This is a shorter chapter. I'm gonna see if I can get the next chapter up by Wednesday. Until then, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or HTTYD.


Chapter Fifty-Two:

The War Begins

Harristown, New Hampshire

"You did great back there, Maverick," Lucas said as he took a sip of his beer. "I'll make sure you get a suitable reward.

"Thank you," Maverick replied. He took a sip of his beer as well. It was warm, but better than nothing.

According to his superiors, he had performed excellently in Boston. He and the surviving members of his party had returned halfway through the evacuation. There, he had helped things along. Many of the men were panicking, creating disorder and chaos. But Maverick had taken control where he could. He was a natural leader. Not only that, but he had risked his life by running into burning, collapsing buildings to recover trapped soldiers and equipment. Needless to say, Lucas and General Maynard were impressed.

Lucas pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and offered one to Maverick. "Cigarette?" he asked.

Maverick shook his head. "No thanks," he said. "I don't smoke."

"Suit yourself," said Lucas. He took the cigarette for himself, putting it in his mouth and lighting it. He took a puff, then removed it from his mouth, blowing out a stream of smoke.

They were sitting on a bench in the middle of a makeshift camp they had set up in Harristown waiting for orders. In the house nearest them, Maynard was conversing with their superiors. Lucas didn't know what was going on, and he could only imagine how much trouble they were in.

Suddenly, Maynard exited the house. "Lucas!" he barked, his tone suggesting severe irritation. "He wants to speak with you."

Lucas sighed, smothered his cigarette on the bench, and stood up. "Corvus?" he asked. "Or Giovanni?"

"Giovanni," Maynard replied.

"I thought so." Of all of their superiors, Giovanni was the most annoying and hard to deal with. He was essential to the operation as the head of the political division, but that didn't make him any easier to work with.

As they entered the house, Lucas sighed as he saw the screen that had been set up. Giovanni's face was displayed upon it, with the sleek, stainless steel walls of the headquarters behind him. He was a short man of Italian descent. His short, black hair was staring to recede in his middle age, but his green eyes still showed the ferocity of his ambitious soul. A thick black mustache curved around his mouth and formed a black goatee.

At the moment, his expression was so furious it caused Lucas to hesitate slightly, much to his dismay.

He walked forward, stopped in front of the screen, and hung his head, feigning shame. He was ashamed, somewhat, but he would have never allowed himself to show it under normal circumstances, but he knew that the less he defended himself, the shorter the confrontation would last.

"Forgive me, sir," he said.

"Forgive…! I don't know where to start with you, but it sure as hell aint' with forgiveness! In fact, the only reason I'm not exiling you for this is because of your father!"

Lucas grinned inwardly. You wish that was the only reason, he thought.

"Now, tell me again what your orders were!" Giovanni commanded.

Lucas looked at him and raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Sir?" he asked.

"You heard me!" Giovanni snapped. "And don't give me that look!"

Lucas recanted his orders. "I was to bring the targets into Boston and capture them," he said.

"And tell me: who in this mission was expendable?"

"Those in the convoy that was sent out," Lucas replied. "Their actions led to their loyalty being questioned, and we have no need of such men."

"I don't give a shit about why, I just wanted to know who!" Giovanni yelled. "Who else?"

"Sir?"

"Who else was expendable, damn it!"

"Nobody, sir-"

"Then why the fuck is Boston currently a smoldering pile of wreckage?"

"I'm sorry, sir," said Lucas. "I never meant for that to happen."

"You better not have!" Giovanni yelled. "Or I'd have you skinned alive where you stand! Now what the fuck happened?"

"It was out of our control. Something intervened, some huge creature-"

"I know about that," said Giovanni. "General Maynard told me all about it. My question to you is, why was it not killed on sight?"

"Well… The prisoners escaped and cut off our electricity. Our missiles were disabled."

"See then? It is your fault!" Giovanni scolded. "You've really fucked up this time, Lucas! There will be consequences!" He sighed. "But not now. A new order just came in from the Boss. He has a new mission for you and Maynard. The General will inform you of the details. Don't fail me again, Lucas, or not even your father will be able to save you!"

Lucas couldn't help but laugh, breaking his act. "I'd like to see that," he said.

"What the fuck did you just say to me?" Giovanni demanded. Instead of answering, Lucas reached to switch off the screen. "Don't you dare turn me off-!"

The screen went black.

"He's gonna be pissed when we get back," Maynard remarked.

"I don't care," said Lucas. "Screw him." He stormed out of the building, with Maynard close behind.

Lucas stopped to light a cigarette. "I hate sucking up to him like that," he said. "Every part of me wants to fight back."

"I'm surprised you don't," said Maynard. "Why don't you?"

"Because the more I argue, the longer I have to talk to him," Lucas replied. He took a puff of his cigarette and sighed. "So what's this new mission?" he asked.

"You're gonna like this," said Maynard. "We're gonna burn Lyndrich to the ground. We're going to take as many of them prisoner as we can, but in truth, the only one we need to take alive is the scientist."

"Sam?" asked Lucas. "Well, he's not really much of a scientist, more like a kid in way over his head."

"Whatever. We're taking him alive regardless."

"We better bring a lot of men, then," said Lucas. "He's got some serious firepower on his side."

"I'm way ahead of you," Maynard explained. "We're bringing everyone and everything."

Lucas smiled. "Perfect," he said.

Suddenly, a beep came from the General's armor. It was his radio. He pressed a button on his arm and spoke into it. "What's up?" he asked.

"Sir!" a soldier exclaimed. "The scouting party is back!"

"Send them to me," he ordered. He looked to Lucas. "This might be able to help us," he said.

Lucas looked over to Maverick, who was still sitting on the bench. "Should we let him in on it?" he asked.

Maynard shrugged. "I don't see why not," he said.

"And besides, Freyley and Dufresne didn't make it out of Boston," said Lucas. "They're going to need replacements."

"What?" asked Maynard, surprised. "You think he's the one?"

"I think he's a candidate," Lucas replied.

"We'll see," said Maynard. "The decision has to go through the Boss. For now, let's focus on the task at hand."

Lucas nodded, and looked back to Maverick. "Oy!" he yelled. "Get over here!"

Maverick looked to him, stood up, and started walking over. When he reached them, Maynard explained the mission. When he was done, Maverick smiled. "That sounds excellent," he said.

Moments later, a truck arrived at the scene. Several soldiers got out of it. Their leader walked forward, coming to a stop in front of Maynard. "Sir!" he exclaimed, saluting.

"At ease," Maynard commanded. "What did you find?"

"There's an army base not far from here," the soldier reported. "It's in ruins, but it looks like there are still some things we can scavenge."

"Good," said Maynard. "That will help."

"Sir?"

"We've been assigned another mission," Maynard explained. "And we need to do it tonight."

"But sir…"

"What is it?"

"The place is absolutely crawling with zombies."

"That is a problem…" Maynard sighed.

"We have enough firepower to take them out," Lucas suggested.

"Yes," Maynard agreed. "Firepower that could be put to better use to stop a several-ton fire-breathing monster from eating us. Next idea."

They all tried their best to think of something. But it was Maverick who spoke up.

"I have an idea," he said, a devious smile plastered onto his face.