A/N- Hello everyone! To stave off any confusion, this chapter starts off a few days after the attack, and time progresses. Please enjoy and review!
Chapter Three
A secretary ran quietly into a dark room.
The room was fairly large and decorated spartanly. There was a sizable desk in the back with a computer on it, and a floor to ceiling window behind it. Behind the desk was a large chair turned around. To the left of the desk was a large screen mounted on the wall. A large Persian was lying down next to the desk.
"Sir!" She rang out.
The man swiveled around in his chair to face her.
"What do you want? It better be worth my time." A cold voice said from behind a large desk.
"It is. We've managed to capture the champion of the Sinnoh League."
"Good. I heard that the Conference had a little 'accident', and though we were seen, they don't know for certain that it was us, and I'm willing to forget it this time." He gave her a harsh questioning look "Which agent managed this operation?"
She looked down under his glare "I-it was the mercenary sir. He was brought in after the other agents failed to create a viable course of action."
"Of course it was," He stood up and turned around, looking out the window. "I should've known that none of my idiot grunts could have executed a successful mission. When we pay him, give him his usual payment with an extra five percent for a job well done. We will need him again sooner or later, so we need to keep him interested."
"Yes sir," The secretary scribbled down her orders on a small notepad "anything else sir?"
"...When will the Ketchum boy arrive here?" He asked coolly.
"According to his last message, eight hours, mark."
"Good," He looked at her "And who were the other agents who failed their orders and blew their cover in Sinnoh?"
"Um," She looked over her clipboard, which held a report of the situation "Jessie and James sir. They were originally assigned to be in charge of the mission, but came back here after giving the assignment to the mercenary."
"I can't say I'm surprised..." He paused, then gave a sadistic smirk "When the boy arrives and is transported to my office, detain those two fools and have someone guard them outside of this room until I call them in. I believe they will make an excellent... example, for Ketchum."
"Yes sir!" The secretary was terrified now, and scrawled down the details. "I-is that all?"
"Yes." He turned back around "Now get out!"
"Y-yes sir!" She squeaked before she rapidly walked out of the room.
The man walked to his chair and sat down, folding his hands on his desk.
"Good." Giovanni chuckled darkly "With Ketchum's aura, my plan will finally come into fruition.
A small black plane was flying across the sea, towards the Kanto region from the direction of Sinnoh. It was a fairly standard civilian aircraft, designed to be flown over long distances, making it ideal for across sea, inter regional travel.
The pilot was an average sized man, with a relatively normal appearance. The only thing off about him that he had piercing red eyes, and since that was easy enough to change with a pair of contacts, no one cared to spare him a second glance. That was what made him so good at his job. He was able to walk around in any city, town, or village, and no one thought twice about it. Not too tall, not too short, not too muscular, not too skinny, and the poke balls at his belt made him seem like another Pokemon trainer. He was just another average Joe.
So it seemed.
However, this Joe was a feared, deadly mercenary who seemed to align himself with Team Rocket, unless someone else would pay him better, which few could. His Pokemon could rival any champion, and he himself could take on Bruno in hand to hand combat and win. Even though he could take care of himself, he was always armed, whether it be with the Ka-Bar in his boot or his CQBP in it's holster at his torso. His other weapons were his only six poke balls that rested on his belt, and a Pikachu that was sleeping in the seat next to him.
"Wake up Pika." The man rubbed his Pikachu on his head "I could use the company, and I know you've slept more than you need to lately."
Pikachu woke up quickly with a coo, enjoying his trainer's attention.
"Pika, pikachu?" Pikachu asked him with a yawn.
"Oh, I just need someone to talk to." He jerked his thumb behind him, pointing it at an unconscious boy tied up in a seat "And our guest won't be talking much for a while. As a matter of fact, he's what I want to talk about."
"Ch pi?" The electric mouse gave him a curious look.
"I know, and I actually feel bad about this one." He frowned "I think we may have gone too far, and even though it's too late to go back, I think we should owe him one in the future. If he even lives."
"Pi pika, chu." Pi looked at him sternly.
"I know that we have to do this," The man sighed "It's just, he's seventeen for crying out loud, and he's already won a league! I feel bad about kidnapping him when he has so much potential especially since he's only a year younger than me. Ash is basically famous already! I didn't want to get into this business, and I'm sure he won't either. And did we really need to do this in order to eventually get revenge? It might have been better to have just told Giovanni no. It's not like he would have tried something. He knows better than to cross us, and he trusts us." He gave Pikachu a look of regret "I just think that we should've sat this one out."
"Pikachu."
"I know it's too late!" He took off his red hat that he only wore when he would be alone for long periods of time, and tiredly ran a hand through his black hair "Let's just deliver him to Giovanni, and get out of their. We've almost made enough money, and all we're missing is some extra fire power."
"Pika!" Pikachu glared at him.
"I know, I wasn't saying that you guys aren't strong enough," The man defended himself "I was just saying that we need another man to help us. I can't be in two place at once if I have to be. I think we learned that after the Fuchia incident with those ninjas."
"Pi." Pikachu shuddered.
"Exactly." He put his hat back on "Once we've finished this job, we won't take any more like it, and if if somehow comes up that the kid needs our help in the future, we'll help him any way possible, as long as it doesn't affect our mission."
"Chu." Pikachu nodded his head, glad to help his trainer.
The man continued to pilot the plane "Now, we need to deliver him." He added sarcastically "And it's always nice to see Gio again."
Pikachu snorted before curling back up and falling asleep again.
He look back at Ash before concentrating on his flying "Sorry kid, I don't want to, but I gotta do this."
…
As the plane touched down in the Rocket base hours later, a squad of armed rockets jogged over to it, rolling a stretcher along with them. After the plane slowed to a stop, they stood next to the door, and waited for the mercenary to bring out the prisoner. The door opened, revealing a man with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing jeans, and a brown jacket with pads on the elbows, shoulders, chest, and chest for protection that were basically invisible to the people around him. On his hands were black SAP gloves that looked like normal finger less gloves. Resting on his head was an OD fatigue cap, and he was wearing black sunglasses.
"What's your confirmation code?" A grunt roughly asked the man, verifying that he was the man they were waiting for.
"...Alpha Nine'r Foxtrot." He told him quietly.
"We've been expecting you back Greil." Everyone in Team Rocket had heard of the infamous mercenary who was one of the few who had earned Giovanni's trust with his enormous strength "Is that the subject?" The grunt pointed to the window where Ash could could be seen.
Greil nodded silently.
The grunt nodded back "Then let's get him to Giovanni."
Greil pulled out the unconscious Ash out of the plane and lied him down on the stretcher. As the Rockets lined up beside it, the mercenary rolled the stretcher into the base.
The base was a large tower in the middle of a forest. The tower was mostly steel plated, with only a few, bulletproof, windows near the top, and it had a large red R above the massive entrance, and said entrance was a massive door, that lifted up and down. The tower wasn't taller than the trees though, as that would give away their position, so it went deep underground to compensate. It had a large lake nearby where they got fresh drinking water, and, obviously, the place was crawling with rocket grunts.
Greil walked through the door, and rolled Ash to an elevator, where the escort departed from him. He pressed the up button and waited. When it came down, he stepped in and pressed the button for Giovanni's office. With a ding, the door opened and Greil stepped out and pushed Ash to Giovanni's door, in front of two guards.
"Confirmation code?" The guard asked.
Greil quietly responded "...Alpha Nine'r Foxtrot"
The guard radioed his superior, confirming the code. "Go on in," He jerked his head towards the door "the boss has been waiting."
With a nod and brief hesitation, Greil rolled Ash into Giovanni's office.
"Welcome back Greil." Giovanni shook the mercenaries hand "I'm very happy with your performance on this assignment."
"..." Greil stared at him.
"Yes, yes," The Team rocket leader waved his hand "I know you don't like to talk. But I would like to know how you managed to kidnap our friend here," He pointed at Ash "in one of the largest coliseums in the world, and we both know that G-men and Pokemon Rangers were placed in the crowd for defense if needed, because there always are."
Greil didn't answer, knowing he could profit from Giovanni's curiosity.
Giovanni eye twitched, but he kept his cool "Fine, I'll double your bonus this time.. say, ten percent extra?"
The mercenary looked at him and replied "...Espeon. Teleportation."
"Of course," Giovanni slowly nodded "It would be easy to throw a poke ball onto the field, and a psychic type could teleport him to another location, though you would have to sit close to the field in the first place."
Greil just stood there next to Ash, staring at Giovanni.
"But you want your payment now, don't you?" Giovanni chuckled as he walked around his desk and sat down "Melanie will give you your money, don't worry. That's all we require of you for now. You're dismissed."
Greil turned around and walked to the door. He stopped as he turned the handle. What he did next surprised Giovanni.
"What are you planning on doing with the boy? Will you kill him?" He spoke with his back still turned.
Giovanni got over his initial surprise quickly, after all, he wasn't the boss for nothing. "No, we won't kill him, he's too valuable. We will recruit him, train him, and send him out after the league stops searching for him. Why do you ask?"
Greil opened the door "...Just curious." and with that, he walked out, and left the base, feeling a pang of regret.
Giovanni sighed. It seems that he would never figure out that man.
"Melanie," Giovanni said into the phone "send Dr. Fuji up her. Tell him the subject has arrived."
While he was waiting, Giovanni looked at the Sinnoh League champion, the boy who's caused him so much trouble.
'Ironic really,' Giovanni thought with a smirk 'that one of Team Rockets worst enemies would be the key to my master plan.'
The door opened again, and in walked a man with white hair, brown pants and a lab coat.
"What do yo require of me sir?" The scientist asked Giovanni.
"I need you to wake him up." Giovanni told him "Greil gave him a sedation, and he's already restrained, so all that's left is for him to wake up so we may begin."
"Yes sir." Dr. Fuji searched in his pocket, took a needle, and plunged it into the skin on Ash's forearm.
He had "It should only take around fifteen minutes sir."
"Good." Giovanni sat down "Now leave us immediately."
Dr. Fuji bowed his head before rushing out of the office. Giovanni sighed contentedly, and closed his eyes while he waited for Ash to wake.
"Uuhhhh..."
Ash slowly stirred, and looked around, but his vision was blurry from being unconscious for so long.
"W-where am I?" He tried to rub his eyes, only to find that his hand was bound by something.
"What the!" Ash tried to sit up, but he was confronted with the same problem.
"What's going on!?" Ash started to freak out, and thrashed about.
"You shouldn't do that," a voice said from in front of him "you should conserve your energy. You'll need it."
Ash listened, but not out of a sense of respect, but out of fear of what he said. He waited until his eyes focused again, then took a look at the man. What he saw angered him. Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket was sitting in front of him.
"Giovanni," Ash snarled, enraged "What do you want with me?"
"I want something few could ever give me. I want a power, that only you could supply." Giovanni smirked. "I want your aura."
It took Ash a moment to register what he said. He didn't expect Giovanni to give him answers that easily.
"My… my aura?" Ash stuttered "How do you even know about that? Jessie and James never saw me use it."
"Do you really think that Jesse and James were the only ones who ever reported to me?" He laughed "Who else was there when you saved the Tree of Beginning?"
"No one but me Pikachu and Lucario." Ash thought for a moment "Wait! Are you saying Kidd Summers is a part of Team Rocket?" The idea seemed ridiculous.
"Not exactly," Giovanni shook his head "but I do pay her to inform me of events that she deems important to my organization. And you using aura was very important. I need your gift to aid me in my plan."
Ash rolled his eyes "Like I would ever help you! I would never help Team Rocket. You're evil!"
"Oh, don't worry," Giovanni folded his hands together "We'll fix that in soon."
"Wait minute!" Ash was worried about what he meant by that "I don't even know how to use my aura! I wouldn't even know where to start!"
"I figured as much." Giovanni pulled up a picture on the screen from his computer "That's why I will give you one of these."
Ash craned his neck to look at the TV, and what he saw worried him.
"You want me to learn how to use my aura from a Riolu?" The idea seemed feasible to him. Too feasible.
"Yes."
Ash closed his eyes, steeling himself "Good luck with that. I'll never co-operate."
"I thought you wouldn't." Giovanni pressed a button on his computer "Luckily, I planned for this."
The door to his office opened, and before Ash could ask any questions, two figures with hoods over their heads were shoved into the room by the guards. Giovanni stood up and walked over to them
"I know Ash," Giovanni stopped "that you have some sort of fondness for these two."
Thoughts were racing through Ash's head. Who were these two, and what was Giovanni planning to do with them? However, his thoughts were interrupted.
"They have proven useless to me, and I will use them to show you what I have the power to do."
Giovanni ripped the hoods off, revealing a woman with long purple hair, and a man with shoulder length blue hair. They looked at Ash with pleading eyes, but said nothing, as they were gagged.
Giovanni lifted a pistol to James' head "This is just a taste of what the punishment you could receive."
Tears formed in the duo's eyes as they realized that their time was up, and they screamed, but their screams were muffled by their gags. Giovanni pulled the trigger shooting James through the medulla oblongata, killing him instantly. As the body slumped over, dead, Giovanni walked over, and killed Jesse in the same fashion.
Some blood had been sprayed on Ash, and he was silent, crying for the two best enemies he ever had.
"Now," Giovanni cleaned some blood off his suit with his handkerchief before pocketing it "I think you understand the consequences of your refusal. What do you say now?"
Ash didn't know what to do. On one hand, he could give in, and he would be spared of Giovanni's wrath. On the other, he could fight, and possibly be killed. But, as Ash thought about it, he couldn't just give in. It's not like they could kill him anyway. It was like Giovanni said, Ash had a power which an extreme few could provide. If they killed him, they would lose that power.
"N-never." Ash sniffed.
"Very well," Giovanni sat down at his desk and typed on his computer "you've forced my hand again."
"What do you mean?"
"I," Giovanni looked at Ash "have all of your Pokemon from Professor Oak's ranch and that you had on you in Sinnoh."
Ash gasped, and the door opened once again. A guard walked in and handed Giovanni a poke ball before leaving once more.
"This poke ball contains a Gible. Your Gible to be precise, and since you refused my offer again, he will be the one to pay." Giovanni fingered the poke ball
"You w-wouldn't." Ash whimpered.
"I would." Giovanni lifted his arm and threw the ball on the ground before smashing it with his boot.
The guilt Ash felt at that moment was soul crushing. He was responsible for the deaths of two of his friends, and one of his Pokemon, who were his family. All Ash wanted was for it all to end, for someone to jump out and say that it was all a big joke. But that wasn't the case. This was real.
"Fine!" Ash half screamed, half sobbed "I'll join you! Just don't hurt any more of my friends."
"Excellent." Giovanni walked over to Ash "I thought that you might see it my way." He undid the straps restraining Ash "Just remember that I have your Pokemon, and every time you try an escape or betray me, one will die, and it will be your fault."
Giovanni went and sat back down as Ash sat up, a broken look on his face. He was thinking of a way out of this mess, but saw none. If he tried to do anything, his Pokemon would be murdered, and couldn't allow that to happen. He would have to dirty his hands to protect his friends.
"What do you want me to do first?" Ash croaked, disgusted with himself.
"Nothing for now." Giovanni rubbed his chin "Though I will have to make up a code name for you now, seeing as how we can't let the world know that you're back when you go into the field. I know, I'll make you my second double 0. That way, no lowlife grunts will bother you, and you can master your aura without the disturbances of a grunt. I need it quickly. And, I will assign 009 as your partner. She will be able to show you the ropes adequately. Your designation will be 001, and your new name will be… Cyprus."
"..." Ash stayed silent, waiting to be told what to do. It would take a while to get used to this, if he ever would. Giovanni typed some more on his computer, and a few minutes later, the door opened again, revealing Domino.
"Yes sir?" She saluted him.
"I have a new assignment for you." Giovanni pointed to Ash "He will be your personal trainee. I want him trained to the best of your ability."
Domino bowed her head "Yes sir. Who is he?"
Giovanni nodded to Ash, and he turned around, giving her a good look at his face.
She studied it for a second "Ketchum?" 009 gasped "But he's the enemy!"
"He was, but he's had a... change of mind, if you will. And his new name is Ash. When his training is complete, he will become your partner, is that clear!"
"Y-yes sir!" She said, still shocked by Ketchum's arrival "When will we begin?"
"Start now," Giovanni decided "But first, take him to the armory, and let him pick his six most powerful Pokemon, and give him the Riolu."
"But sir," Domino exclaimed "with that many powerful Pokemon, won't he be a threat?"
"Don't worry about that." Giovanni coldly told her "I have that covered. Cyprus knows what will happen if he tries anything. Right Cyprus?"
The boy nodded in confirmation.
"Good." He looked at Domino "Now go!"
Domino gave another salute before walking out with Ash in tow. They walked down the hall in silence, Ash still grieving his losses, and Domino was still resentful at Giovanni for forcing her to train and partner up with him.
Once they reached their destination, Domino pulled out a key card, and slid it through the key hole. Her key allowed her access to anywhere in any Rocket base. Domino opened the door, and told him to go inside. Ash walked into the armory and immediately saw his rows of poke balls. He thought for a few minutes, then grabbed six of them before turning around, even though he desperately wanted to take them all. Domino was standing there with a poke ball in her hand. She handed it to him, and he responded with a nod. It was still hard for him to talk after what happened.
They exited the armory and Domino locked it again.
She turned to Ash "I'll show to your room. It will be next to mine, as you are apparently going to be a double 0. It's spacious, and should you should find it comfortable."
Without even giving him a chance to respond, she started down the hall, in a different direction this time. After a few minutes of walking, they passed the regular dormitories, and arrived at the dorms for admins, and now the two double 0s.
They stopped at his room.
"This is it." Domino jerked a thumb at his room. "This is where you'll be staying."
Ash looked at her "Thank you."
She looked surprised, then handed him his room key, walked to her room, opened the door, and disappeared inside.
Ash watched her leave, and went into his own room.
Ash shut the door and glanced over his dorm. It was very simple, with just a bathroom, bed, chest for his belongings, TV, and a dresser and closet for his clothes. Other than that, the room was empty. It was big though. Big enough for him and his Pokemon at least. Ash rooted through his closet and dresser, finding that they were already full of his clothes, and Team Rocket uniforms. After a little exploring, Ash sat down in his bed and wept. Wept for his situation, wept for his friends, wept for Jesse and James, and wept for innocent little Gible. Ash threw all of his poke balls, and seven Pokemon materialized, and seeing their trainer in such a state, rushed to comfort him, even the new Riolu. Pikachu jumped onto Ash's shoulder as he explained the situation to them, and it was grave. They all cried over Gible together, for they all loved him, and he was too young to die, especially by Pokemon standards.
When Ash was finished, he fell asleep from crying in the embrace of his Pokemon. After Riolu introduced himself to everyone, they talked among themselves, coming to a conclusion.
They all promised themselves to help their trainer get through this and vowed to get stronger alongside him, because they knew, that he would depend on them from now on.
A/N- Okay, just to clear some things up, the Pokemon that Ash chose and will catch will be revealed in the next chapter. I introduced some characters here that will be important, and I think you can guess who they are! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to review or PM me.
See y'all later
DarkLucario98