A/N: I'm surprised how well the last chapter went down with people, and this plot is only just getting started! As with the last few chapters, I've only just finished writing it before posting it up on here. I've checked through it and I just hope it's as good as chapters I've taken longer to proof read. Violet still belongs to Positive Energy.

Amber had not been around all day and Elliot was finally alone, enjoying a rare moment of peace and solitude in the pokémon centre dormitory with his books for company, still pondering the benefits of meeting Violet at the bar as opposed to immersing himself in 'Ancient Pokémon of the Deep'.

Fascinating as the tales of fossil pokémon were, he couldn't tear his mind away from the idea that Violet was after something, and if she was – which she almost certainly was, he told himself – then his only chance to find out would be tonight.

–

Over on the coast, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the rippling waves which pushed their way inwards and broke on the concrete sea wall. On a pier sticking out into the jostling waters, Amber had healed up her sentret's burn and proceeded with her training.

"If you plan on challenging the Helios City gym leader," their coach had told them, "you each must have at least five pokémon. If you plan on challenging him tonight… you need your pokémon ready by ten o'clock."

Amber gulped. She only had three, and the clock was ticking. Even the mention of 'ten o'clock at night' didn't incite her to frown in suspicion. Her eyes scanned the area in a panic, searching out any sign of movement that may indicate a pokémon.

The teacher cast her a bemused smile. "You'd better get searching." And she and the others left Amber to practise their pokémon's attacks and strategies further down the pier.

Two hours to catch two pokémon in a city where nature was elusive.

Tick, tock, tick, tock…

And she ran with no direction.

–

Elliot dashed hastily through the streets, clutching his map in one hand and pumping the other to the beat of the run. He took a wrong turning and came to a dead end faced by a wall declaring, 'Helios 4lyF', dripping in red paint like blood, tarred by the grime of the city. He checked over his shoulder nervously before backtracking. Another few streets. A faint growling sound had set him on edge, but he was relieved beyond belief to see that it was only a stray meowth prowling for loose change.

Calm down Eli, you're overreacting, he reassured himself, wiping his shaggy hair, which stuck to his forehead with the moisture of cold sweat.

After a few more turns following a readjusted route, he found it. His shoulders sank and relief flooded his veins. He suddenly became aware of his red hot cheeks and cold fingertips, the map scrunched up but still readable. Before him, on the ground floor of a murky tower block that could have been a run-down apartment complex, purple neon lighting flashed in the name of 'The Murkrow's Nest', and, standing guard over the entrance, the neon murkrow itself, lifting and lowering its wing with the flickering of the lights.

–

Amber didn't have time to savour the delights of arcade games positioned purposefully along the popular seafront boulevard, nor did she have the time to humour a man trying to sell her something she didn't need. She wriggled her small body free from the grasp of a guard who had asked if she was lost and charged like a speeding bullet down the highway through clusters of young women on their way to a good night out. She had no idea where she was going or how she would get there, only a one-track mind set firmly on 'pokémon'.

–

He didn't recognise anyone in the dimly-lit, smoky atmosphere of The Murkrow's Nest. The bar was full of rogueish sorts, showing their tattoos and bulging biceps in tank tops and ripped denim. Great, so these are Violet's sort of people… Elliot thought glumly as he positioned himself atop a bar stool and ordered a cheap drink. They didn't have a lot to offer, but he bought a drink and nursed it to avoid standing out any more. From the corner of his eye, he passively observed a game of pool which quickly became violent. The men brandishing the cues had to be ejected from the bar rather forcefully: grabbed by the scruff of their thick necks and thrown out of the door. Elliot nervously bit on his knuckles and stared at his untouched drink. Condensation was trickling down the bottle's neck like the sweat running down his own. Come on, Violet, you promised me! Please get here!

"Heh, look at this little weed!" grunted a thick voice from behind his ears.

Please ignore me, just leave me alone, I'm not causing trouble, I'm not doing any harm, just please for the love of god don't try anything!

"Yeah, look at him, all scared and crying like!" laughed another voice, its owner's clothes giving off a distinct whiff of alcohol.

Shut up – I am NOT crying, you idiots! Oh god, I'm only gonna draw more attention to myself now!

"Oi!"

Elliot opened his eyes and blinked several times to clear away the spots. He suddenly became aware that had been hunched over the bar, hands pressed into the sides of his head in a futile attempt to block out the noise.

"V- Violet?"

"That's right," she replied cheerfully. "I'm sorry; I really shouldn't have made you come to this place."

Elliot looked up glumly at her and took back all his resentful thoughts about her being late to meet him. Her presence in a barmaid's uniform was the most welcome sight he'd seen all night.

"Elliot," she said, "There's some people I want to introduce you to."

–

She had an hour and a half, and the passing of the seconds seemed to be happening in fast motion.

"Hey, you'll want to watch where you're going miss," chuckled a large man hauling a large net off a fishing trawler. He was tugging it backwards, and Amber almost ran straight into it. She skidded to a halt, her boots gripping hard on the concrete.

"Please," she panted, "I need a pokémon as soon as possible – what have you caught?" She leapt onto the fishing net, pulling herself up over the scramble of water pokémon with her claw-like fingers.

The fisherman dropped the net at its mouth and ran to grab Amber around the waist, pulling her down. Amber elbowed him in the face, it barely registering that the pokémon were tumbling out of the net and into the street. Those that could were running for their lives.

"Get off me!" she screeched at the top of her lungs.

–

Violet introduced him to a group of men standing around a quiet corner of the room, enjoying a quiet, civilised evening. They were more than happy to welcome Violet into their group, and one of them gripped Elliot's shoulder a little too firmly for his liking, though it was a friendly gesture. The man smiled at him; he was of average height and average build, with tightly cropped brown hair and forgettable features that could get lost in any crowd.

"Elliot, Opal. Opal, Elliot," Violet said hastily before rushing off to collect empty beer bottles.

Elliot was about to protest when the man known as 'Opal' held a finger to his lip and quickly said, "Let me explain… 'Opal' is a code name. For security reasons."

Elliot nodded, terrified.

The man backed away and Elliot relaxed his tensed shoulders.

"I don't mean to be a threat," he said, relaxing back against the wall. Opal spoke in a smooth, long drawl. "Tell me: What do you think of Team Rocket?"

Team Rocket disbanded ages ago in Johto. Are they still around?

Elliot glanced at each of the men standing around him in turn. They were all taller, and could all have easily beaten him up if they so desired.

"I uh… Well – I mean…" he stuttered. He cleared his throat. The men stood waiting, and Opal smiled inquiringly. "Well… I think that if you're a strong trainer – strong enough to defend yourself I mean – you've got no need to worry about them." He quickly realised what he had blurted out and added, "I mean – as long as you stay out of their way and that. Well, if they leave me alone I'm not particularly bothered."

Opal just smiled. He said nothing, and Elliot's could feel his own heartbeat.

A moment went by that felt like an hour before Opal said, "Good…" though he didn't really seem like he cared at all what answer Elliot had given at all. What he wanted to know, and what he asked with purpose, was, "Do you think you're strong enough to stand up to them? Hypothetically speaking, of course…"

Elliot shuffled and mumbled something unintelligible.

"Because if you are…," Opal mused, his fingertip pressed tightly against his smooth chin, "Then I have a proposition for you, young man."

Elliot gulped. A proposition? Oh god… If he dares try anything dodgy…

"I suppose you're wondering… what it is, hmm?" he whispered, leaning into Elliot's face. Opal spoke in a smooth, drawn-out drawl, not unlike the hissing of an ekans.

Elliot nodded rapidly. Ask him, you idiot, just ask him! Ask him if he's in Team Rocket!

"Are you…" but he couldn't continue. His voice grew weak and frail after those two words.

"Am I what?" Opal asked innocently.

"Team…" Elliot stammered.

"…Rocket?" Opal finished.

Elliot nodded quickly.

Opal stifled a laugh. "You think I'm in Team Rocket? You couldn't be more wrong!" He spoke loudly, so that the whole bar could hear him. Several other conversations in close proximity fell silent

Opal looked around frantically. "I said I'm not in Team Rocket, okay? Nothing to see here!" The patrons returned to their rowdy chatter.

They conversed for a while longer and Opal explained to Elliot about their organisation. Despite his eccentricities, he was a friendly man who told a tale of how he and several close friends had banded together to combat a Team Rocket scheme back in the day, and had reformed on hearing rumours of certain ex-Team Rocket members who were still at large, despite the team's separation.

"Your friend Violet is a member too," he said, leaning into Elliot's ear. They silently watched her; she was standing behind the bar, mixing drinks for a crowd of raucous bikers who were jeering and whistling at her. She kept an impeccable sense of coolness.

"She's a talent scout, that girl is," he continued. "Got us some promising young trainers before and from what I've heard, she's onto something again."

Elliot frowned. "You don't mean me?"

"Exactly!" Opal grinned, grabbing Elliot's shoulder in a friendly sort-of hug, which Elliot nervously shrugged off, letting Opal's arm drop to his side.

"And as I was saying," he continued, "if you are strong enough, we'd like to have you join up with us." He paused to let the thought linger. "I propose a battle between you and I."

Elliot panicked. I didn't agree to any of this!