Chapter 6: Capture

"Where are you going, Cynthia?"

"I can't find one of my spare Pokeballs. I think I dropped it when I was attacked by that Mightyena. It wouldn't matter normally but I'm running really low so I need to go look for it."

"Oh, I'll come with you. Two pairs of eyes are better than one."

"It's all right, May. I think I know where it is. I felt something fall out of my pocket but didn't pay attention to it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Don't worry; I'll be back before you know it."

Aiya smiled and waved then set off into the trees with Core. Kao stayed behind. He had no interest in facing the group of wanna-be Rockets again and anyway, he was enjoying an excellent snack and didn't feel like doing anything at the moment.

Once they were a good distance away from the camp, Aiya spoke, "Where are they?"

'No idea,' grunted Core. 'Probably hiding in some bushes or something.'

"I heard 'dat ya know."

Meowth stood with his paws on his hips, glaring at Core. Jessie and James hung back a little, staring suspiciously at Aiya.

"Are you sure that kid's who she says she is, Meowth? She doesn't look old enough to even apply for Team Rocket. How can she possibly be the Nightmare?"

"Yeah, how do we know it's not some kind of trick?"

"I suggest you watch your tone around me, dears." Aiya's voice had changed from the light, girly one she used around Ash and his friends to a cold, arrogant drawl. "I can battle you for real, if you like. It won't hurt me at all. You're pathetic Pokemon couldn't defeat a Pidgey, but perhaps that's why you like them so much."

Jessie and James had both balled their hands into fists and were glaring at Aiya in fury.

"Good restraint on your temper at least. Now, let's see," she pulled a notebook out of her pocket and flipped it open. "Jessie, James, and Meowth, lower ranking members but not grunts. Have failed to capture a single Pokemon for three years and have been chasing after Pikachu for the same amount of time. Attempts, giant robots, nets, rubber gloves, glass containers with a light bulb on top," Aiya raised and eyebrow and looked at the group in front of her. "And you wonder why you've failed so often? Have you ever heard of tossing a Pokeball?"

"Listen pipsqueak…"

"Please don't interrupt me, it's rude. Now," she flipped a page of the notebook and continued, "the reason you lot weren't thrown out ages ago is because of your impressive training records. It seems that when you first joined you showed a lot of promise. Even Giovanni was impressed with your efforts during training. If you hadn't gone off chasing after a kid and his electric rat you could have become very successful members. As it is, you are the lowest of the low when it comes to reputations. You're even worse than the grunts."

"That's not true!" Shouted James angrily, trying to grab the notebook from Aiya.

The Rocket merely pulled it aside and James fell. "Perhaps you'd hear about things more if you actually came to base stead of following those kids. Anyway, I'm not here to lecture you. I'm here to clean up your mess. My mission is simple. Grab Pikachu and send you three back to base to be retrained. After that, maybe you can work off some of the debt you owe."

"No! Pikachu is our prize! We won't…"

"Shut it, Meowth. Believe me, there are plenty of other things I'd rather be doing but this is a direct order from the head himself. Now, you lot have a reputation for trying to steal glory from other Rocket members. Seems like you messed up an attempt to catch Lugia a while back. In fact, Team Rocket had the legendary Pokemon and its child locked up but you lot set it free. Now, had you known your antics would screw things up so badly I doubt you would have done it. Nevertheless, I now have to take steps to ensure you don't mess up my plans. I couldn't blame you if you tried. I wouldn't want three years of my life wasted either." A cruel smile crossed Aiya's features as she took two Pokeballs from her belt. "Ryo, Vulcan, do me a favor and watch after these idiots while I catch Pikachu." She tossed the balls into the air and the three Rockets backed away as her Charizard and Ampharos appeared.

'What do we do if they try to run?'

"Simple. Send 'em, how do you guys say it, blasting off again." She smirked. "Have a nice day."

With that she turned and walked away, leaving Jessie, James, and Meowth cowering against a tree as Vulcan and Ryo watched them through narrowed eyes.

----

"Where?!"

"I'm not supposed to tell you."

"Why not?!"

Jacob's shouts had already attracted the attention of many passersby and the officer was becoming more and more uncomfortable with every stare. "Officer Jenny said it wouldn't be a good idea."

"Oh yeah?! And why might that be?!"

"Because you're acting really aggressive lately and we don't want you to fly off the handle and mess things up." Officer Jenny's calm voice made the officer smile in relief. He saluted his higher-up and hurried off. "Come this way, Jacob, you're causing a scene."

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where the Rockets are!"

"Then I'll have to place you under arrest."

Jacob faltered. He wasn't sure if Officer Jenny was being serious or not but the threat was enough to calm him, for a moment at least. He turned his head aside and allowed himself to be lead to the Pokemon Center.

----

"Hey, Cynthia, did you find the Pokeball?"

"Yes. It was right where I thought it was." Aiya held up a dusty Pokeball with a smile as she took a seat next to the fire. Kao sauntered over and sat down next to her, licking on flipper in a lazy way. "Hello, Golduck. You look well. Have a good snack?"

'Oh yes. That boy Brock is a wonderful cook. You should take a few lessons from him.'

Aiya smiled a rather forced smile and patted Kao on the head rather harder than was necessary. "That's good. You want to go back in your Pokeball now?"

'No.'

"All right then." She took the water-type's Pokeball from her belt and watched him disappear in a flash of red light. She clipped it back on her belt then looked towards the others. Pikachu was snickering. He had easily understood what Kao had said and was probably aware that Aiya had too. None of the trainers had noticed anything odd, though.

"It's getting late," said Max, looking at the sky and shivering slightly. "We should get moving if we want to make it to the Pokemon Center."

"Don't worry, Max," said May, smiling and turning her head to the sky as well. "We'll camp here for the night. It's much nicer than the Pokemon Center."

"I agree with May," said Ash, lying back with his hands behind his head.

Aiya blinked in slight confusion before turning her eyes to the heavens. The sky was painted a brilliant mix of pink, orange, and gold. Farther from the horizon, the moon was already visible and a single star was twinkling merrily beneath it. It had been a long, long time since she had seen a sunset. She had long forgotten about the sky's beauty and now that she saw it again, she felt a twinge of sadness in her heart. She felt no regret about joining Team Rocket, but how long had it been since her heart had hardened and her eyes become blind to the simple wonders of the world?

"It is very nice. I haven't camped outside in a while. It'll be a nice change. Mind if I camp here for the night, too?"

"Sure. Then, if you want, you can come with us to the next town."

"Thanks, May; I wouldn't mind having some company for a while."

----

Jacob shifted uncomfortably in the vest he was wearing. It was heavy and a little too big for him which made moving awkward. There was also the fact that the straps that held it on had been pulled extra tight to ensure it didn't fall off and were now digging into his skin. He didn't complain though. He knew this was the only way he'd get to help the police tackle Team Rocket and a little discomfort was a small price to pay.

"Now, listen to me. Whatever I say goes. I don't care how much you want to help, if I say run you run. If you disobey any order I will personally knock you out and drag you back to the Pokemon Center. After that you won't be allowed to come on any more missions, got it?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Now put on this helmet and stay by me."

He obeyed quickly. The helmet fit better than the vest and made him feel about as cool as any kid wearing bullet proof armor and accompanying a S.W.A.T. team on an important mission could feel. He also felt completely safe and prepared to take whatever Team Rocket threw at him.

Officer Jenny checked the holster at her waste to make sure her gun was secure then placed a helmet over her own head and shouted to the armored squad around them. "Okay everyone, listen up. Our mission is to apprehend the Rockets and recover the stolen Pokemon and, if she's with them, rescue Aiya. We have no other purpose outside the stated so don't do anything you shouldn't. Now, there's no guarantee our targets are among the group we're after but we are to capture them all none-the-less. Do not shoot unless your or one of your comrades' lives are in danger. Got that? Good. Move out!"

The group saluted Officer Jenny and loaded into the large black van parked nearby. Jacob was not allowed to sit in the back with the others but was forced to sit up front with the armed driver. Though unhappy about not being able to listen to the squad's conversation, he didn't object. It was better than not being allowed to come at all.

----

Aiya's eyes opened quickly. The night was silent except for the crackle of the dying fire and the soft breathing of the people around her. She pushed herself up silently and looked around. Ash, Brock, May, and Max were all sleeping soundly. Pikachu was curled up by Ash's head, as deeply asleep as his trainer.

Without making the slightest sound, Aiya lifted her backpack from where it lay and reached inside. She lifted her hand out, a covered syringe gripped between her fingers. A small amount of pink liquid shone inside. She placed this delicately between her front teeth and crawled over to Pikachu. Her breathing was shallow as she didn't want to make any noise that could wake a member of the group.

She reached the yellow mouse at last and took the syringe from her mouth. She slid the cover off the needle and leaned forward. You won't feel a thing, she said in her mind, gently sliding the needle into Pikachu's side. The little electric Pokemon gave a little twitch then fell still. Aiya removed the needle and placed the cover back on it. She then took a black and white Pokeball with a red R on the front from her pocket and held it ready. Then she lifted Pikachu from where it lay and stood up. After retrieving her bag and checking to make sure that none of her Pokeballs had fallen off her belt in the sleeping bag May had leant her, she slipped off into the woods.

Far away from the camp's sight, she knocked the black and white Pokeball against Pikachu's sleeping form and watched with a smile as it vanished inside. Then, still not making a sound, Aiya darted off into the darkness.