Author disclaimer: Still as before- I don't own Pokemon. If I did, I would be a very rich woman. I do, however, own my characters, Tora, Magne, Ragnar, Hale and Frankie.

Chapter Two: Operation: Hypno-sis

After their meeting with the boss, Magne and Tora began to devise various schemes in order to get the rarest possible Pokemon for the formidable Rocket leader.

"If we're really stuck," Tora began, "We could always pinch the Pokemon that the Pokesitter has at his house near Cerulean City. But I don't suppose the boss would be too impressed with that."

"Especially if we've only managed to get a Caterpie and a Pidgey." Magne said gloomily. He chewed on his lip, thinking hard. "There are several Pokemon breeders in these parts. I suggest we take a closer look at them." Tora nodded fervently. She crossed to one of the computers and started hammering away at the keys.

"There are two in Saffron, one on Cinnabar Island..." She scrolled down the page. "It would be easier if there was one just a little closer..Aha! There is one here in Celadon."

"What do we know about it?"

"Let's see.." Tora skimmed the information in front of her. "His name is Sam Willows, and he specialises in breeding fire type Pokemon."

"Fire Pokemon? In Celadon?" Magne frowned. Tora raised an eyebrow.

"Did you suffer a bump to the head during your ordeal?"

"What?"

"What type of Pokemon does Erika have in her gym?"

"Grass."

"Good. Now make the connection." Magne's face lit up as he understood. Tora rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the computer.

"That's clever. There's money to be made in that, especially with kids who desperately want another gym badge to add to their collection. Could be another scheme for Team Rocket.."

"Tell it to the boss, not me." She turned to face Magne. "Anyway, that's enough time wasted. Let's go check this Breeding Centre out."

The two Rockets huddled in the bushes situated in Sam Willows' garden. Tora hissed in Magne's ear, "You could have chosen a less spiky one, couldn't you?"

"Ssssh!" Magne retorted, as he pulled out a pair of binoculars and started to survey the scene. "There appears to be an indoor area dedicated to the Pokemon. That's where we need to get in." With the binoculars pressed to his eyes, Magne scanned the area again.

"Any sign of Willows yet?" Magne shook his head.

"Not yet, no. He evidently doesn't live alone with the Pokemon- must have a wife and possibly a child that we need to be aware of." Tora pulled out a notebook and scribbled the details down.

"We will have to re-visit in disguise, so that we can gain access to the house. I have the perfect idea. They wouldn't refuse us!" She clapped her hands in delight. "Come on." She grabbed at Magne's arm and pulled him out of the shrubbery. "We had best relay our findings to the boss."

Giovanni was in a good mood. Two of his employees had presented him with a feast of powerful Pokemon after a raid at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City had been successful. He toyed with the Pokeball resting on his desk. Of course he had to keep one of them. He was the leader of the organisation after all. He felt he should be rewarded for his efforts. He released the captured Pokemon- a Machoke- into the office. Machoke growled and flexed his muscles, flashing his pointed teeth at his new master. Giovanni leaned back into the contours of his office seat, smiling contentedly. The sound of pounding footsteps in the corridor brought him to his senses, and he sat up as the door was flung open and Tora charged in, followed shortly after by Magne. He watched them. He didn't like people bursting into his office uninvited. Giovanni frowned, but let it pass. It had been an excellent day, and trivial things such as this weren't going to dampen his mood.

"Boss! We are in luck!" She was just about to tell him their plan, when she realised what she had just done. The colour rose in her face again, and she avoided his stare. "I-I'm sorry boss..I was eager to tell you what we intend to do..I didn't think.."

"Clearly you did not. Just be thankful I'm in a good mood." He shrugged. The Machoke growled again, and the pair, who realised they were not alone, shrunk away towards the door. "We obtained many powerful Pokemon today, courtesy of the nice trainers at the Fighting Dojo." He laughed quietly to himself. "This is my souvenir of the victory." He gestured towards the Machoke who was showcasing his muscles again. He threw the Pokeball from one hand to the other, watching the two of them move warily back into the room. "How about we see how powerful this Machoke is?" Magne glanced nervously at his partner.

"What? Now? In here?" he asked. Giovanni nodded.

"It's my office, and I say we shall see how powerful this Pokemon is through a battle. We'll fight your Pokemon against mine. Use one Pokemon each." Magne glanced at Tora, who was shuffling her feet nervously.

"Is this wise, boss?" Magne said meekly.

"Are you disobeying me?" Giovanni stopped playing with the Pokeball and dropped it onto the desk.

"I'm not sure if this.."

"I asked you a question. Are you disobeying me?!" He thundered, rising to his feet with such force that the chair was knocked backwards. Tora winced.

"N-No boss, no. Of course I'm not. I would never-" Magne gulped, hand hovering over a Pokeball on his belt.

"Good! Then get ready." He clenched his fists. Reluctantly, Tora picked a Pokeball off her belt, and Magne did the same. They glanced at each other and nodded. Out sprang a Raichu and a Beedrill, their war-cries echoing around the office.

"Are we going to play to the rules, or are we going to let him win?" Magne muttered out of the side of his mouth.

"It's not a question of allowing him to win." Tora hissed back, "Machoke was trained by the Dojo members- we can't win!"

"Machoke- use your low kick on that Raichu." The Pokemon beat his chest and flew into action. Raichu stood her ground, sparks flying off her cheeks.

"Raichu, dodge Machoke's attack and give him a quick Thundershock!" Tora shouted. Raichu began to move, but the fighting Pokemon's reflexes were so fast, she caught a blow from one of his powerful feet. Raichu yelped, and skidded along the floor.

"Finish it off with Seismic Toss!" Giovanni commanded.

"Beedrill! Stop Machoke from getting to Raichu." Magne yelled. "Fly around his head." Beedrill buzzed angrily and flew in circles around Machoke. Machoke stopped in his tracks, following the Beedrill's every move. He began to waiver on the spot, eyes sliding out of focus. Magne smirked. "He's confused!"

"Machoke, use Focus Energy!" Giovanni cried, eyes flashing wildly. Machoke stood rigidly for a moment or two. Beedrill ceased his buzzing and hovered, regarding the Machoke carefully. "Now.." Giovanni sneered, "Use your Karate Chop to knock Beedrill out of the sky." Machoke roared, swiping at Beedrill with lightning speed, who barely had time to react before he crashed to the ground, unable to fight.

"I did say, didn't I?" Tora muttered, glancing at her partner. "Raichu, quick attack!" Raichu growled, and launched into the attack.

"Machoke, Mega Punch!!" Machoke raised a fist, and delivered a stunning upper cut to Raichu. Tora flinched as her Pokemon hit the ground. The boss smirked, nodding his head approvingly at the latest addition to his collection. Magne and Tora recalled their Pokemon gloomily. Giovanni clapped his hands together.

"I believe you were going to inform me about your plans?" He prompted, picking up the Pokeball from the desk, recalled the Machoke and lazily threw the sphere from one hand to the other.

"Uh..Yes..Yes we were." Tora began, forcing herself to concentrate on relaying the details of their plot.

"And?"

"We managed to locate a breeder of Fire Pokemon here in Celedon." Magne said, pulling out a notebook and flipping through the pages. "We are planning on getting inside the building using a disguise, in order to determine the best entry point for our robbery."

"Go on.."

"Posing as Poke-Food sales people we-" Tora was about to explain what she and Magne thought was a brilliant cover, when there was a knock at the door. Irritated, Giovanni barked a 'Come in' to whoever was on the other side. A boy of about 13 stumbled into the office, two black suited Rockets on his heels. The male Rocket pushed the kid roughly, causing him to fall forwards and land heavily on his knees. The boy cried out in pain, clutching at his wounded knee caps.

"He was found lurking around outside again boss." The female half of the duo said, watching her partner drag him to his feet, twisting his arm behind his back to prevent his escape.

"Always causing trouble, aren't you, you little rat?" Snarling, the man jerked the boy's arm again, prompting another yell.

"Let me go! I wasn't doing anything! Let me go!"

"Give me one good reason why I-" Giovanni coughed.

"Are we..Interrupting something?" the woman asked, regarding both Magne and Tora with a superior gaze. Tora scowled.

"We were informing the boss of our plan, until you and your friend came bursting in here and disturbed us." The woman sneered.

"Is that so?"

"Allow me to introduce Ragnar and Hale." Giovanni said, gesturing towards the pair. "They're executives." Tora felt his eyes boring into her, and she squirmed. In her frustration, she hadn't noticed the shiny gold badges that were pinned to their uniforms, and, as a result, she had said something she knew she was going to regret. She mumbled an apology and fell silent. Giovanni turned his attention towards Ragnar and the boy in his grip.

"What do you suggest we do about this intruder?" Ragnar gave a coarse laugh.

"I say we teach him a lesson.." He punctuated his comment by giving the boy's arm another twist.

"Might I suggest.." Hale began, "That we throw him in with the trainees, seeing as he takes so much of an interest in our work.."

"I'll never join your stinking team!" the boy said, struggling to free himself from the vice like grip of Ragnar. "You're just a bunch of cowards who steal from people because you aren't good enough to catch your own Pokemon!"

" Hey kid, watch your mouth." Ragnar snarled.

"Do you have a name, boy?" Hale asked. The boy sniffed.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Because you don't have any choice."

"What are you talking about?! I don't have to say anything!"

"You don't have any choice.." Hale repeated, nodding to Ragnar who picked the Pokeball from his belt and released the Pokemon within. A Hypno stood before them, pendulum in one hand, poised for attack. Magne watched carefully as the Hypno started to swing the pendulum slowly from side to side, chanting eerily to himself. The boy fought to keep his eyes open, but succumbed to Hypno's hypnosis attack. His head fell forward onto his chest.

"That's clever.." He thought, "Really clever. Perhaps..Perhaps Tora and I could use this technique on the Pokemon breeder..It would be far more effective than just attempting to sneak into the house." He grimaced at the memory of Antero deserting him at the old collector's house.

Hale smirked. "Now..Tell us your name." The boy lifted his head, and stared out with blank eyes.

"My name is Frankie."

"Very good. We shall be taking care of you now Frankie. This is your home." Hale turned to Giovanni. "We will take him down to Rey. When this boy comes out of his trance, he shall be furiously loyal to you and Team Rocket."

"Flawless work, as usual." Giovanni said. The executives bowed their heads, feigning modesty. Through their hair, Tora could see that they were grinning contentedly, and her heart sank. Their execution of the hypnosis was perfect- she couldn't see herself and Magne being able to beat that. Hale and her disturbing partner Ragnar slunk from the room, Frankie and Hypno in tow. She could feel the boss' eyes back on her.

"Your plan?"

"Yes..Well..It's.." Tora stammered, the heat rising to her face.

"If I may, boss.." Magne took a step forward as he spoke, "I would like to propose a slightly different course of action." Tora stared at him.

"What..?" Magne waved his hand at her, and she fell silent.

"I would like to introduce Operation: Hypnosis."

Long chapter this time, but I felt bad for not updating this sooner. Sucks for deadlines, eh? Hope you enjoyed this, and don't forget that R&Ring is good, and should be done without second thought. ;)