"OK everyone, due to Light's injuries from the battle, I'll be running our briefing today." Momo said bringing everyone to attention.
"That sure was one crazy battle." Nate said. "It's hard to believe we lost the majority of the troops we came here with."
"I still think the losses didn't have to be that high." Silver mumbled, still frustrated that they were unable to find a way to safely break the troops out of their hypnosis.
"Well the battles are only going to get harder from here." Momo said. "Light said that our next two targets are going to be the final enemy outposts on the main continent of Hoenn: Verdanturf and Petalburg."
"Which are we hitting first?" Grunt asked.
"Light said that Verdanturf was going to be next. He also wanted me to have you take a scouting party up that way. This being the final battle against the Pokemon in Hoenn, we want as much information as possible for this mission."
"Is there anything else?" Silver asked.
"From Light, no. But I have an issue I wanted to discuss with all of you without Light present." Momo replied.
"What's this issue that couldn't be brought up in front of Light? It his birthday or somethin'" Grunt asked sarcastically
"No it isn't his birthday." Momo replied. "We don't know anything about Light, much less when his birthday is. That is why I want to start investigating him."
"What!?" Nate and Grunt cried simultaneously.
"I'm with you all the way sis." Silver replied.
"How could you even consider doing such a thing." Nate asked. "Without him, our resistance would have died that day outside of Fallarbor Town."
"I realize that but how do we know he isn't just using us to realize his own goals?" Momo asked.
"He is doing that." Grunt replied. "Because his goals are the same as ours!"
"I'm with Momo on this." Silver said. "Light may claim his goals are the same as yours but what proof do you have to back that up?"
"If he didn't share our beliefs, he wouldn't be going so far as to injure himself each battle!" Nate cut in.
"Is he doing it for your beliefs or to maintain the organization he needs to achieve his goal?"
"Light's past isn't the only issue here." Momo said ended the argument before it dominated the entire meeting. "He doesn't care about the number of people defeated each battle as long as we win."
"A few months ago we weren't winning at all and now you're complaining that we're winning too much?" Grunt replied. "You really need to make up your mind."
"I'm not complaining about the amount of territory we've gained over the past several months but I just wonder if we've paid too heavy of a price for it." Momo said. "During the Battle for Mt. Pyre, those traveling from the North on the west side of the mountain would have been taken out if it weren't for the Queen's Guard intervening."
"We were too tired." Nate said."If we had tried to help them too, we wouldn't have won the battle."
"I that such a bad thing?" Silver asked. "Where is the harm in retreating and sparing your forces from battle?"
"If we retreated, they would have followed us." Grunt replied. "Then more soldiers would have fallen. Light was only looking out for the well-being of his men."
"But he doesn't see us as men!" Momo replied. "During the Mt. Pyre battle, he referred to us as chess pieces!"
"Maybe that's just how his brain works." Nate said trying to explain the oddity away.
"Didn't he also seem a bit too willing to go and fight his own soldiers?" Silver said, raising another good point.
"He was only taking charge and placing the undesirable task upon himself." Nate replied, suddenly sounding unsure of himself.
Leveling with her comrades, Momo said, "Look I'm not asking you to actively investigate Light. I just ask that you don't tell him of our investigation. Can you at least do me that?"
"Sure..."
"Fine..."
Nate and Grunt said in reply.
"If you do happen to change your mind, let us know but for now, that's all. You're free to go."
As Nate and Grunt walked out of the room, Momo and Silver began to plan their investigation.
"Nice to finally see you coming to your senses." Silver said.
"I feel a lot better now that I know we'll get answers one way or another." Momo said. "But where do we start?"
"That pillar of electricity... there was a report about something similar happening during an attack on Verdanturf a while back. We should start there."
A Few Days Later outside Verdanturf
As Grunt brought his Knight around the perimeter of the town the NAA was preparing to attack, his thoughts drifted once again to Momo's declaration to investigate Light's past.
Light is more devoted to the cause than any of us. Why can't she see that? Grunt thought to himself.
"I've got reports of about 15 military installations in the mountains here." A Rattata said over the communicator. "You OK Grunt, you've been quiet this entire trip?"
"Don't worry about me." He replied half heartedly. "This type of mission just isn't exactly my kind of thing."
"I know you're more of a shoot 'em up type of person but this information will allow you to do even more damage during the upcoming battle."
"You better be right otherwise I'm gonna be ticked at being stuck with this job."
"What kind of defenses do they have down your way?"
"Very minimalistic." Grunt replied, "Just a few barracks really and a couple of small walls to try and ward off people on foot."
"Sounds like its going to be an easy battle." Rattata said. "We should probably head back to Slateport and report our findings."
"Doesn't it seem odd that this is the last base the Pokemon have in Hoenn and yet it seems to have the worst defenses?" Grunt asked. "Something seems off…"
"Maybe that's because we've learned from our mistakes and put more of our troops in the safety of the mountains." Said a Sceptile laying around behind Grunt.
Crap we've been made! Grunt thought before asking the stranger, "Who are you?"
Jumping down from the tree he had been laying in, the stranger replied, "Oh, me? I'm no one special. I'm just the commander of this city, Knight."
Our cover's blown and by the city's commander no less!
Mumbling under his breath, Grunt said into his communicator, "I've been compromised, get back to Light and tell him everything you know."
"Talking to your friend?" Knight asked with a smile on his face. "You should know we have men going after him too. Now why don't you just surrender to me before things get ugly?"
"Surrender to you? You don't look that tough."
"Why don't you find out?"
"Fine I do just that!" Grunt said before pulling out his machine guns and firing rapidly at the Veranturf Commander who blocked each one with a Leaf Blade attack.
"Wow you're pretty strong!" Knight said. "But you seem to lack Close Quarters combat gear. How about you try a bit of my Dragon Claw!"
Realizing that Knight was right, Grunt was put on the defensive as the agile Sceptile began to bob and weave through his stream of bullets.
"You're mine now." Sceptile said, grin appearing on his face as he raised his arm to use the Dragon Claw.
"That's where you're wrong. Chest Cannon fire!"
Instead of claiming victory over Grunt, Knight was hit at close range by the chest cannon and was blown back, skidding across the forest floor.
Suddenly feeling very confident in his abilities, Grunt maneuvered over to where Knight lay on the ground and prepared to give the final blow.
"Looks like the NAA won't even need to have a battle here." Grunt said. "I've just won this battle for them."
"Oh no. Looks like you've gotten the best of me." Knight said in a mocking tone. "Or NOT! Solarbeam!"
A bright flash of light was all Grunt could remember before everything went black.
Meanwhile in Slateport
"This is Silver checking in."
"Well hello again Silver." Person 1 said over the comm. "It's been a while since you last checked in. We were getting worried you had defected."
"No No NO sir!" Silver cried emphatically. "I would never think of doing such a thing."
"Good because you know the consequences of betraying us. How is the NAA liking those cannons we provided?"
"Quite well thanks." Silver replied. "Even though they weren't of much use to us in Slateport, the NAA is already looking to purchase more materials from your company."
"Very good. Now, the rest of the board and I have been monitoring the progress of the NAA and have come to a conclusion: Light must be taken out of the picture."
"Why?" Silver asked. "I thought you wanted a third party entered into the war."
"We did but we also didn't want the war to End." The executive replied. "Light has done too good of a job leading the NAA. At the rate he's going, the conflict in Hoenn will nearly be eliminated. Can you handle your new mission?"
"It shouldn't be a problem." Silver replied. "There is already unrest brewing in the ranks against Light. Soon it will come to a boil and it will be child's play to take Light out of the picture."
"Good. Check back in with us soon with your progress Silver."
Silver had to quickly turn off and hide the communicator as Momo came rushing into the room looking panicked.
"Momo? What's wrong?"
"It's Grunt, he's been captured in Verdanturf!"
AN: No Light this chapter but it gave me a chance to really focus on the other characters and give them a time to shine. A big thanks to Falcon Striker for the submission of Knight. We'll be seeing more of him next chapter. If you want to submit a character, there are still two spots remaining, check out Chapter 18 Author's Notes for details.
Two more things-
1- Pokemon New Age has had over 1000 views! Thanks you all for the support in reaching this milestone.
2- Updates may begin to slow a bit over the next few months. My semester at college is ending and since I do the writing while there... You know what I'm getting at. I'll still write when I can but updates may be a bit slower (This month especially with finals and a family vacation coming up). Thanks for understanding and rest assured, the story will go on!