Don't forget that next time we battle, I'll be winning!" The blue eyed blonde grinned, a personal buddy of hers.
"Whatever you say, Jake. Heading to Unova, though, so it'd have to wait."
With a disappointed groan from her friend, she gave a wave of goodbye and continued to walk. The brunette held up the Pokéball hanging from the silver chain around her neck, then looking down to the five around her belt. "You hear that guys? We get to vacation in Unova."
The Pokémon in her hand smiled. "Hey, do you want to come out?" Lily asked, watching as her partner nodded back. "Alright, come out, Vincent." The brunette pointed the ball next to her, a red beam shooting out and diminishing to reveal her partner standing beside her, a blue-eyed Gardevoir, and her very first Pokémon. He wore a bowtie and cufflinks, much like one would wear with a suit. It gave him a sophisticated look, and also let people know it was a male Gardevoir.
He walked beside her as she made her way to a Pokémon Healing Machine that was sitting in a hallway outside the heliport. One by one she unclipped the rest of her team from off her belt and put them into the machine. Torque the Blaziken, Aelita the Dragonite, Ran Mao the Mienshao, Lucas the Luxray, and lastly, Poseidon, her gargantuan Gyrados.
"You all did great today. I'm sorry I have to drag you all through this." She apologized, her head hanging low. Vincent, who was slightly taller than she was, put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. He knew it was for the money, not the crime. Her salary with Team Rocket severely dwarfed any other job she could get, and although it wasn't something she could be proud of, it did support her and her friends.
With a sigh, she grabbed them from the machine and put them back on her belt, finished. "Oh, you must be Lily." A Team Rocket member mused as she strolled up to him in the heliport. "Yeah. Are you the helicopter pilot?" She asked back, receiving a snicker. "Helicopter? As if! I fly the jets, sweetheart."
"Jets. In a heliport." Lily said aloud, her statement having a questioning edge. She watched as the uniformed man walked over to a control panel on the wall, hitting a few buttons. The brunette turned to see a wall on the far side of the heliport slowly rise upwards, revealing a long outcrop that served as a runway.
"Since when did we get jets?" Lily asked as she walked beside him to a sleek black jet, stepping inside the passenger inside after Vincent, who sat in the middle. "Helicopters are clunky and slow while planes aren't fast enough, not to mention bulky." The pilot answered, beginning to flip switches as he fired up the engine. "This baby should get you to Unova in an hour, maybe less."
"Where'd we get the funding for this?"
"Remember that heist a while back? Supposedly this hot chick bagged us a ton of cash."
"Ah." Lily smirked inwardly, realizing that the pilot didn't know that had been her. She gazed out the tinted window as the jet began to drive forward, its speed a crescendo as they flew down the runway and soaring into the air. The brunette found herself gazing out the window, love-struck as she looked out the window and down below. Flocks of Wingull were flying in the air, a pod of the massive Pokémon Wailord swimming below.
Lily looked over to her faithful Gardevoir with a smile. "Looks like this is going to be a fun trip, huh?"