A knock on my office door. I didn't respond, and Solaris walked in anyways. "Milas, it's been two days. Not to be soulless, but-"

"Oh, like being soulless is new to you?"

She blinked, slightly surprised at my bitter tone. "Milas, she's gone. You have to move on."

I sighed. "People keep telling me to forget her, to move on, to just keep going with my life…how can I, huh? How can I keep going?!"

I turned my chair towards the window. "I'm not gonna say I can't live without her, but…I miss her terribly."

"You think you're the only one?"

I turned my chair back and was greeted by the sight of Heris, back for a few days from Kalos. "Dude, I was there with you and her when we started Rocket back up again. You seriously think you gotta take this on yourself?"

I nodded, and he said, "Idiot. Look, we can help you get over this. Things happen-"

I stood angrily, slamming my hands against my desk. "Not things like this!"

He blinked, and I pushed, "Heris, if she died on an op, that would be different! She killed herself! And that means I was part of that! Do you not get it yet?! I KILLED NULOS!" I slumped into my chair, wanting to cry. But the tears never came; I suppose I cried myself out on the drive back.

Heris looked at me, then at Solaris, then back at me. "Get over yourself. You're not the single most important person on the planet. So I suggest you get over it before someone beats the shit out of you, probably Solaris. You're allowed to grieve…just don't let it consume you." He turned and walked out, and Solaris gave a low whistle. "Damn…"

I blinked, the shock from his seriousness still affecting me. I looked at Solaris. "Did he just…"

"Yeah."

"And then he…"

"Yeah."

"Oi."

She nodded. "Hey, someone was gonna say it eventually. Now…let's get back to work."

I nodded, and she walked out, leaving me alone in my office. At least…that's how it appeared.

"Lin." She appeared and said, "So much turmoil in his mind…what exactly did you expect me to find?"

I shrugged. "Purpose."

"Well, I found that, but not a source. You'll have to ask him yourself." Linderis walked out, and I sighed. This was getting…complicated. I stood and left my office, headed down to the armory where I assumed Heris would be. And I assumed correctly.

Heris was chatting with the armorers when he caught my eye. He gestured for the armorers to hold on and came over to me. "You okay now?"

I nodded. "Yeah, thanks to you. Now, answer me something."

"Okay."

"Why do you owe Rocket?"

He grimaced slightly and looked away. "Touchy subject."

I stomped my foot. "Dammit, Heris, tell me now!"

He looked at me with slight shock and said, "My parents are dead thanks to Rocket."

He began to walk out, and I said, "Wait, do what?"

He turned to me. "Oh, I suppose you want details."

I nodded, annoyed, and he said, "Mom was a prostitute with a smoking problem, and Dad was a junkie and drunkie. When I was five, the three of us went to the bank so Dad could try to get a loan. Again. Anyways, Rocket busts in and demands everyone to hit the floor. Everyone except my parents did, and they stood, my dad expressing his annoyance at their interruption." He chuckled. "Dumbass got himself and my mother killed."

"Heris…"

He chuckled again. "Don't get all apologetic on me. I never liked my parents, and I was happier after they died. That's why I owe Rocket…and always will." He walked out without another word, and a few minutes later, I heard a chopper start up and take him to Kalos. I went up to my office and sat back in my chair, taking this new information in. Heris definitely owed Rocket…and I was definitely glad he was with us.

My desk phone rang, and I answered, "Milas."

"Milas, it's Domino. I heard about Nulos…"

I sighed. "Yeah. So is that the only reason for your call?"

"Hm? Oh, no, it's not. Turn on the news."

"One sec." I put the phone down and turned on a TV, showing the news channel which was currently featuring a story on-

I picked the phone back up. "The media's got it now."

"Yeah. Durus' death is now national news. Better claim responsibility now, otherwise small crooks are gonna go nuts."

"You have the number for the national news base?"

She told it to me, I thanked her, and I hung up, dialing another number. They picked up after the first ring. "Regional News Extraordinaire."

"What's your name?"

"Come again?"

"Just answer the question."

"Uh…Elity Ruesum, Eli for short. Why?"

"Eli, you're about to be promoted."

"What makes you say that?"

"Get all the senior newspeople over to you, right now."

"Uh…one sec." Silence for a minute. Then "Lead producer Hurim Limim speaking."

"Put Eli back on."

He did so, and I said, "Elity Ruesem, you are now the news contact for Team Rocket. We claim responsibility for the assassination of Durus."

Silence. "Rocket is dead."

"It was. It's been revived, and I am it's new leader."

"What's your name?"

I chuckled. "My name…it shall not be known to you, but for media purposes, I am…Striker."

"Very well. You, the leader of Team Rocket Striker, claim responsibility for Durus' assassination. Do I have all of that down correct?"

"Yes. And whenever responsibility is to be claimed for an event, if it is Rocket, I shall only talk to you. Understand?"

"Understood."

"Good. Now go and circulate; it's not quite the Radio Tower, but it works." I hung up and watched the world learn of Rocket's revival.