Chapter 10

"Sir, may I interrupt?"

Giovanni muted the TV projection which had been playing on his office windows for the last few hours. Without the sound, the older gentleman watched the long public procession of trainers as they escorted Drayden's casket to Unova's Dragon Village where it would be buried. Giovanni had watched the funeral all morning as it was streamed live across the globe from Opelucid City. Some of the greatest trainers from across the globe had gathered to pay their respects to Drayden and 5 of his Pokemon who were killed. Included in that massive gathering were the Pokemon Champions who had stood silently behind the Unova Champion as she delivered a souring eulogy for her friend and mentor. The girl's speech was beautiful and even Giovanni had been impressed by her strength at giving it. Now the same young girl led hundreds on the slow march to Drayden's final resting place.

"What is it?" Giovanni asked as he slowly turned to look at his visitor.

"Archer and I were hoping to speak to you regarding next steps."

Giovanni motioned for the woman to come in as he switched the channel from the live broadcast to a global map. Dotted across the map were small markings which noted various Team Rocket bases, people of note, and other important notes. The older gentleman watched as his two lieutenant briskly crossed the wide room to stand in front of him. Archer had aged after all these years but that had only worked to sharpen his features and make him even more dangerous. The man who Giovanni had recruited as a young trainer was now replaced with a tall, thin man in his late thirties who wore a crisp black suit with a single red R stitched onto the breast pocket. Despite his age, Archer insisted on continuously dying his hair the flamboyant blue he had since he was a rebellious teenager, though now it was kept closely cropped to his head and had the faintest sign of early graying to it. Archer had served Giovanni for years and had kept the foundation of Team Rocket strong and functioning when their leader had been forced to hide from the International Police. Despite his skill and tenacity, Archer had never expressed any interest in rising in power and taking Giovanni's place, not until Giovanni was ready to step down. Archer was the sun Giovanni had wished he had, a stark contrast to the ungrateful child in the Johto region.

While Archer had served Giovanni for years, the woman was new. Giovanni remembered the day as if it was a movie he had watched a hundred times. The fear and panic that her arrival had caused in the small group of Rocket grunts who were assigned to serve him in his hiding, the cold that swept through the halls of the old mansion in Kalos as her Pokemon tore through his men. When she arrived at his office, Giovanni was prepared to use one of his many traps as a diversion to escape, though the thought of being on the road again made him sick to his stomach. Yet instead of attacking him, she simply smiled and sat at one of the red armchairs in front of his desk. To his surprise she had found him to offer an alliance, to offer him her services. She had recently met a unique trainer from the Alola region who had possession of a Pokemon which could freely travel between dimensions. After some "persuasion" the girl had relinquished the Pokemon and now this powerful trainer wanted to make a deal. She would give Giovanni the stolen Pokemon in exchange for the power and influence she so desperately wanted. Together she and Giovanni had rebuilt Team Rocket and now they would rebuild the world. Archer's loyalty to Giovanni blinded him from seeing his colleagues developing relationship with the Team Rocket leader but all of that could be handled in due time.

"Lorelei, what is it? You look worried." Giovanni said cooly, addressing the female lieutenant.

"We have received word that the Pokemon League champions are separating, spreading their resources in an effort to stop us. I am concerned that if I execute our next attack as planned there is a chance my involvement will be discovered." Lorelei said struggling to keep the worry out of her voice.

"Why? You were successful in your attack on Tobias and you have not used any of your signature Pokemon. Why would your next target be any different?"

"Brandon is not some random trainer who achieved greatness. His skill can only be compared to that of a member of the Elite Four. I am also concerned that we are attacking him at a location he knows far more about than any of us. Even if I were to use my most loyal Pokemon, I am concerned I will still not be able to overcome his challenge." Lorelei refused to meet Giovanni's gaze as she spoke instead looking over his shoulder at the setting sun.

"What do you think Archer?"

"Lorelei is an exceptional trainer and her lessons have taught me a great deal. However, this time even with the element of surprise, she will be facing three legendary Pokemon all who are deeply loyal to their trainer. I do not think she needs to be pulled from this mission but I do believe she will need additional resources or additional men."

"And what of the legendary Pokemon that we recently received? Could they be ready to be used?"

Archer pulled out a tablet and began scrolling rapidly through files and scientific data.

"Unsurprisingly, Latios was quite easy to break and the armor has given us complete control of its actions. Darkrai is proving more difficult to control. As we have seen with other non-corporeal Pokemon such as Ghost-types the armor takes time to bind with their essence. This problem is only made more difficult by the Pokemon's violent disposition."

"Sir, Archer and I believe that we should alter the plan slightly. Use Latios, and members of Team Rocket to attack a smaller target as a distraction. While the world focuses on that, I can take Mewtwo and retrieve the three legendary Pokemon from Brandon. We can not risk any setbacks so early in our process."

As Lorelei spoke, Giovanni stood to look at the map projected onto his screen. In his core, he knew that Lorelei and Archer were right. The damage that they had already caused across the world had caused mass fear and panic. Even now, people were condemning the Pokemon league for their lack of action and rumors of protests had already started to circulate. His plan required as many legendary Pokemon as possible yet the more he could destabilize the region the faster Team Rocket would be able to take control. Giovanni stared silently at the small circle surrounding their next major target. The circle flashed like the heartbeat of a sleeping Pokemon, sending faded ripples of light across the rest of the region. Fitting he thought, how his map reflected the cities role in the far-away region. A center of commerce, industry, tourism, and a beacon of light in the center of a region still fresh from a failed terrorist attack.

"Lorelei, you will take Mewtwo and some a few grunts of your choosing and bring me back those legendary Pokemon. Brandon is of no concern to me. He may be strong but without those legendary Pokemon who will be relatively useless. Archer, you will head to our planned target and bring fear and pain the traditional Team Rocket way."

"For those of us who have not always been in Team Rocket do you care to explain?"

"He means bombs Lorelei. I wonder if I can knock that fancy tower down in the middle of the city? I haven't done an old fashion bombing in years, I might have to use extra to get it right." With a new found energy, Archer quickly stood and headed for the door, Lorelei following him closely. When they got to the door, Archer turned and smiled brightly at Giovanni.

"Don't worry sir, I am sure Lumiouse City will have an absolute blast."