Team Rocket Vs Team Plasma Pt1
It was strange seeing members of Team Rocket all dressed in their best. Instead of grunts with their black uniforms and hats, there now stood grunts with their suits, bow ties and dresses. Everyone wore a mask; something fancy and elaborate to shield their eyes and therefore their identities. Because you see, Team Rocket wasn't the only presence here.
Officially this was a celebration of our Unova discovery, celebrated in union with figures such as the Castelia City Mayor and other big time executives. Unofficially however, this was Team Rocket's final meeting before our new set of plans went into action.
Though at present, no one knew of these 'new plans' with the exception of Giovanni and his head of staff. And it was vital it stayed that way while we waited for Team Plasma to make their move.
"Giovanni, it's good to finally meet the man behind this very significant finding." The Castelia City Mayor; a tubby middle-aged man, beamed at my father and extended a hand to shake, "I must say your findings of this ancient civilisation in the Desert Resort are very exciting. You've certainly put us on the map!"
Accepting his handshake, Giovanni replied with a warm, businessman smile. "My people are more than happy to be of assistance. I must thank you for granting us the opportunity."
"No it is you I must be thanking," the Mayor exclaimed. "Now about my chances of staying in office for another term..."
I smirked at the conversation that ensued and turned away, taking my leave from my father's side. Grunts mingled, enjoying an evening of free food and booze, and business men with their wives revelled in the opportunity to network and compare pay salaries. They were curious about this 'new' organisation which had graced the city so suddenly. Their pocket books were loaded and ready to offer sound investments if what went down this evening appealed to them.
This, of course, would not happen just yet. No, tonight we were set up to fail at the hands of Team Plasma. Or so the impression would seem.
So far, things were pretty quiet and there were no signs of Team Plasma just yet. Pierce; one of the few agents still dressed in uniform along with his team consisting of Jessie, James and Dr. Zager had been assigned as 'overseers' to the festivities. They stood silently and watchfully to one side of the conference room. It was sparsely decorated, though the royal purples of the walls and carpet denoted the expense that had gone into renovating this place.
Actually, Pierce seemed to be engrossed in watching a small gaggle of adults and teens by the buffet table. Even despite their disguises, the group stuck out like a sore thumb.
"Twerp alert," I whispered to no one. Well at least they were being monitored for the time being. I had other, more important things to attend to. My glance finally fell on the gaze of my husband who watched me from afar. Wearing a slimming black tux along with his cape, a top-hat and a white mask, he was headed straight for me.
"You look incredible," he commented.
"Likewise," I smiled in reply, "You look like you should be in an opera of sorts."
"Hah," he chuckled at the thought.
The music started and those who knew how to waltz grabbed partners and filed onto the dance floor.
Lance offered me a hand. "Care to dance?"
I replied to him with an amused rise of an eyebrow. "You never struck me as the dancing type."
He shrugged, "Not really. But I know enough to keep me out of trouble."
I accepted his hand and allowed him to lead me to the floor. Considering he was deep in the heart of enemy territory, he didn't seem at all worried, even when we caught the somewhat curious glance of my father.
With Lance's arm wrapped around me and his hand pressed firmly into the small of my back, we danced in unified silence. Then as the song dictated, we moved to change partners, Lance to the left and me to the right. A random, nameless grunt suddenly found himself clasping that hand of none other than the Boss's daughter and paled immediately. This exchange repeated several times until I met a face I was familiar with.
The tall teenager with long, tea-green hair pulled back into an elegant pony tail was well dressed in a black tux and a black mask to match. His eyes; deep pools of hazel, were calm and serene.
"Hello Kair," his voice was barely above a whisper and this time it was my turn to pale.
"N," I hissed in a dangerous undertone. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to warn you. Team Plasma is planning an attack."
No kidding! I almost snorted. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I don't want you to be hurt. I don't want anyone to be hurt but it is necessary. Your people have something that I need... something that rightfully belongs to Unova, not you."
"If it's the meteonite you're after then I'd hate to tell you, but you're going to have one mighty fight on your hands."
He seemed unfazed. In fact, he seemed to realise this already. "Take care Kair," he whispered before we changed partners and he vanished back into the crowd.
Much to my next partner's relief, I quickly dropped out of the dance, hurrying across the carpet in my six-inch heels. But my search proved futile. Just as he'd appeared, N was gone. I made my way over to Giovanni who now sat in contemplative silence at the head of his table.
"He's here," I heaved, taking my seat by his side. "N of Team Plasma. He just warned me of their impending attack."
Giovanni's face was unmoving. Clicking a finger, he signalled his head of security forward. "We have a code red. Plasma is in the building. Ensure locked down procedures are in place."
"Yes sir," Pierce bowed and disappeared.
"He's not the only one," I signalled Giovanni to our imposters and he nodded.
"I know who they are. They're harmless."
"If I'm not mistaken, one of those kids is your son."
He nodded. "He knows I'm aware of his presence."
The dance finished and crowds applauded. I caught Lance's gaze and he moved on, striking conversation with the cop we'd met up with at the Castelia Pokémon centre.
An announcement was made for everyone to be seated and the stage was soon handed over to the Boss.
Rocket members cheered his approach to the speaker's podium, and a flick of a switch was all it took for the lights to dim and the wall behind him to come alive with the holographic projection of Team Rocket's re-designed R logo.
Personally seeing the Boss's speeches was always a thrill for the lower ranking members of Team Rocket. He always seemed to have a way of inspiring a sense of pride and purpose into their more mouldable minds. His words were strong and with conviction.
His very composure spoke of power and authority. Perfect elements needed in our 'new world' leader.
He congratulated the team of our success thus far but also reminded us we still had a long way to go. Though we were most definitely one step closer to achieving our objective.
The meteonite was finally brought into the equation. Holograms played on behind him, showing in detail the process that was currently underway to harness its unique properties. 'Future energy' was the talk of the evening. It was no secret that he had every intention of using this new resource to change the way the world was powered. It was an ambitious endeavour but when backed with his considerable finances and influence, it was accomplishable.
Then right on cue, in his final wrap up, the lights suddenly went dead.
A hushed gasp rolled through the audience and my father's speech fell silent. I barely caught his glance, before rising to my feet slowly. I slipped out of my heels and started tearing strips off my expensive dress so that it ended at the knees.
Though I was prepared for it, the giant helicopter that suddenly dropped in font of the conference room's full-walled windows made me jump. Huge spotlights flashed on, blinding everyone in the room so that they could hardly see the Team Plasma agent partially hanging from its side door accompanied by his companion Liepard.
A ball of energy began forming in its mouth until in one giant, focused Hyperbeam it blasted the floor directly above us; namely the lab containing the meteonite fragment.
The shock alone rocked the building, knocking everyone standing off their feet. Glass shards rained down from above at the Liepard's relentless attack.
The fire alarm sounded, wailing in its high pitched squeal and suddenly what had once been a room full of elegant gowns and suits now turned into a panicked mess.
The sounds of feet storming the lab up stairs next ensued only to be followed by loud shouts and wails of Team Rocket security who attempted to stop them. Then through the broken and cracked windows of the conference room, I spotted flashes of white as Team Plasma leapt back into the helicopter with a large container on hand. The helicopter panned around and disappeared upwards.
Pierce and his gang were already armed with jetpacks, heeding Giovanni's orders to chase after them.
"Kair!" Lance tossed me my Pokéball and it cracked open in a beam of white.
Together we bolted for the window, leaping from the high rise building only to be caught on the backs of our Dragons.
"Charizard!" I bellowed at my fire lizard. "After that helicopter! Flamethrower!"
The helicopter took a direct hit and careened in the air then fixed itself. It soon took to diving in amongst the buildings of Castelia City for protection only to throw out its own line of Liepard powered fire.
"Dodge!" Lance and I simultaneously yelled and we barely avoided the full force of the Dark Type's Hyperbeam attack.
"Dragonite, when you get the chance, Thunderwave! Aim for that cat!" ordered Lance though her size and bulk proved too clumsy to make a close encounter possible.
I quickly pushed my smaller Charizard past her, ordering him into another Flamethrower that barely missed the wretched little Liepard. I didn't even see the shadow above me dive bomb until it was too late.
"Kair!" I heard Lance's warning but was unable to stop the Salamence that attacked me from behind with a Dragon Rage.
It sent Charizard and me toppling from the sky. My body twisted and spiralled into a freefall, but before I had the chance to form a teleport, the Dragon appeared over me, giant, skull crushing talons grabbing me and ripping large chunks of flesh from my sides.
"Ahhh!" I yowled, forcing my mind into a Psybeam that exploded on the Dragon's legs and it let me go, throwing me into a rooftop.
I rolled several times across coarse concrete before skidding to a halt, my arms and legs partially shredded from the fall. I barely pulled myself to my knees before I heard the thud of the Salamence's landing. The feet of its master elegantly touched down onto the rooftop, stopping short of stepping on my head.
Haggard and bloody, I glanced up into the face of the woman I once called my grandmother.
"Hello, Aisha," she whispered with a smile. "It's been a while."