Chapter 5

Garchomp stood ready, and willing, to battle. Cynthia stared at the two Galactic Grunts, holding their Pokéballs. She watched as they threw the Pokéballs into the air, releasing a Croagunk and a Murkrow.

"Croa!"

"Murkrow!"

One of the grunts raised their hand at her. "Get 'er, Croagunk!"

"You, too, Murkrow!" cried the other grunt.

The bird Pokémon swooped towards Cynthia, forcing her to duck as it flew by. As it circled in the air again, Croagunk leapt towards her, hand glowing.

"Garchomp!" Cynthia needn't have said more, as the connection between them was strong.

Garchomp inhaled, breathing out Flamethrower across the front of the grunts. A large wall of flame rose up, blocking their view. Croagunk jumped back from the heat. Out of the crimson flames, Cynthia stepped out, Garchomp by her side.

"Croagunk, Brick Break!"

"Murkrow, Wing Attack!"

Croagunk leapt at Garchomp, hand glowing, once again. Garchomp blocked, taking the hit in her arm. Murkrow flew at Cynthia, attempting to strike her with its wings. She leapt back, nimbly, dodging the blow. Murkrow flipped itself around, swooping at her again. Cynthia saw Murkrow from over her shoulder, managing to roll at the last moment. Strands of freshly-cut blonde hair fluttered to the ground.

"Flamethrower!"

Garchomp belted out crimson; the stream of flame narrowly missing both Galactic Pokémon. Croagunk leapt back, mightily, as Murkrow quickly ascended. Garchomp continued her heated blasts; lighting up the sky, as the crow Pokémon was chased in circle overhead. A burst of flame shot past behind it, singeing its tail feathers.

The grunt yelled at his bird, "Fly!"

"'Krow!" it cried, swooping down at Garchomp.

The Dragon-Type fired another Flamethrower, and Murkrow flew in, spiralling around the blast. Swooping around and over, Murkrow's Fly struck Garchomp in the head. At the same time, Croagunk rushed in with a Poison Jab, knocking her onto her back.

"Garchomp!" Cynthia rushed over to the Dragon-Type, who picked herself up. The Mistress and Pokémon stood fast together.

"Enough." The blonde Champion raised her arm, fingers splayed out towards the grunts. "Dragon Rush."

Garchomp began to glow, then shot forth, striking Croagunk and launching it into the air, where it knocked Murkrow out of the sky.

The moment Murkrow hit the roof, a helicopter appeared from over the edge.

A a ladder was dropped down from a hatch in its side. The two Galactic Grunts leapt onto the ladder, recalling their unconscious Pokémon.

"Hey, stop!" cried Cynthia.

"Sorry, don't think so."

"Fine, we'll do it ourselves. Garchomp, Draco Meteor!"

A blue orb flew out of Garchomp's maw, pointed directly upwards. Shooting high up into the air, it exploded into small falling balls of fire. The grunts were able to hastily shut the door before the side of the helicopter was pelted, leaving pockmarks and scorches along the metal skin. Trailing smoke, the helicopter lifted up into the sky, and sped away. Garchomp made as to pursue, but Cynthia stopped her.

She looked down at Cynthia. "Gar?"

"It's okay, let them go. We stopped them; that's what matters." The Blonde walked over to the bag of Pokéballs, forgotten in the chaos of the battle, her heels clicking upon the concrete. She looked out to the Jubilife skyline, the Galactic helicopter having vanished in the night. "I just want to know what they're up to."

…

Officer Jenny awoke in her bed, alone. She stretched her arms over her head, letting out a small moan. She slid out of the sheets, having noticed the place aside her empty. Throwing on a short, silken nightgown, she crept over to the living room of her apartment. Peeking her head in, she saw that it was empty. Her apartment was rather small, with the kitchen and living room combined, and only one bedroom. That explained, at least to her, the sleeping arraignments last night. In the apartment complex in which she lived, her flat was a small one on the second floor. She hoped that eventually, she'd get a raise, and afford an apartment in one of the Hearthome high-rises; one much higher up than the second floor.

Fortunately, she had a nice view, and more fortunately, a window to go with it. It was through this window that she heard some noise.

"Now, what could that be?" she pondered.

She slid the window open, and looked out.

Outside, there was a small yard, where she spied two figures punching the air.

"Keep going, Empoleon, only one hundred more to go," Kuro grunted out.

"Emp! Emp!" she replied, enthusiastically thrusting her flipper through the air.

Officer Jenny leant on the windowsill, watching intently.

They both had looks of intense concentration on their faces. Sweat dripped down Kuro's frame; droplets sliding down his bare chest. Jenny cradled her chin in her hands, smiling. It wasn't often when she could catch Kuro training with his Empoleon, or at all. She tried her best to stay quiet.

"All right, Empoleon, that's enough."

"'Poleon!" The blue penguin Pokemon waddled over to a freshly folded towel, and walked back to him with it folded over her flipper. She looked like a blue butler.

Kuro nodded to Empoleon; taking the towel. He wiped himself off, and draped it over his shoulders. She cried out her name, cheerfully, in response. Empoleon saw Jenny in the window; and waved at her with a chirp. Jenny quickly ducked as Kuro turned towards the window.

"What is it, girl?" he asked.

She scratched the back of her head. A small sweat drop on her forehead. "Emp, Emp."

Hiding beneath the windowsill, Officer Jenny breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's go in," Kuro suggested, heading towards the front door.

Officer Jenny, hearing this, quickly made her way back to her room. She put on something presentable, and walked back out as she heard the door shut.

"Oh, Kuro-kun, good morning," she said, nonchalantly. "What have you been up to?"

"Just an early-morning workout."

"Oh, is that so?" She feigned ignorance.

"Emp, Emp …" The penguin Pokémon did as well.

"Um …" She hesitated. "Would you and your Pokémon like to stay for breakfast?"

"I'm sorry, but I must return to headquarters." He began putting on his shirt. "I need to report in."

"Oh … I understand."

Kuro couldn't help but notice that she sounded disappointed.

He walked over to her, picking up her hands in his. "Maybe … a little bite wouldn't hurt."

Jenny's bright smile was only surpassed by the light in her eyes.

…

Kuro walked into Ranger Headquarters, his boots clicking on the marble floor. The receptionist at the front desk smiled at him as he scanned his card on the desk.

"Hello, Ranger Kuro," she chirped, her cheeks reddening.

"Hello." He nodded. He watched as the table scanned the card, displaying his profile on the desk.

"You checked out, all right, Ranger Kuro …"

"Thank you." He took his card from her.

"You're welcome!" she chimed.

Kuro walked into the elevator, and was whisked up all the way to the chief's office. The lift doors opened, bathing him in morning light. The light cascaded through the gigantic windows of the chief's office. As per usual, the chief was silhouetted in the light. Standing there, he gazed out onto the cityscape of Hearthome.

"Kuro." He gestured to the seat in front of his desk. "Please, sit."

The Ranger did as he was told, resting in the plush carved chair. The Chief Ranger turned to face the young man. Sitting down in his own large seat, he clasped his fingers together. The creases in his withered face hinted in the light of the room.

"Report."

"As you probably know, there was an incident in down-town, last night."

"Yes, Kuro. I, as well as half of Hearthome, noticed it." He let out a gruff sigh. "Wanton destruction is not like you. You're usually more careful than that."

Kuro stood up quickly and bowed. "I'm sorry, Chief. Things got out of hand."

"It was Team Galactic, was it?"

"Yes, sir."

"From the police reports, I received, it was just a pair of grunts stealing Pokémon. What went wrong, Kuro?"

"It was … Comet, sir"

"Comet?" The chief paused for a moment. "You mean your old friend from Johto?"

Kuro grimaced. "He's not my friend."

"He was." The old man leant over his desk. "Or, do you not remember your own past?"

Kuro look down at the ground.

"What did Comet want?"

"Probably to introduce himself, I reason."

"Now, why would he do that?" The chief clasped his fingers together.

"He knew that I was here, and he can't help himself."

The Chief just grunted. "Find out why he's here, and why he's working with Team Galactic. Kuro, I want you to continue your investigation into Team Galactic. Full report, on my desk, by tonight.

The black-haired trainer stood up and bowed. The Chief was straight-to-the-point, and so was he. "Yes, sir."

"Dismissed."

As he started to walk to he elevator, the Chief stood up, his palms pressed into the hardwood of the desk. The old man sighed. "Kuro, one more thing."

Kuro stood in the elevator, the door still open.

"You are becoming reckless. That could be disastrous. You don't want to make a mistake that you'll regret."

The doors closed, and the lift descended.

Kuro walked about the streets of Hearthome. The sun, hanging high overhead, beat down on him with its heat. He stopped, his heel making one last click on the concrete.

Am I too serious? More importantly, am I too reckless? He asked himself. I wasn't always like this. No, now is not the time to worry about that. Tracking down Team Galactic is what's important, right now!

With a renewed sense of purpose, Kuro walked off, in search of any leads, ignoring the ominous words of the old man.

…

"Hey, c'mon kid, we just wanna take that Raticate of yours. What's wrong with that?"

"I said, 'No'!" A small boy clutched his precious Pokéball to his chest.

The two grunts laughed loudly, drawing a crowd around them in the usually quiet park. People stood around, not interfering, afraid of what the Team Galactic members might do. One of the grunts was wearing a pack on his back. Attached to the pack was a hose with a funnel at the end.

The grunt laughed. "Now that we got a crowd, how 'bout we get down to business?"

"Yeah," agreed the other grunt. "Enough fooling around, let's get to work.

The grunts threw some Pokéballs into the air, releasing a pair of Golbat. The Golbat fired Wing Attacks around the crowd. The people ducked for cover.

"Throw all 'yer Pokéballs over 'ere." The grunt levelled the hose at the people. "C'mon, now, don't be shy."

At the behest of another strike by the Golbat, people began throwing their Pokéballs to the Galactic members.

"Ha! Jackpot!" He vacuumed up the Pokéballs as quickly as possible. "These guys are eve scareder than the kid!"

"Speaking of which …" The other grunt walked back to the child, snatching the Pokéball from the boy's small hands.

"Hey, give Raticate back!" The boy leapt at the men, only to be slapped away; his cheek stinging as he hit the ground.

The boy felt a hand grab him, pulling him to his feet. Before him stood a man in red and black.

"You okay?" Kuro asked in a low voice.

The boy nodded.

The two grunts stared for only a second before one of them shouted, "Ranger!"

"Time to scram!" The men in grey bolted away from Kuro, towards the park exit.

"Hey! Come back here!" Kuro ran after them, his steps echoing through the park.

As the Galactic Grunts passed the park gates, a jeep pulled up to them. Driven by a female grunt. The two jumped in and the car sped off. Kuro reached the gate soon enough to glimpse their trail of smoke.

As soon as he thought that they had managed to escape, Officer Jenny slid up on her motorcycle, the tyres screeching to a halt.

"Get on!" she commanded, and Kuro obediently sat behind her.

"Hang on!" Officer Jenny revved the engine and sped off after the jeep.

The Galactic Grunts were speeding down the road, their bowl cuts, lacklustre, blowing in the wind.

Before they had time to breathe, the loud sound of a motorcycle engine grew louder behind them.

"Dammit! It's Officer Jenny!"

"Pull up next to them!"Kuro cried back. "Get up as close as you can!"

Jenny manoeuvred her bright white motorcycle to the right of the jeep.

"Do something!" One of the grunts yelled at the female driver. Turning the wheel with a jerk, she swerved at Jenny and Kuro.

With a yell, Jenny swerved to avoid them, dropping back behind the jeep.

"One more try!" Officer Jenny twisted her throttle, and the bike jetted forward.

She managed to pull up next to Team Galactic, and Kuro leapt onto the jeep. She yelled after him, "Kuro!"

Kuro attempted to grab the vacuum pack, wrestling with the grunts on the back of the jeep. The lady grunt was having trouble controlling the jeep, as it careened down the road. One of the grunts grabbed the vacuum pack, smashing it into Kuro's face. Kuro stumbled and the grunts took the chance to push him off. Kuro fell off the back, rolling on the ground, left behind.

"Kuro!" Jenny yelled, and was for the moment, distracted. A moment was all it took as the driver slammed the corner of the jeep into the front wheel of Jenny's patrol bike. Jenny lost control, spinning out, but managed to right herself in time. She sat there, astride her bike, sideways in the road. She watched as the grunts drove off in the distance.

"Oh, no. Kuro!" She spun the motorcycle around, and sped over to where Kuro lay. Jenny ran over to him as he got up. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." He stood up, brushing himself off. "I can't believe that I let them get away."

"I can't believe that you jumped off my bike!" She punched him in the arm. "I thought you were going to use your Pokémon!"

"At least, I managed to grab one." He showed her the red and white ball in his hand. "Let's go after them."

"We can follow their tracks." Jenny threw her leg over the motorbike, despite her short skirt, and started it up.