The Golem looked half-asleep, it was using one of it's stubby arms to support itself, but it's rocky shell still rested on the ground. All-in-all, I was disappointed. They could have sent nearly anyone to go through this mission. The base had been disappointing in it's defenses. Filled to the brim with half-asleep guards, not that I had needed to get past them anyway. The holes in the security could have let in a small force if they knew what they were doing.

As it was, however, the last stage only had one easy way in, and the Golem was in the way. I could cause a distraction. The golem was probably untrained enough to go for food if presented, food I indeed had in a sealed container in one of the many pockets of my thick grey coat, currently covered by the traditional black Rocket uniform. Perhaps even the cliché pebble in the distance would make the thing lumber off to investigate. So many methods I could get past without harming the guard.

But to be quite honest, I was getting bored. Slowly, I withdrew my silenced pistol. watching the droopy-eyed pokemon from the corner of my eye for any form of reaction.

The Golem hadn't noticed me. Why should it? I just appeared to be a soldier wearing combat gear that was only a little too tight, taking a piss. I was doing what appeared to be zipping back up my fly…

And then I turned to it and fired. I only used one arm, but I was used to the recoil, absorbing it with ease. The only feeling I should experience vanished quickly, professionally.

The bullet was dead on, right into the soft head of the creature. It died instantly, rolling slightly and making an entrance to the 'tent' made of solid steel. I allowed myself a moment's satisfaction on a clean kill. Well, as clean as it could be anyway. The blood was a stark contrast to the snow, but I wouldn't be here too much longer anyway, and the Rocket members were too busy partying and thinking they were safe to check this place out, anyway.

Man, this new silencer was simply amazing. Heavy perhaps, but far more effective then anything I had seen before. While most "silencers" really just made the noise of the gun firing not deafen you, this one really did make the gun sound like a silenced weapon from the movies. A slight "bleep" noise was all that I could hear, odds were nobody else heard anything.

Well, there was my path. But I wasn't going in there. That was what Yaku was for. I would take watch for him.

It was something she knew too. Even before I made the signal, I could see the faint shimmer to signify her presence as she sidestepped the Golem and entered the tent. Yaku was a great Kecleon, specially trained to assist me with missions like this.

It took several seconds for her to get the information we were looking for, and quickly she exited with the paper. Fast and efficient, I had chosen wisely.

I took the paper, folded it, and put it along with my gun in its holster.

Well, mission accomplished. It was about time to make my exit.

I made a stroll through the camp toward my exit. It would have been more suspicious to go around, besides all these fools were doing was joking around. I suspect most of them are drunk, considering their red eyes, slurred voices, and unstable movement.

They were probably unaware they were surrounded on all sides; all that awaited them later tonight was death or capture.

I felt an arm grab onto me. I stopped, what was this? They hadn't caught me, had they? Looking at the grabbed arm, I couldn't help but notice what looked like a single drop of blood. Damn it! They hadn't noticed, had they?

I tilted my head up to look at the assailant. The Rocket grunt before me didn't appear to be drunk, and his green eyes looked at me pleadingly. There was no malice or anger there, much to my relief. It must be something completely different.

'Hey, we need an impartial judge for a little contest we're having, would ya please help a guy out?'

I sighed. I have to, of course. You never know how persistent these guys can be, and I didn't want to draw attention to myself. This would draw some attention, but it was a risk worth taking.

'I suppose, man. Well, what contest do we have here?'

'Just a pokemon battle, two on two, basic rules.' He smiled. 'I got my alcohol stash and dignity on the line!'

That explains why he wasn't drunk off his ass like the rest of them.

A circle of Rocket members was forming around us and another Rocket member about twenty meters away. I moved so as to be between them, attempting to appear slightly unsteady myself to hopefully blend in.

'This will be a two on two battle…' I blinked once very slowly. I couldn't see Yaku, but she knew a slow blink meant to get outside and wait for me. 'No time limit.' I raised my arms. 'Begin!'

Both Rocket members threw their pokeballs, in a burst of white light a Houndoom and a Golbat were on the field. Immediately the Houndoom launched a flamethrower, which the Golbat narrowly avoided by crowd narrowly managed to jump out of the way but a tent was hit, and the flames begun to spread. A shout, and one of the crowd released a Golduck to put them out. None of the crowd seemed to care, but they wised up and left a bit more distance between themselves and the two pokemon.

The immediate reaction of the pokemon was interesting. I doubt these Rocket members told their pokemon about this battle in advance, they probably expected to start off in the front lines of a conflict the next time they were released.

The Houndoom quickly stopped breathing flames and jumped back to avoid a poison sting. Well, these pokemon were definitely trained to be self-sufficient; no trainer had even uttered a word yet.

The Houndoom was already launching another flamethrower, but the Golbat had become a blue and purple blur.

Then an aerial ace struck, Houndoom was knocked aside, but quickly got up and unleashed a smokescreen.

'Gust' Golbat's trainer uttered the first words of the battle, a burst of wind began to blow the smokescreen away, but Houndoom was already launching a flamethrower, and this time it was struck Golbat's left wing.

Now Golbat was spiralling, and the wild poison stings it fired were easily avoided by the Houndoom and the crowd. The end was nigh for Golbat, I could tell it wasn't taking another good hit before fainting, a hit after that would probably kill it. Hopefully the trainer will realize this as well.

'Alright, return Golbat!' Golbat's trainer quickly returned it before Houndoom could score another hit. 'Go!'

I shook my head at the new pokemon he had brought out. A Bellsprout, seriously? They had their uses, but not against a fast-moving fire-type like Houndoom.

Houndoom must have agreed, no sooner had the new pokemon appeared that Houndoom launched another flamethrower, clearly hoping to end this ridiculous match quickly. I could definitely relate to that. I was currently counting the seconds of how long this was taking, waiting for a scream or shout that may be someone finding the dead Golem.

The flamethrower was cut short, much to my surprise, by a water pulse which forced Houndoom to leap to the side to avoid it. The Bellsprout's trainer grinned at this deception. Not bad, I had to admit, but a water type attack probably isn't going to cut it.

Undeterred, Houndoom began to circle the Bellsprout, each time the flamethrower he launched was met with a water pulse. Bellsprouts made good sentries, they required no sleep. But they were only particularly useful in combat when the opponent was forced to come from one direction. Houndoom clearly saw the flaw.

'Overheat' Houndoom's trainer spoke.

A torrential burst of fire leapt from Houndoom's mouth. The water pulse evaporated on contact and the Bellsprout was hit hard. Writhing in agony as it burned.

'Fine, you win.' Bellsprout was quickly returned to its Pokeball, and the trainer grumbled as he left, not even bothering to wait for me to declare the winner.

And indeed, the crowd converged on the victor quickly. Shouting words of encourangement, they went so far as to lift him into the air and throw him. A bit old-fashion, I thought, but clearly they were impressed for some reason. Personally I didn't see why, that opponent hadn't been particularly skilled. Perhaps the opponent was infamous for them, an ass-kisser to the higher ups? Probably not worth my time pondering, I concluded.

I waited until the crowd began to disperse, then I laughed while swaying as I made my way to the exit. Mission accomplished. To confirm this, I felt the weight of Yaku on my shoulder.

Still, it was better safe then sorry; I had already planned the way to get back to base, allowing the allied sentry's sight of me in case I was being followed. Orders were orders, after all. This mission had been rather easy, and either the whole thing was a trap, or I damn well wanted answers to why this mission was important enough to warrant me when I get back.