Part 3: Unexpected Allies Part A

Legends of Team Rocket

Written by DK

Part 3: Unexpected Allies Part A

(Part one of a four-part series)

KEY:

{Pokémon speech.}

[Telepathic speech.]

Thoughts.

Kyle

[Kyle]

[Kyle]

A voice in my head. Not familiarwhat's it coming from? Head spinningcan't sense what it is

[Kylethat is your name, right?]

Regaining my senses a bit, I almost laughed aloud. The thing telepathing with me didn't even know my name, or was unsure. Either way, it was pretty pitiful for a psychic. I should have sensed it right away; but the creature seemed psychically cloaked somehow, and I couldn't penetrate its defenses. No matter. I will find out as soon as it states its business with me.

I could tell by the pitch blackness that my eyes were closed. I stirred a bit, my brain screaming at my neck muscles to move. They didn't.

I tried moving my head. Pain! I tried to move my fingers. More pain, this time in my arm. My entire body was not responding. Excellent.

[I've been waiting for you, Kyle.]

Vainly I tried to communicate with the being. Concentrating with all of my might, I finally managed to transport myself to the astral plane. There, almost camouflaged against the background of shifting darkness, was the outline of a mysterious figure. I could already tell that the thing wasn't a human. More like a Pokémon, a Psychic Pokémon. But its shape gave me no clues. It looked nothing like anything my Pokédex had ever identified.

I squinted harder, but my eyelids simply refused to open fully. Rubbing them furiously, I reached out with my psychic senses, probing. The unmoving figure allowed me to. It was completely fearless.

The figure was actually nothing more than a free-floating face with unattached hands and feet, no arms or legs. Two yellow orbs glowed eerily in the shadows surrounding its body like a poisonous gas. More probing led me to the assumption that this wasn't a Psychic Pokémon at all, but a Ghost Pokémon. And yet, its psychic power was immense! Greatly surpassing my own. I must've seemed like a tiny gnat compared to it.

[I know youbut you don't know me.]

The voice was more audible and clear now. It wasn't loud at all, but there was something to the voice that commanded fear and respect. It was indeed the strongest Pokémon I'd ever encountered. And yet I showed no signs of backing down. While it was considerably stronger than I was, I felt no presence of violent or evil intent. Rather, I was soothed and relaxed.

[Yeah,] I managed to croak. [Whowhat are you?]

The being chuckled. [You'll find out soon enough]

[Wait!] I yelled. The voice was fading away, the being was disappearing, fading from the astral plane to the real world. I found myself returning also, my thoughts being interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Kyle."

"Yeahwhat?" Brain telling muscles to movethey were working! Yes! Slowly I dragged myself up from the hard ground on which I'd been resting and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

Through my blurry vision I caught a glimpse of a tall figure, dressed in a loose-fitting green vest, a golden-yellow shirt, and faded jeans. Its back to me, looking out over the horizon as the first welcoming rays of the sun peeked out through the clouds. A ray of light struck the side of the figure's face and I quickly recognized Jin, my best friend, with a faraway look in his eyes. His brown hair hung loose and the wind blew it to the side like a long chestnut streamer, Blade Cap in hand.

Summoning my psychic powers, I teleported to his side, yawning and finishing my morning scratches.

He turned to me and smiled faintly. "Have a nice rest?"

I only snorted in reply and continued to stretch.

"You were out for awhile."

I glared at him. "If it wasn't for your temper tantrum"

He raised a hand to silence me and produced a small gadget with a see-through screen taking up most of its front.

"You can bitch about my temper later, but I found this among the ruins of my house, buried under some ashes. It's got a message." Jin pressed his right index finger onto a small rectangle on the device and a pale green light scanned his fingerprint. Obviously it was a match, because the little machine whirred to life. A bit of static crackled across the screen before a clear image was displayed.

Both of us recognized the rugged, well-chiseled face. It was Giovanni of Team Rocket himself.

"Hello, Jin. By the time you read this message, your parents will have joined your ancestors." He couldn't help but allow a cruel smile to spread on his face. "You probably don't know the fact that you had a brother."

Jin's eyes widened. Apparently he did not know this little tidbit of information. Neither did I.

"He was taken from your family at birth, separated from you. I personally warned them that I would be coming for you later. They forgot my precaution, and thus were destroyed."

Jin's eyes narrowed with pure hatred. "Murdering bastard" he whispered softly, almost inaudible.

"I apologize for not discussing this matter with you personally, for you were not home. But, if you find the whereabouts of my headquarters which I'm sure won't be very difficult, I will by more than happy to talk with you about this situation." He smirked. "I'll be waiting for you." The screen blinked twice before going black.

As soon as the little cinema was over Jin crushed the machine with his bare hand, sparks and springs flying out of his tightly clenched fist before he dropped the mangled contraption to the dirt and ground out the remains with his shoe. He looked away at the sky for awhile before speaking. I knew the importance of silence in a crisis like this. I reviewed the facts quickly. Jin had a brother taken from birtha twin? But why would Giovanni take him? And why didn't Jin's parents heed the warning? Giovanni was a ruthless leader, no doubt, but he wasn't a liar.

"That bastard is going to pay," Jin stated calmly, but his still-clenched hand, quivering with rage, betrayed his peaceful expression. "When I get through with him, he won't even have a body left to be buried, I swear."

I looked at him closely. He wasn't joking.

I squinted up at the sky, the rising sun casting its morning light across the beautiful landscape. Then back at him. His face was stony, his expression like a statue's. A man without a home. Without family. Nothing except the Blade Cap. And me.

He watched the horizon for awhile, then said at length, "Well, looks like we're gonna pay Giovanni a little visit. Coming, Kyle?"

I grinned. "No way am I passing up a golden opportunity like this. Besides, we're going to need all the help we can get."

Jin nodded. "Agreed. We'll set out tomorrow morning. C'mon, let's get back to your house and start packing." With that, he disappeared into the distance in a cloud of dust. Coughing and waving the smoke away from my face, I took one last look at the small pile of broken machinery.

"Kiss your wretched life goodbye, Giovanni."

*=*=*=*=*

Jin began walking at a steady pace, like a machine, while Kyle tagged along meekly behind. No matter how many times he tried to eject the burning image from his head, he couldn't. The damage was permanent. He'd never see his parents ever again.

As for his brother, he didn't even know he existed. Giovanni could be lying. Or maybe they took him and killed him instantly. Jin knew Giovanni wouldn't recognize mercy if it came out and kicked him in the nuts.

Uncontrollably, a surge of energy traveled through Jin's arm into his hand, exploding forth in the form of a giant neon beam. It decimated a nearby tree and proceeded to penetrate more inanimate objects before disappearing.

He felt better. He felt worse.

Sighing, he slowed down his pace. He'd arrived where he knew he'd be able to get some information out of some Rockets. Every major metropolis on Earth was teeming with Team Rocket members. News reporters, actors, musicians, even the cute blonde cashier working at the McDonald's down the street were all Rockets. His brow furrowed with silent anger as he stepped into the tavern, nearly slamming the door in Kyle's face.

The stench of smoke plagued his nostrils immediately, and he coughed. The place was sickening, but he knew he had to forebear this.

His keen, emerald eyes darted left and right, searching for a security guard. He knew long ago that the police force had dissolved and Team Rocket now enforced law. Jin's lip curled up dismissively. Giovanni had cleverly concealed his inner workings under this good-intention-organization façade. Idiot. You can keep it up as long as you want, Giovanni, he said to himself. But you can't hide your lies forever.

He walked up nonchalantly to the traditionally blue-uniformed Rocket officer standing guard there. "I've got an appointment with your boss," Jin informed him. He was careful not to speak Giovanni's name; it was forbidden. He could easily be arrested for that. "I'd like to know where I can find him."

The tall man built like a Rhydon stared down at him and Jin could just see the gears in his brain turning. Finally, the man asked, "Is your name Jin?"

Jin's face was expressionless. "It is."

The man turned around. "Follow me." He began to head towards the western corner of the room. No one else seemed to be paying attention to the two, so Kyle followed closely behind, when his psychic alarm went off.

"Jin, wait!" he shouted at his retreating back. "It's a trap!" Apparently Jin hadn't heard, because he just continued to walk further with the policeman. Shaking his head in disgust, Kyle was about to tell him telepathically when the two disappeared into a narrow doorway. The wary psychic hastened his step to find the steel door slammed in his face. The click of a lock reached his ears.

"Dammit!" he cursed, then teleported inside.

*=*=*=*=*

Jin

I stood staring at four gigantic men, so huge each of them were at least three times my size. Their towering shadows easily covered both Kyle and me. I stared hard at the Rocket officer who'd led me into this trap, but he simply shrugged.

"Just following orders," was his excuse as he exited the room, leaving me—suddenly I felt Kyle teleporting to my side; nevermind, Kyle and me—to deal with these hulking behemoths. Each wore similar uniforms with large white R's greatly in contrast against their solid-black shirts and pants.

The agent farthest to the left, the shortest of the bunch but obviously the leader, stepped up. I cautiously backed away a few steps, quickly formulating a plan in my mind to somehow escape this ambush.

"We've got orders to test you, kid," the agent said in a booming voice, easily carrying to the four corners of the small, enclosed room. "From the head boss himself. Says he wants to see exactly what you're made of." The Rocket's mouth tilted in a wicked sneer. "We'll see if you're half as good as your brother."

At the mention of my brother's name, my body immediately locked up. It was an unfamiliar subject that I'd never discussed with my parents, and I still felt uneasy knowing that I had a brotherjudging by what the Rocket said, maintaining a position in the Rocket hierarchy.

"There isn't a doubt in my mind," Kyle replied angrily.

The Rocket turned to lock eyes with my African-American pal. "So you're the psychic." The Rocket's eyes were cold and menacing. "We happen to specialize in battling psychics. Just a warning." With that, he raised his arm, and the team of Rockets surged forward.

They were much faster than I'd suspected. Way fast! I'd clearly underestimated them. Considering my incredible speed, these giants should've been going in slow motion. Not my luck.

The agent farthest to the right raised his hand, and there was a brief glow of dark energy before he cast an energy ball forth, disappearing inches from my body as Kyle's psychic shield took the harsh blow. Smirking, the agent now raised both hands and fired another blast, this time much more powerful. The barrier held, but Kyle reeled from the power. As I rushed to his aid, the two middle agents stepped forward, taking advantage of the distraction. It was their turn now.

Two black blurs converged upon me.

A swing to my left! No time to think, only time to react on instinct. Raising my right arm, I parried the powerful blow with my forearm. Immediately I felt pain searing up my arm and I clenched my teeth as I blocked hundreds of lightning-quick blows, the dull thuds of bone against bone amazingly loud. But while these two agents seemed to be using only a fraction of their strength, I was fighting with everything I had.

As my arms grew sore they began to quicken the pace, gaining the advantage. More pain caused my brain to cough, and I struggled against these two warriors. Suddenly an image of Giovanni flashed in my mind. That ruthless killer! I'd get revenge, I'd sworn it, and I couldn't be defeated in my first battle. Setting my jaw, new strength coursed through my limbs and I launched myself at them like a lion released from its cage.

The first man's eyes widened in shock as my fist slammed into his abdomen, and as his breath expelled harshly from his lungs I went in for another blow. Didn't happen. His partner-in-arms defended the blow with ease and counterattacked with a lightning-fast back swing kick. I hadn't been expecting it and his spinning heel caught me square in the jaw, knocking me down. Pain!

Rubbing my sore jaw, I quickly jumped to my feet, only to be assaulted again.

"Hmmm, not bad," the first one remarked to the second. "Not as fast as Blade, but fast enough. Runs in their blood."

The second one agreed. "True. But we should finish this job quickly. The Boss isn't a patient man, and he has no time to deal with weak fools like these two."

Weak fools? I sneered. I'd show them how weak I was.

"Blade Cap, activate!" As the two agents watched in amusement, a blinding flash of neon light lit the room and a glowing green sword was clutched in my hand. Two long, golden wings extended from the exquisite handle, and my hair, free from imprisonment, flowed freely over my face. I pushed it to the side and grinned. "Now you'll see just how weak I really am."

In answer, the two men drew their own swords with metallic rings, crouching into fighting stances, and awaited my first move.

I sneered. "The weakest throw the last punch!" I yelled as I charged forward in a blur, Blade Cap outstretched. This was it. No more playing. No more running. And, I couldn't help but think of Giovanni as our blades clashed with a shower of brilliant sparks: No turning back.

Kyle

I saw a flash of green to my left and I glanced in that direction to find Jin still duking it out with the two agents, sweat pouring down his brow like rain after a Slowpoke's yawn. Realizing that he wouldn't last much longer against two powerhouse fighters, I quickly turned back to the battle at hand. The Dark agent fired another Shadow Ball at me, but I easily swatted it aside with a psychic hand. Then I snatched him up, squeezing the marrow out of his bones when the leader of the band raised his right hand. I sensed the movement and whipped my hand to the left just as a huge beam of dark energy passed through the very space my psychic hand occupied milliseconds earlier.

[I see what you meant earlier by dealing with psychics,] I admitted.

The man only let out a cackle and turned his arm in my direction. "Oh, we're just getting started."

He then fired a series of small black beams from his hand in all different directions, creating a sort of spread effect. I suspected that the beams were more deadly than they appeared to be, and prepared to deflect them with a psychic mirror. But then I felt a sudden pain in my head and realized my captive agent was still alive and kicking. Rejecting the psychic blast with one of my own, I proceeded to throttle him harder, this time hurling him into the wall where he crashed straight through, incapacitated for the moment.

The Rocket leader used this distraction to his advantage, spraying his rapid-fire through the shield and damaging me. On impact the dark beams were like nails were being driven through every part of my body. My skin wasn't punctured but hell, it felt like I was being crucified. Yelling in pain, I teleported next to him and swung with a psychic hand, catching him under the jaw and sending him crashing into the opposite wall. Unfortunately, with superhuman effort he broke free of my grasp and fired a small, thin beam from his right finger, striking my hand squarely in the palm.

My entire hand went numb.

"Shit!" I cursed as intense pain coursed up my arm. These Rocket agents weren't to be trifled with, I could definitely see that. And to think that I thought this would be an easy battle won. I counterattacked with a beam of my own, one that simply bounced off his body. Impossible! He must've had a barrier of some sort set up. I suddenly sensed a body coming my way and teleported to the opposite side of the room, just as I saw the charred body of one of the Rocket fighters hit the wall with a sickening splat and slid all the way down, his back decorating the wall with blood. A gaping hole in his torso explained his bloody death.

Jin's work, of course.

Filled with a new hope, I swung as hard as I could with my other hand, missing him by inches as he jumped nimbly out of the way. My fist went sailing through the first of the two remaining walls. The room could hardly be identified as a room anymore.

"Yaaah!" he shouted as he threw out both hands, a large black ball forming between his palms.

Not good, I thought as I began to charge up a psychic blast of my own, one that would, if connected, knock him out cold. But something told me that this wouldn't be a duel I would win.

Jin

I threw another beam at the remaining agent, just as powerful as the last. At the last moment he summoned a barrier to protect himself, but it was quickly shattered by the force of my beam and caught him in the torso. The barrier had weakened the beam, but it still kept going and took the agent, screaming, out of the last wall. He didn't stop until he disappeared from sight.

Deftly I ripped a sleeve off my shirt and wrapped it gingerly around my waist to stop the blood flow of a large cut. My left hip was slashed deeply where one of the agents' swords had ripped it open. I silently cursed Giovanni and turned towards Kyle to see an amazing sight.

The Rocket leader and Kyle were making full blast, each powering beams that were pushing against the other, Kyle's a deep purple and the Rocket's a midnight black. Each of the two men had a determined look on their faces, and Kyle seemed to disappear behind his gargantuan beam that seemed to grow in size, if that were possible. But slowly, steadily, the Rocket's beam began to inch towards Kyle. A bead of sweat popped out on his forehead. I knew he wouldn't make it.

My eyes flashed. Time for a team-up move

I rushed to his side in a flash of green light and immediately began to power up a beam of my own. I could feel the energy coursing through me, vibrating in every inch of my being, directed into my own hands where I threw them out in front of me with an animalistic cry and let loose

The agent's eyes widened for a split second as a dazzling white beam forced through his own, splitting the beam in half and causing his beam to shoot in two directions. There was a brilliant flash of light as his body, hit by the enormous beam, was propelled violently backwardsthen something gave and he felt his innards begin to melt

*=*=*=*=*

Jin and Kyle stood there for a few minutes, catching their breath and surveying the damage. Each of them had a skirmish with Death, and they'd come out fighting. But they both knew it was just the beginning. Just a sample of the seven-course meal ready to be served.

Finally Jin observed the two holes created by the split beam of the Rocket leader. "How convenient," he joked. "He's left two exits for us after the party." Ignoring the three mutilated walls, they hopped out of the holes into the deserted bar where they casually walked out the front door as if nothing had happened. Of course, both looked as though they'd just stepped on a land mine.

"Well," Kyle said finally, "what should we do next?"

Jin was about to reply when he saw a white blur to his left. With lightning fast reflexes he jerked his hand up to catch the thrown object and caught a glimpse of a white-furred Persian slinking away. Eyeing the Pokémon warily until it was out of sight, Jin stared down at the telecommunications device. An easily recognizable voice spoke through the speaker.

"Hello again, Jin. I see you've disposed of my agents. I must admit I underestimated your abilities. But that was merely a test. That is nothing compared to what you'll face next. Here are some instructions for your next test. Believe me, I like a good game just as much as you do." The evil leader let out a sinister laugh, then continued as the machine ejected a slip of paper into Jin's hand. "And I must tell you that your twin brother is actually alive and quite well. You'll meet him soon enough." And, with a snide chuckle, the voice died out.

Jin stared blankly at the device for a moment.

Suddenly the black object began to glow like a piece of overheated metal and Kyle, with a yell, threw the device out of his hand into a nearby empty lot, where it exploded with a violent boom that shook the ground upon impact.

Jin patiently waited for the shaking to stop, then turned to Kyle with a serious expression on his face. "You know I've got no choice. I don't give a damn if I die trying."

"Which is probably what'll happen," Kyle pointed out dryly as Jin read aloud the instructions on the scrap of paper. The lettering was printed neatly with a laser-point pen. It read:

"Visit the old ruins of the Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town. There you'll meet a few good friends of mine. Sincerely, Giovanni.

"That bastard."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Lavender Town? Why, it's nothing but a ghost town now. And I don't mean it's inhabited by just Ghost Pokémon."

Jin nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean, man. But that won't stop me from going there. Besides, that's the perfect place for a battle. No civilians, no surroundings, no nothing."

"And you'll be joining the ghosts if you go there," Kyle remarked grimly.

Jin turned on him like a wild Houndour upon an incessant Rattata. "Are you coming or not?"

"Just trying to lighten up the situation," Kyle replied lightly as the two headed off.

*=*=*=*=*

An obscuring fog clouded the Lavender ruins like a thick, gray soup. Seeing more than a three feet radius was impossible. Jin had been born with a strange inner sense that alerted him of danger, but he had to rely mainly on Kyle's psychic powers to guide them through the fog.

Squinting at the tall, blue-cloaked figure in front of him, Jin muttered, "Can't you go any faster? You've been gradually slowing down for the past ten minutes."

[I know,] Kyle answered telepathically as his walk slowed to a halt. [But something about this fog seems unnatural. It's not real fog.]

"Whaddaya mean?" Jin demanded. "Synthetic fog? There's no such thing."

[That's what I thought so, too,] Kyle grimaced. He paused, eyes glowing white as he continued to analyze the strange substance. [I was right, it's definitely not natural.] He investigated some more as Jin waited impatiently. [But it IS biological,] he added. [I think something is creating this fog. It's either a Pokémon or a humanbut I can't really tell at the moment.]

Jin nodded dismissively. "Probably a Pokémon. Unless it's some mutated Rocket. No telling what that psycho Giovanni does with his men."

Kyle turned to face Jin. "He may be cruel, but he's not a mad scientist," he stated firmly. "He has never performed an experiment that has actually killed someone."

Jin raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Oh, yeah? How do you know?"

Kyle folded his arms. "I've checked the records before. There were no deaths."

Jin was about to give his friend a real tongue-lashing, but then turned away and said, "There're things worse than death."

Kyle opened his mouth to speak, but found no words to say. [Point taken,] he said as the two silently returned to the task at hand: finding a way through the fog. Occasionally, Kyle would stop a moment, probe the area, then motion for Jin to change course. Pretty soon the soft thumps of their feet upon the moist soil became rhythmic as the two trudged on, unaware of two silent shadows watching them intently.

[The psychic is strong,] the first figure spoke. The dark veil that covered it lifted, and two glowing red eyes followed the two travelers with the intensity of a hungry predator at its prey. [We haven't had such powerful visitors since Giovanni.]

The second figure snorted in contempt as it, too, became visible. Twin yellow orbs burned like two fires within the thick clouds of fog that surrounded it like a forcefield. Because of the darkness created by the fog, it was impossible to distinguish any facial features of the creature. [He wasn't even able to sense us, despite our immense power levels. Nor is he aware of the trap set for him near the Pokémon Tower ruins.]

The first figure shrugged, if that were possible; it had no shoulders. [I feel a strange connection to him. I don't believe in destiny, but this feeling is a new one.]

The fog creature sneered. [Sentimental fool. Why waste time bonding with a human? You know all humans die sometime or later. And you'll be left alone, grieving for him, when is it not even within our formidable power to reverse time or resurrect the dead.]

[Don't be stupid,] the first figure shot back. [I won't waste time bonding. It will be only a short talk.]

The first figure sensed the fog creature's grin. [You're not very good at lying, Spookle. You've deceived none but yourself.]

Spookle sighed as a purple gas engulfed his features, similar to a Gastly's, only much darker and created of powerful psychic energy instead of poisonous gas. [You know me too well, Fogger. Even though we are technically mortal enemies.]

[You know the human saying,] Fogger smirked. [Know your enemy. Besides, it is customary for two warlords to meet before battle. Although there haven't been many wars lately. Not with this Giovanni character at the wheel.]

Spookle nodded as it rose into the air. [He is very successful. But he is growing too powerful. There is an imbalance in the time-space continuum. Don't you feel it?]

[Of course I can feel it, fool,] Fogger snapped, angry fog expelling from its hidden mouth. [I've felt it for ages. His power nearly matches our own,] it admitted. [We will fight together, if necessary. But ONLY if we are under extreme circumstances. The very idea of allying myself with you causes me to feel nauseous.]

Spookle laughed. [You're not alone there,] it teased as it flicked its finger at the tree where the fog creature was perched before shooting away in a ball of energy. Fogger yelled in fury as it leapt off the branch, just as the entire tree uprooted itself and was flung to the ground in a flurry of leaves.

But the leaves had hardly a chance to flutter to the ground before they were caught in a violent whirlwind emanating from the clouded figure. The yellow eyes glittered maliciously within the mini-tornado of leaves and debris as it stopped the whirlwind abruptly with a flash of light, reducing the leaves to ash. It allowed the ash to scatter in the natural wind as it looked in the direction Spookle had gone.

[We'll meet again, my enemy. Sooner than you think.]

*=*=*=*=*

End of Part 3a (part one out of four parts). Copyright © 2001 by DK. Feedback to rpgmaster@netzero.net.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Heh, had to cut this one short, it was getting long and I needed a good stopping point. I've had some complaints from readers that my parts were getting long, but then again, I've had others that said they were too short. Well, I guess you can't please everybody. ^_^ Thanks goes out to LINK 2000, Blue9Tiger, AMOS, and Carroll B. Neale for sending feedback for the first two parts. Lots of thanks goes out to my editor, Cian Chartier, for editing the first two monsters. And thanks to anyone who read this far!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokémon or McDonald's. They belong to their respective owners, yadda yadda yadda. Just don't sue me, okay? I'm poor enough as it is*grin*