Chapter 37 – A New Companion

Lance watched the scene below unfold in disbelief. He could barely make out the tiny figure standing on the shores through the rain, even with his flying goggles on. What he could see though, was the towering figure of a red Gyarados, something that he wasn't even aware existed. The other thing he noticed was the apparent discomfort of the Pokemon surrounding the lake and of the red Gyarados. Whoever the young person was standing there looking to fight the sea serpent really had no idea what they were getting themselves in to. There was a reason Gyarados were called the atrocious Pokemon.

Urging his Dragonite on, the champion closed in on the lake to lend a hand. He watched as the purple draconic fire of a dragon rage attack struck one of the young trainers Pokemon and watched the red beam of light cut through the skies to withdraw the flyer back to safety. Then Lance watched dumbfounded as the giant serpent crashed down asleep. The young trainer was hit by the small wave created but didn't even seem to notice. This person was in the zone.

"We may have found someone worth taking note of Dragonite" the champion said over the howling winds. The dragon nodded in agreement still carefully eyeing up the sleeping Gyarados. The champion landed behind the growing crowd and watched as a Scyther began striking the sleeping beast. Lance nodded as it appeared the young trainer had brought down the rampaging Gyarados before anyone could be hurt. At least that was what he thought until the sea serpent woke back up.

"Move back!" Lance yelled. Some of the people immediately listened to the champions advice running back before they would be struck by an errant attack. The Gyarados was screaming its rage, but Lance saw the green mantis dart in and land one last attack. What happened next stunned the reigning champ.

A Pokeball flew out from the young trainers hand and hit the red Pokemon. Encased in light, the Gyarados was brought in to the ball. There was a moment of silence from the people watching; the only sound the pounding rain. Then a cheer went up, seemingly shocking the young trainer who had just captured the raging Pokemon. Lance noticed that the trainer was a male, who looked around quickly, before walking over to his Scyther and the Pokeball containing his new Pokemon. A young woman walked over to the trainer on the shores and began talking to him as did a few bystanders. Lance slowly made his way over noting the occasional brilliant flash of light under the lakes surface.

"That was an impressive performance young man" Lance said as the crowd around the trainer thinned out.

"Thank you, but I stepped in because he needed help."

"Most trainers wouldn't have done what you did though. A rampaging Gyarados is not easily defeated, so most tend to run in the opposite direction."

"Well Arthur isn't most other people. He's too stubborn for that kind of thing" the young woman said, eliciting a smile from the young man named Arthur. Lance frowned at the name however. For some reason it sounded oddly familiar.

"Sorry sir, but if you don't mind my asking, do we know each other? You look familiar" Arthur asked, looking at Lance. The champion for his part only just realized he was still wearing his flying clothing, surrounded by his usual cape. But the goggles and hood obscured his appearance.

"No we don't know one another Arthur, but I have heard about you. My name is Lance."

Arthur was stunned, almost not noticing that Lance had held out his hand to shake. Arthur grasped it quickly before the champion turned his attention to the blushing girl beside Arthur.

"And you are?"

"My name is Lyra sir!" Arthur couldn't help but smile at the school girl like voice and awe that was coming from his friend. While Lance was popular with the ladies, Arthur had never realized that Lyra was even remotely interested in the Champion.

"A pleasure to meet you both. So what brought you to the Lake? Are you on your journey?"

"Yeah we are, but to be honest that's not actually what brought us here" Arthur responded. "We heard rumours of some type of experiment was happening here and causing problems for the local Pokemon. Turns out it's not just the wild Pokemon who are affected."

"Interesting. I've heard similar stories. I've already been searching around this area however, and haven't found a single shred of evidence of human activity that would cause something on this scale."

"So you have no idea what's happening here?" Lyra asked.

"I have one idea, but you two shouldn't worry about it. This isn't something that trainers such as yourselves should have to deal with."

"If it affects Pokemon and humans alike, then we want to help" Arthur stated. The conviction in his voice took the champion off guard. Lance found it almost difficult to keep eye contact with Arthur. The deep blue eyes of the trainer seemed to have hardened. Even Lyra appeared ready to help. Lance figured it best to see what they knew.

"Have either of you heard of any recent Team Rocket activity?" Both trainers looked at one another.

"Yeah we've heard of some stuff..." Arthur said. His tone led Lance to believe he knew exactly where this was headed.

"Well it is our belief that they may be experimenting in the area. But my guess is that they are based out of Mahogany Town. It's the only area which has the resources necessary to facilitate any type of experimentation out here."

"What kinds of experiments are they running?" Lyra inquired.

"I'm not certain."

"Do you know what they plan on doing?" Arthur followed up.

"We're not sure as to that either." The two looked at one another once more. "Look I know it's not much to go on..."

"That's nothing to go on" Arthur said flately. Lance grimaced, knowing the statement as truth.

"Well like I said, I have a feeling they are based in Mahogany town. The problem is that Pryce isn't around at the moment, so I can't ask for his assistance, but Mahogany used to house secretive people and train ninja's and the like, so there's a good chance that Team Rocket could be using an old hideout as a new base of operations."

"That's a pretty big leap of faith" Lyra noted. Lance nodded, while Arthur looked down.

"Could they have tapped in to a way to force Pokemon to evolve?" Arthur asked after another minute.

"Arceus I hope not" Lance responded.

"Well there's only one way to find out" Lyra said. Both men looked at her. "We have to get to Mahogany town!"

Archer walked through the half light halls of Goldenrods Underground. Team Rocket members and other volunteers taken from the streets lined the walk, each person standing ready. The executive turned into one of the rooms and closed the door behind him. Proton was sitting behind a laptop uploading some data retrieved from Archer's documents taken from his previous office.

"I see you've amassed a following."

"You asked for an army and I told you I'd get one. So here they are."

"Well done Proton. How soon are we going to be able to move on the city?"

"I've got people staged and ready at a moment's notice. Give me the word and we move and take down this wretched place." The large man was almost salivating at the chance to wreak havoc.

"Excellent. Initiate phase one. We must have the Director before we can truly make our move. Make sure the staging grounds are here in the underground. I don't want any of our activities being discovered by the League. Karen will know it's us the moment we slip up."

"Let the bitch come. I'll make sure she learns a lesson she'll never forget."

"No! I do not want any of the League here. Even one of them is enough to aid the gym leader and take back small portions of the city. For this to be a success, we must have total control. Stealth and secrecy will be our allies here."

"Fine" the big man said grudgingly.

"Inform me when your men are ready. I must contact Petrel and Ariana."

"Heard the queen bee over there fucked up and lost her man."

"The scientist was more slippery than we first assumed. If he's smart he will have already left the regions. Otherwise we'll find him."

Lance's company was quite different for Arthur and Lyra than Suicune's had been. For one, Lyra was constantly asking the champion questions about various things, ranging from the Elites Pokemon to breeding to how they dealt with the media and other figures. While Arthur wasn't always a part of the conversations, he listened intently, trying to get a better understanding of those who may one day be his opponents.

Lyra also spent much of her time with Lance's Dragonite, who was kept out of its Pokeball to help ward off wild Pokemon. The Dragonite didn't seem to mind the attention however, even taking Lyra flying for a short time one evening. It was during one of these short flights that Lance was able to speak to Arthur alone and attempt to understand the young man better.

"Your name has been mentioned to me on more than one occasion Arthur" Lance began.

"It has?"

"You seem surprised."

"Well I am a little I suppose" Arthur replied.

"I wouldn't be. From what I've heard you're quite the impressive trainer. You've stepped up to help people in situations on more than one occasion."

"It was the right thing to do." Arthur wasn't making any eye contact with the champion as he said this. The young man still didn't fully understand why people were so impressed that he was doing what he thought was right.

"So what are your goals then? Why did you begin your journey?"

"Originally I was planning on becoming a researcher much like my father. I love water and flying type Pokemon and was hoping to study them. But as I got older, I started to enjoy watching battles more and more and found myself wanting to become the best. Seeing Red battle Blue for the championship three years ago was something I won't readily forget." Lance nodded in agreement. The battle between the two trainers who, at the time, were the top trainers in the Kanto region, was something that had people talking for months.

"I do have a question though Lance."

"Go ahead."

"How much do you really know about Team Rocket? I was under the impression that they had disbanded three years ago once Red defeated Giovanni."

"We all thought that and continued on with our lives. It appears that Giovanni's interests weren't only confined to the Kanto region. Johto held some surprises we didn't see coming until it was too late. Now the League is scrambling to find answers."

"But you must have some idea of what they're up to."

"Not as much as we'd like. Archer is the man at the head of all this."

"Archer?"

"Yes, you may know him as the Senator." Arthur's face frowned at this news.

"Well that changes things."

"It does indeed" the champion replied. He was surprised at how quickly the young trainer had put together all the pieces. "Have you come in contact with Team Rocket on your journey?"

"A couple of times yes." Lance froze in place, everything clicking in his head.

"You're the one from the Well. The one Stan keeps mentioning. You're the trainer who..." Arthur waited a moment looking quizzically at Lance.

"Who what?" Lance swallowed. Here in front of him was the trainer who people thought was the next Red. The prodigal trainer his grandfather had foreseen. A man who could literally walk with legends.

"It's just, I've received more than a little information on your exploits from people. It sounds like you could be the next person who could take up the champions mantle." This time it was Arthur who looked down, hands on his hips. "Sabrina told me about what you did in the Well, how a rookie trainer took on a Rocket executive far stronger than himself and made them pause. And Stan has witnessed multiple gym battles you've been a part of. He speaks about you in awe."

"You make me sound much better than I probably am."

"We'll see about that. It's good that you and Lyra were the ones I ran in to then. Team Rocket really doesn't know what's coming." Arthur smiled at that.

The trio made it back to Mahogany town within three days. The Lake of Rage was only a day trip away by bus, but the hike extended that trip. The sun was just setting as the champion led the way to the local Pokemon centre. Arthur was asleep as soon as they entered the room and stored their gear. Lyra wasn't far behind, leaving Lance to head back down without having to answer questions. The champion walked out into the biting air and called the Plateau.

"Hello?" the older voice on the other end of the line answered.

"Koga, its Lance."

"Good of you to call. It's been a while."

"Yes well, been a bit busy. I've met some interesting trainers."

"Have you? And Team Rocket?"

"Traced them back to Mahogany. I've searched the entire area surrounding the Lake. There's no evidence of human activity other than the normal. It has to be originating from here."

"That means that they're using a signal. That's not good Lance. You need to locate it and shut it down."

"Yes I know, but I'm a little unsure as to where to start."

"I know of a building there, not too far from where Pryce has his gym, that some people used to use as a hideaway. There's a hidden staircase near the back of the room, with a pressure panel along the wall. Search for an etching of the serpents sign."

"You think they'd use it as a base?"

"It's the only place there that I can think of which would be suitable." Lance frowned. If he was to be honest with himself, Koga's advice would be the best lead to go off of seeing as Lance had no idea where to even start.

"Alright I'll check around. Anything else I should know?"

"Be careful. I feel like whatever they're planning will be happening soon."

"Likewise. Thanks." The elder said nothing but rather just ended the call. Lance stayed outside a small time longer. His Pokemon weren't fans of the cold, but Lance thought it good to be able to withstand the elements. He couldn't explain it but he felt it made him stronger. And he was going to need his strength soon enough.

Arthur stood at the far end of the road leading to the local shop which usually sold traditional medicines. These days however, they were selling more suspicious goods, things that normal people wouldn't sell in quantity nor so callously. Something was off about it, and Arthur's gut was telling him this was the house Lance was looking for. He called both Lyra and Lance to his location so that the three of them could inspect the place.

"So that's it?" Lyra asked.

"Not sure, but I get the feeling it is yeah. People are entering and leaving pretty frequently for just a local medicine shop" Arthur responded.

"You're right..." Lance mumbled. The champion began down the street and searched the grounds by the shop quickly. He then suddenly waved Arthur and Lyra over pointing at a tree just off to the side and in the back of the shop.

"Notice anything weird about that tree?" Arthur didn't immediately see it until Lyra pointed it out.

"I don't believe trees usually have antennae do they?"

"No, those look like signal boosters. It would appear we have the right place." With that, Lance walked forward into the building. Two men appeared to be running the place as the trio entered. Lance's face was set with a stern expression, something which immediately put the first man closest to the door on edge. The second man however, greeted them. Lance was oblivious, and Arthur eyed up the first man who was distracted by the champion.

"I'm sorry sir, but can we help you?"

"Only if you can tell me where Team Rocket is hiding." The man laughed a nervous titter.

"Team Rocket? I'm sorry but they're no longer around..." The man was cut off by Lance bringing out his Dragonite. The dragon roared its arrival causing the first Rocket grunt to drop the ball he was bringing out and for Arthur to send the man into unconsciousness with a right hook. The Dragonite pinned the other grunt to the wall, while his partner scoured the back wall of the shop searching for the sign Koga had told him about. After a minute or so of searching, Lance found a small panel with the etching and pressed it. Just past where the champion had pressed the panel, the wall opened up into a staircase. Returning his dragon, the champion, Arthur and Lyra stood at the top, looking down into the hideout.

"Are you two ready? I don't know what we'll be facing, but there are likely to be many grunts and people who will stop at nothing to hurt you." Lyra appeared nervous, but Arthur's expression was one of determination.

"Let's do this" the young man said. Lance nodded and led the way down.

Arthur's team:
Blaze (Quilava) - lv. 34
Boo (Haunter) - lv. 34
Lucky (Togetic) - lv. 32
Muscle (Machoke) - lv. 33
Delphin (Vaporeon) - lv. 34
Syrio (Scyther) - lv. 34

Cliffhanger there for all you readers! I wanted to show a bit more of Lance's interaction with some trainers on their journey rather than the experienced people he's already been dealing with. Also, to show that Lance is starting to understand why people react to our young protagonist the way they do.
As to the secret symbol I referenced, is the ninja hand symbol for the serpent. Seeing as the Rocket hideout was an old ninja hideout and Koga is a ninja, it seemed fitting. Please let me know your thoughts to this filler chapter. More excitement to come in the next few chapters!