"The Goldenrod City Pokémon Center was earlier today the target of a terrorist bombing. An unidentified leader of the Masked Rockets, a Johto-based criminal organization, released a statement, claiming that Kanto-based Team Rocket were behind the attack. The Masked Rockets condemned the attack, saying that "this ruthless act was committed in order to hit one of our members, whom Team Rocket falsely believed to be there, with no regard for civilian collateral damage". No evidence have yet been found to support this claim, but police are looking to-
The television was turned off. Silver glanced at his father, bracing for the outburst of rage that was sure to come. Instead, his father slumped into one of the black velvet armchairs that circled the wood-and-glass table in the center of the room.
"How dare they," he growled, through gritted teeth. "How dare they claim I would do something like that?"
"Psychological warfare," Silver replied, seating himself in one of the other armchairs. "The public knows Team Rocket has a violent past, so they are trying to turn the public against us by claiming that we-"
"I know that!" Giovanni snarled, punching the armrest of his chair, hard. Silver glanced at his father again. Giovanni had changed a lot during this relatively short conflict. Having to fight another faction of the organization he had created had taken its toll. Gray hairs around his temples, a fresh set of wrinkles, all testified of the pressure on him.
Not only that, but Giovanni's personality had changed, as well. Where he had always kept a cool head before, he was now prone to fits of rage. Strategies changed more often than Silver could keep up, and rational thought seemed lost on the Rocket leader.
"There must be something we can do to reverse the situation," Silver said, desperately trying to come up with something. To strike back using the same methods was out of the question. He would never condone action that would lead to civilian casualties, and much less suggest it himself.
"I'm open to suggestions."
"What if we..." Silver started, before being interrupted by a heavy knock on the door. Just moments later, it opened, and Surge stepped in. Silver and Giovanni both turned to look at him.
"More bad news?" Giovanni asked, his voice weary. Surge shook his head, grinning.
"Actually, ya got a visitor!"
"No visitors," Giovanni said, making a dismissive wave.
"He insists," Surge said, stepping aside. Giovanni frowned in annoyance, but did not move. Surge would not disobey a direct order without good reason. His frown turned into a disbelieving scowl as he saw who the visitor was.
"Red," he said, his voice tired. "Long time, no see. How did you find us, and why are you here? Going to try and shut us down again?"
"Not quite," the black haired man replied, entering the room and dropping two Pokéballs between them. Both Silver and Giovanni were on their feet before it hit the floor, but none of them were fast enough. Red's Venusaur was out and attacking before they could react any further. Two vines curled around Silver's arms, while a third constricted Giovanni. A Scyther came from the second Pokéball, snatching Silver's belt, and smashing the release buttons on the three Pokéballs he carried in it.
Giovanni had no Pokémon with him, but he tried to cut off the vine around him with a knife from his belt. Red shook his head, letting the Scyther leap onto one of the armchairs, holding a blade against the mans throat. Its wings shivered, as if in anticipation.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Giovanni snarled. "Arresting us here? In the middle of a Team Rocket base?"
"I wish it was that simple," Red said, his voice filled with regret. "I'm not here for the Association, though. I'm here to take control of this organization. Scyther, finish it."
The Scyther gave a low cry, then ended Giovanni's life with a swift cut to the throat. Saur released him, and the body fell to the floor with a dull thud.
"Dad!" Silver screamed, struggling even harder to get loose, kicking and trashing as the vines tightened around his wrists. "Surge! Don't just stand there! Help!"
Surge looked up then, meeting Silvers eyes for the first time since he entered the room. Silver finally understood what had happened. They had been betrayed. Unlikely as it seemed. Red studied him, his face a mask of sympathy and pain.
"It's nothing personal," Red was telling him, as another vine curled around his neck. "I wish there was another way, but this has to be done."
"Why?" Silver gasped, as the vine tightened.
"You wouldn't understand," Red said, shaking his head. "I want you to know this is for a good reason, though. I'm so sorry, Silver. I truly am. If there was any other way..."
"Go to hell," Silver managed, his voice strangely hollow. There was a loud snap, and then Silver fell to the floor next to his father. Red stared at his former friend for a few seconds, then spun around.
"Surge!"
"Yes?" the lieutenant said, taking an involuntary step back. He seemed uneasy, upset. Just as Red would expect from a man who had just betrayed one of his oldest friends.
"You swear loyalty to me and accept me as the new, true leader of Team Rocket?" Red said, his voice sharp.
"I do," Surge replied, inclining his head.
"You're not thinking of taking the title yourself?"
"I was," Surge replied, shrugging. "But it would've been too much responsibility and pressure for my taste. I prefer following a strong leader to leading myself. I will follow your orders, without fail."
Red frowned, slightly taken aback by the honest answer. He had expected a complete denial to be the reply to any such accusation. It did not matter though, an honest answer was better. It showed him where Surge stood in this. He had accepted Red's takeover since he knew Red was stronger, and Giovanni incapable of leading them in this tough time. He could, however, not know the true reason for Red wanting this power.
"I'm glad you said that," Red told him. "I would've hated to have to kill you as well. Janine, you can come down now."
A petite girl fell from the roof, landing next to Surge without a sound. Surge, taken by surprise, jumped backwards, raising his arms to block an attack that never came.
"What-"
"This is Janine," Red told him. "She is the daughter of Koga. You two have probably met before."
"She was a kid then, but yes," Surge said, giving her a smile. "Koga is lucky to have gotten such a beautiful daughter, considering his own looks. Where is he, anyways?"
"My father is dead," Janine said in a cool voice.
"Dead?" Surge replied, sounding shocked. "How?"
"He was killed by the leaders of the Masked Rockets," Red told him, replying in Janine's stead. "Koga tried to stop them from reviving that branch of the organization, so they teamed up and killed him. I met Janine during my recent travels, which is also when I captured this Scyther and decided I needed to take control over Team Rocket to reach my goals."
"Right... So what happens now?"
"You will tell the Team Rocket members the truth of what happened here," Red said, turning to glance at the corpses. "Masked Rocket assassins came here and killed your glorious leader, as well as his son."
"Oh," Surge replied, looking uncomfortable. "That kind of truth."
"The only truth," Red admonished him. "You will also tell them that a new leader exists, but you will not yet reveal my identity."
"I'm sure they'll love that," Surge said in a sarcastic voice. "What about ninja girl here?"
"She'll stay with you while I'm gone."
"Brilliant. Gone where, exactly?"
"Let's just call it a... recruitment effort," Red told him, walking towards the door. "Make sure they both get a proper burial."
"Yeah alright," Surge replied, though Red had already exited the room and barely heard him. Red stormed through the corridor, avoiding contact with any Team Rocket members. When he was finally out, and certain that no one could see him, he let the tears flow. He had taken another step towards his destiny, and he was certain it would never get easier. Pulling himself together, he set off to implement the next stage.
