Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon or any of its parent companies. I am merely a humble storyteller. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.

Note: I am English, so some of the wording, spellings, and expressions will be those commonly used in England.

Chapter Sixty-Six: Silph Co.! Mission, Go!

"Sabrina!" a man dressed in a karate gi shouted, running forward. "Sabrina, Team Rocket is here!"

The person the man spoke to was a young woman in her late teens with long black hair that reached her ankles when she stood. That had to be specified because, at that moment, amidst the man's valid panic, she was meditating. And she was not the only one as she was sitting cross-legged in a circle with others, each with their eyes closed, gone from this time and place.

"Sabrina!" the man said, more urgently. "Sabrina!"

"And here I thought you of all people would understand the importance of meditation, Koichi."

Koichi started and swivelled around, finding a man walking up to him, dressed in a tweed jacket and a bowler hat.

"Hello, Mr. Psychic," Koichi said stiffly. "Obviously, I know the importance of meditation, but this is critical. Team Rocket's –"

"– here in Saffron," Mr. Psychic finished for him. "We know. Truthfully, we've known for a while."

"Of course," Koichi said, scowling. "With your chilling powers, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But if you knew this, then how come no one was warned? We could have prevented this. As Saffron's official Gym," bitterness laced his voice, "it's Sabrina's duty to ensure even a modicum of protection to its inhabitants."

"That is true," Mr. Psychic said. "However, I believe Sabrina has a suitable explanation. She will tell you when she is done with her meditation."

"You don't seem very worried about this," Koichi said.

"Don't get me wrong, Koichi," Mr. Psychic said, removing his bowler hat and revealing his empty scalp to the world. "I am. People and Pokémon are always at risk when it comes to vicious fools like Team Rocket, and I will always fear for the innocent. But I trust Sabrina."

"I am glad to hear it."

Sabrina was staring at the two men with one eye open; Koichi shivered under her gaze.

"Do you know exactly why Team Rocket is here?" Mr. Psychic asked.

"They want something the Silph Company has been working on," Sabrina replied. "But I can't see what it is." She pursed her lips. "I still can't see who exactly Team Rocket's leader is either."

"It doesn't matter who he is," Koichi said. "The leader could be a talking Meowth for all I care. I just want to know, Sabrina, why you did not warn anyone about this?"

"The authorities don't often listen to us," Sabrina explained. "In a world where some Pokémon have exceptional psychic powers, they don't want to believe that humans have the ability too."

Sabrina flexed her hand and Mr. Psychic's hat flew to it.

"Besides," she went on, tossing that hat back to its owner, "I have seen a future where everything should go well for us. If the authorities were to involve themselves, it would get very… messy."

"So, what?" Koichi said, scrunching up his face as he always did when struggling to deal with Sabrina's mumbo-jumbo. "Are you saying Team Rocket just waltz right in to Silph Co., take what they want, and abscond?"

"No," Sabrina said. "What I am saying is if we do everything as I foresee, then there will be a chance of no harm being inflicted upon the citizens of Saffron."

"But what if they want to take Silph Co. for themselves?" Koichi asked. "Or what if they want Saffron as their new base of operations?"

"I doubt that very much," Sabrina said, almost rolling her eyes. "If they did want to take ownership of the Silph Company, they would do so discretely and then rule from the shadows. And they cannot take any city or town they don't already have control over; after discovering they had a base in Celadon, everyone has been on their guard to ensure they don't try and make a new one elsewhere." Sabrina narrowed her eyes. "I assure you, there would be hell to pay if they tried anything as foolish as that here."

"Which means," Mr. Psychic said, "Team Rocket has no doubt had some of their own scientists and operatives infiltrate Silph Co., feeding them information about any new creation of theirs, anything that would intrigue them. And something has. This is where we are now."

Koichi's jaw hardened. "Do we know what they want?"

"No," Sabrina said, her mouth turning downwards in distaste.

"What about the leader?" Koichi pressed. "Do we know who they are? If you've seen these different futures, then surely their face must have popped up? Describe their appearance to the authorities, get a sketch artist to re-create their face, and they can be on the lookout for this person. If they truly are the leader, then they'll be plenty of evidence for their crimes when they find them. How about that?"

Sabrina sighed irritably. "If I could see their face, I would've done so. But I can't. Mr. Psychic can't. No one here can. We can spot various other Rocket faces, but not the leader. They're always obscured by shadows every time I look into the past and future, always unclear. I can't explain why – is it their evil, is it some deep-seated power they possess? – but it makes me worried."

A heavy silence befell them, only disturbed by the deep breathing of Sabrina's Gym Trainers lost in their meditation, visages scrunched up in concern as they explored the many different futures that kept drifting into their mind.

"If the authorities can't do anything," Koichi said, speaking slowly, choosing his words carefully, "then who or what is going to stop Team Rocket? The Elite Four? Will we go there and take them down?"

"Having the Elite Four here sends us into a future I don't want to come true," Sabrina said. "And having us go there puts Saffron at risk since everyone here will be subjected to Team Rocket's retribution, courtesy of the current and former Gym Leader interfering. They will punish the people we're meant to protect."

"Then who?" Koichi said, exasperated.

"Three random Trainers," Sabrina said, gazing past Koichi, looking at people only she could see. "Or maybe not so random," she added as the hazy images became engulfed in auras of crimson and icy blue, shamrock and electric yellow, and cobalt and fiery red.

"Three random Trainers?" Koichi exploded. "What are three random Trainers going to do against Team Rocket? Let's just bring in the Elite Four and we can back them up! We can storm Silph Co. and destroy them!" He thumped his fist hard into his chest. "We can circumvent any bad future you've seen by going in, all guns blazing!"

Koichi breathed like a Tauros, his broad chest rapidly rising and falling. Mr. Psychic sighed inaudibly and gave a little shake of his head.

"I understand what you're feeling, Koichi," Sabrina said. "I do, but we can't. Think about it: Team Rocket have probably taken precautions against having us, the authorities, and the Elite Four turning up, little insurance policies as it were. I would imagine they'd have – apart from their Pokémon, of course – some devastating devices, perhaps some explosions? If they see all of us going for them, would they hesitate to use them, either to stop us or to simply get away? However, if these Trainers go in, they'll be less inclined to do so, considering they're young novices. They'll believe they can take them out without resorting to such drastic measures. And considering Team Rocket are already not too fond of these Trainers, they'll probably want to take them out quickly and quietly and deliver them to their leader compared to going through the whole song and dance of dealing with us and the Elite Four," she added.

Koichi frowned. "Are you telling me the Trainers going to Silph Co. are the ones who have battled the Rockets before?"

"I am," Sabrina said. She held up her hands and counted down off her fingers. "Route Twenty-Two, Mt. Moon, Nugget Bridge, Cerulean City, Route Ten, Pokémon Tower, Celadon Game Corner." She furrowed her brow. "I think that's everything. You see, these Trainers, between themselves, have confronted Team Rocket multiple times, and this will be yet another battle between them. It is up to them."

"I see. And there's no way we can assist them?"

"If the future tells us that things will be better if we can, in any way, assist them, then we shall."

Koichi clucked his tongue. "But they're children, aren't they? Is this even right?"

"Probably not," Sabrina said, sounding as if she was getting bored. "But these children have got more potential than anyone one else in the world their age."

"But what about –"

"If you have anything more you want to say, please take it up with Mr. Psychic," Sabrina said, settling back onto the same place on the floor Koichi found her meditating in and shutting her eyes.

"But… but…"

"Come along, Koichi," Mr. Psychic said, beckoning for the karate master to follow him. "I'll make us some tea and try to put your mind at rest. Remember: we must trust Sabrina. We must trust those young Pokémon Trainers."

Red and Pikachu hopped off the Sky Dasher on the outskirts off Saffron, its west side if Red knew his directions, which he was still rather iffy on. Much like Celadon, it was massive, perhaps with even more skyscrapers than Erika's hometown. It was noisy, and Red surmised that with such a vast settlement, not everyone had sensed the danger that was spreading through the city like a poison. He would have to get downtown for that. With Pikachu on his shoulder, the boy jogged down one of Saffron's many streets.

He pushed through the throngs of people, ran across the roads without even waiting for the luminous, green man to give him permission to cross, receiving a few choice words from the drivers, and skidded down alleyways.

Then it became quieter, almost instantly, as if a shroud of silence had descended on this part of the city. The swarm of Saffron citizens vanished as the streets became empty. For a second, Red wondered if he had been transported to an alternate reality, or perhaps a dystopian future, for how could things change as drastically as this?

Loud chatting came from his left, but while it was jovial there was beneath it a hint of danger and malice. Quickly, Red ducked into an alleyway and hid behind a bin. The gossiping people walked into view. Team Rocket Grunts.

Pikachu growled yet stayed hidden with Red, fighting back his instincts to challenge the peons. Red swallowed, waiting until the Grunts had moved out of view before he emerged from his hiding place. Peering around the corner, he spied them stroll up to what was conceivably the tallest building in Saffron, a rather boring yet colossal sign proudly proclaiming that it was the 'Silph Company Office Building'. In front of its doors was another Rocket Grunt who allowed them entry into the building. After they passed through, he yawned and leaned against the door, as though fighting off a tiredness that was continually pestering him.

"They're probably trying to take it over, Pikachu," Red whispered to his electric friend. "I don't get why no one's stopping them, though."

Red chewed his fingernail, contemplating his next course of action. Could Beedrill fly him to the top of the building, or would Sky Dashing be worth it? Or would simply flying up to a hopefully open window be enough? Was taking the front door the best option? They would have to defeat the guard if that was the case. He was by himself after all. But what if an army of Rockets descended upon them in the midst of their battle?

"What should we do?" Red muttered.

"The front doors are the best option, Reddy."

Red and Pikachu leapt a foot into the air, before swivelling around and taking a fighting stance. But their stance relaxed (not much though) when, for who should it be, but Blue and his Meowth.

"Blue?" Red said, rubbing his eyes to make sure his rival truly was there. "What are you doing here?"

Blue shrugged. "I came here for my Gym Battle."

"Figures. No, what I meant is why are you here, at this time, in this alleyway, in front of the Silph Co. building?"

"I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd take the Rockets down a peg or ten," Blue said, shrugging again as though he had not been chased around Saffron by the syndicate's underlings.

"Really?"

"I'm considering it as training," Blue said, flicking back his hair. "Even weaklings like the Rockets are good fodder for testing my team."

Red eyed him shrewdly. "Is that it? No other reason?"

Blue's gaze shifted away for quarter of a half of a split second. "Nope. Anyway, why are you here, Reddy? Trying to play the hero again?"

"Not exactly," Red said. "Team Rocket's gotten in my way so many times and hurt my friends. I know it's stupid, but I can't let them get away with this stuff. I'm here because I want to stop them." And discover where they took Lo's family.

"So you are playing the hero," Blue said, grinning as he said it yet not feeling any of the humour it suggested. "Oh well, maybe that childlike wonder is what's kept you going on this journey so far."

Red pouted. "Even now, Blue?"

"Yep."

"Fine," Red said, rolling his eyes. "I'll let it slide because we're about to do something super important and super dangerous. But after we stop Team Rocket, we're going to… to… Blue? Blue, what are you staring at?"

"You've got to be kidding me," Blue mumbled.

"What, Blue?"

"Meowth," Blue said, ignoring Red and pointing to the sky. "You've got amazing eyes. Is that who I think it is?"

Meowth focused his slit-like pupils on where Blue was indicating and only needed a second: his curt nod confirmed his Trainer's supposition.

"What the heck is she doing?" Blue said, more to himself than anyone else.

Now Red could see it too: a Fearow was soaring towards the Silph building. "Is that…"

"Yep," Blue said grimly. "That's Leaf, and she's going straight in."

o~o~o~o~o

Red tickled Beedrill on the top of the head. She had done so well, speeding like a bullet towards Leaf and Fearow before they could do anything rash, leading them into the alleyway where he and Blue were waiting.

"I still can't believe you guys are here," Leaf said. "How come?"

"I was here for my Gym Battle," Blue said.

"I rushed straight from home because I heard rumours of this on the radio," Red said. "What about you, Leaf?"

"I heard rumours too," Leaf said with a scowl. "Freaking Team Rocket. It's always one thing after the other with those idiots. I can't stand the fact they're always running around, causing havoc. They need to be stopped."

"And that's what we're going to do," Red assured her. "We've all defeated Team Rocket before, and we're more powerful than last time. Even Giovanni won't stop us!"

"Giovanni?" Blue said, furrowing his eyebrows quizzically. "Who's that?"

"The leader of Team Rocket," Leaf explained. "He's really strong."

"Sounds like a challenge," Blue said. "I'll have to face him if I get the chance."

"Not before me, you won't," Red said. He jabbed his thumb over at the building. "So, what's the plan on getting in? Blue, were you joking about the front door or…"

"No, the front door's the best option. Think about it: it's Silph's head office, you know, where all their main work is done. They're going to have a security system Team Rocket probably have access to now, and that'll alert them if we try to break in. However, if we quickly take out the guard and just walk through the front door, we should have a little more time to cover more ground inside. I mean, are they really going to expect us to waltz right on in?"

"I guess that sounds logical," Leaf said. She looked from Red to Blue. "So, is this it? We're going to go right in?"

"Yep," Red said, peering at the building from beneath his cap's brim. "We're going to stand up to Team Rocket and show them they can't keep getting away with being evil."

"We're going to need to get to Giovanni as quickly as possible; cut off the head and the body will die," Leaf said. "That's if he's even in there, but with a big thing like this, I'm willing to bet he is. But that also means his Executives will be in there too."

Blue waved away her concerns, although he did spare the Silph Co. building a cautious eye. "The more powerful they are, the more powerful I become. Still, doesn't hurt to be prepared. Are you both stocked up on items?"

"Yeah," Red and Leaf replied.

"Good." Blue paused for second as he stared harder at the building. "We need to pick six Pokémon right now. What's with those dumb looks? When Team Rocket get wind of us, they won't give us much time to use our Pokémon Boxes to switch our parties around, right? We're better off picking our six now, and they'll have to keep us going until the end."

"You have a point," Red said, reluctantly. "Well, the six I've got on me are already good enough. I'll wait for you guys to sort yours out."

Five minutes of tough decisions later and Leaf and Blue were satisfied with their choices.

Silph Co. beckoned, and towards it flew a helicopter.

o~o~o~o~o

Giovanni stepped off the helicopter, the only one of his three that was not black as tar nor emblazoned with the red 'R' of his organisation. Archer, Ariana, and Petrel hopped off too, and they were greeted by a group of Rockets, four of whom, while adorned with the standard red insignia, wore white instead of black.

"I'm glad you got here so quickly, Rocket Siblings," Giovanni drawled. "And allow me to say how impressed I am with your work in the Holon region."

The foursome – two men and two women – bowed to their leader. "We aim to please, sir, but we only wish we could have brought back more interesting news from there," one of them said, a male who appeared to be the oldest.

"It's good enough," Giovanni assured them. "But for now, everything, including Holon, must be put to the side." He smirked. "What we are about to do is bigger than anything and everything. This will put us onto a new plateau of power. Now," he gestured airily around, "I trust we have agents up and down the building, correct? And the president is safe and sound in his office?"

"That's right, boss," a Rocket Sister said, giving him a salute.

"Good. Keep them on vigilant watch until we have taken what we need. We shouldn't be long." He snapped his fingers. "Archer, Ariana, Petrel, let us pay the president a visit."

Giovanni's onyx-black eyes gleamed.

Finally. Unlimited power, within his grasp.

o~o~o~o~o

Red, Leaf, and Blue gaped at the sleeping guard.

"No way," Blue said.

"He's dead to the world," Leaf said.

"Whoa, he's sucking his thumb!" Red said gleefully.

Yes, the Rocket guarding the Silph Company entrance had fallen asleep, perhaps staying up all night playing Pokémon Pinball or the warm weather combined with extreme boredom had finally got to him. Either way, he was in no shape to stop the three children from entering the corporation building.

So they did.