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Run of the Gauntlet-Chapter Two
by Banjodog
PG-13 Language
Disclaimer: Nintendo owns Pokemon. I own all characters who are not in the series or in the game.
Summary: Lance Ketchum, welcome to Team Rocket.
Chapter Two
Lance was thrust into Giovanni's office, broken, bloodied, and very angry. The two Team Rocket members that had seized him out of his cell disappeared, leaving Lance alone with that sorry excuse for a human being. Lance wanted to lunge, tried to lunge, but his body would not respond. All he could do was give the Viridian gym leader a glare that would make an Arbok jealous through swollen, bloodshot eyes. Giovanni smiled at him, looking at him as if he were the greatest prize in the world. Lance wished desperately that he could get up. Anything to get out of this embarrassing and extremely humbling position of being on his knees.
Why was this room so cold?!
So much pain.
"Well, Lance. Feeling better?" Giovanni asked.
"Go to Hell," Lance spat back. Giovanni stood up and walked to the front of his desk, crossed his ankles and leaned/sat on his desk. Lance never took his eyes off of his former 'friend,' but noticed the Persian lying like a shadow in the corner. It was growling below Lance's hearing range, but Lance could tell that the pokemon was greatly agitated.
"Now, now. That's no way to talk. Such nasty language. Trust me, life will be so much easier if you cooperate."
Lance remained silent, beginning to shiver. His clothes, torn and bloodied, did little to warm him. Giovanni did nothing to aid him.
"You'll never get away with this," Lance growled. Giovanni rolled his eyes.
"Do we really have to go through this again? We had a deal. And I've never known you to go back on your word, Lance. Are you ready for your initiation?"
"No, but get on with it," Lance replied in tired acceptance. Giovanni pushed a button on his desk.
"Amanda, get in here," he said harshly. Within moments, a girl about eighteen with dark brown hair and eyes appeared, dressed in the classic black Team Rocket uniform, a red R emblazoned on the front.
"You called me, sir?"
"Yes, meet your new partner. Get him cleaned up and a uniform. Black," Giovanni ordered. Amanda's eyes flickered down to Lance, who was clinging to a chair like an anchor. Her eyes flashed with concern, confusion, and some fear, but she hid it as quickly as it appeared.
"Um," Amanda said, approaching Lance and looking awkward. Seeing what the problem was, Lance forced himself to stand. His knees felt like they were going to buckle, but he remained standing. Amanda slid an arm under his for support and he shuffled out of Giovanni's office.
"What happened to you?" Amanda asked, almost reluctantly.
"Everything," Lance responded. "What's going on?"
"You have to get your supplies. Nothing special. Your uniform, your pokemon."
"I get my pokemon back!?" Lance asked, both surprised and immensely hopeful.
"No. Sorry. Each Rocket is given a pokemon from the Boss's personal storage. You don't know what it is until you use it to battle," Amanda explained. Lance's shoulders slumped.
"I want my pokemon,' Lance mumbled sadly.
"What kind of pokemon did you have?"
"Dragonite, two Dragonair, Aerodactyl, Gyrados," Lance replied, not knowing what he had just given away. "Oh, wait!" Lance said, alarmed once it had sunk in. No one except the Elite Four and those who had battled him were supposed to know which pokemon he had.
"Dragon pokemon? You must be a good trainer," Amanda commented, awed. "Where did you get an Aerodactyl?"
"I found him," Lance said, his expression clearly stating he did not want to talk.
"But I thought that they were extinct."
"They are," Lance said with a mischievous smile. He figured as long as the cat was out of the bag, then he would have a little fun with it.
"But--how--?"
Lance laughed, though it came out as more of a cough.
"Are they hard to train?" Amanda asked, her curiosity overwhelming her.
"Are you kidding?! It took forever for me to get Magikarp to evolve into a Gyrados! For a stupid fish type that weighs only twenty-two pounds and can only learn splash, it was extremely difficult. It evolves at level twenty and you don't even need a stone for it! It was so frustrating. I had nearly lost to this wimpy little trainer from Celadon when Magikarp evolved.I finally had a dragon pokemon that weighed 518 pounds and was excellent in battle. But the stupid thing would not listen to me. Only when I evolved Dratini, who was actually loyal from the start, into Dragonair did Gyarados listen to me. Apparently I had to prove myself to it. Me! Prove that I was a good trainer! Dragonair evolved into Dragonite, who sad to say I am playing favorites with, and I got two more Dragonair. I would like to have a Dratini, but they are getting harder and harder to find. Did you know they used to be a myth? Until a colony was discovered living underwater, that is," Lance said breathlessly. He loved his pokemon no matter how frustrating they got.
Amanda just stared at him.
"For heaven's sake! Take a breath before you pass out on me!" she exclaimed.
"Sorry. I get kind of carried away when I talk about pokemon," Lance replied sheepishly.
"What is your name, anyway?"
"People call me Lance," he replied. Amanda stopped. Lance grinned, wondering if she would even think....
"In here. Get cleaned up...there are showers and Rob will help you with your uniform, pokemon and your....unfortunate injuries," Amanda said, sounding skeptical at her thoughts. Lance's grin subsided a little and entered the doorway.
"I'll wait out here for you," Amanda said and sat down in a chair. Lance nodded and left.
Lance staggered in, a little surprised at the lack of support, and not having a clue as to where to go.
"You the new Rocket?" a male voice asked. Lance turned to see a young man with blond hair in a black uniform. He was carrying a med bag.
"Yeah," Lance answered. Rob nodded and helped Lance up on to an examining table.
"Don't know why he has to be so violent. There had to have been another way," Rob grumbled softly as he examined Lance's wounds. It hurt, but Lance kept himself from crying out. Rob pulled out some Super Potion and gave it to Lance in every way possible: sprayed it on, had him drink it, and smeared it on. It was very effective and within moments Lance was feeling better.
"Thanks," Lance said, his voice growing clearer.
"Doing my job," Rob replied, though Lance could see a twinkle in those blue eyes.
"What size clothing do you wear?" Rob asked. Lance told him and the young medic retrieved a uniform and handed it to Lance, who gave it a severe look of hatred.
"Most new Rockets do find their uniform....distasteful, which is one of the more polite descriptions that I've heard, but you don't have a choice," Rob said. Lance looked at Rob once before taking it, and he changed out of what used to be nice clothes and into a warm and actually comfortable (which Lance would rather die than admit) full body black uniform. He looked down to see the bright red capital 'R' and wanted to hurl.
"And now for your pokemon," Rob said and showed Lance into a room full of pokeballs. Endless rows and rows of pokeballs. Lance felt his lower jaw drop. No wonder so few trainers got past Giovanni.
"Pick one," Rob said. Lance looked at him through the corners of his dark brown eyes, his expression clearly stating that he was sure that these pokemon were not captured in the traditional manner...
"It is true that some have been stolen, but that is what Team Rocket does. However, most of these were captured by the original Team Rocket members and some even by the Boss. You will need a pokemon, trust me," Rob said. Lance turned his gaze to the pokeballs and walked over to a row. His gaze came across one and he reached for it. Lance turned to Rob, who just shrugged.
"Did you get your things?" Amanda asked as Lance came out. He nodded and Amanda noticed that the uniform looked horrible on him. Not fashion wise, in fact, it highlighted his features, but it contrasted deeply from his personality. It would grow on her. Lance nodded and the two walked off.
Rob reported to Giovanni, like he had been ordered.
"He'll be fine. Some of his scars he'll have forever, but other than that....I coated the lining of his uniform with Super Potion so he'll be in perfect health by the end of the day."
"What kind of pokemon did he receive?"
Rob told him and it was a long time before Giovanni stopped laughing.
****
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Lance asked, turning towards Amanda. She had been giving him strange glances all the way down the corridor. Her eyes darted away like Caterpeis from a flock of Pidgeys.
"It's just that..."
"What?"
"Your name. Your knowledge of pokemon....oh, it's stupid. I'm going crazy. Common enough name," Amanda said, talking more to herself now.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're going to think this is stupid..."
"Try me."
"Did you know that your first name is the same as the Leader of Elite Four's?"
Lance laughed and Amanda looked at the floor, embarrassed.
"I've been told that, yes."
"For a minute, I thought....I thought you were the Elite Four Lance," Amanda said, joining the laughter.
"I am," Lance said. Normally, he would not have said such a thing, but he had already given too much away and Amanda had already guessed anyway. Amanda stopped laughing. Her eyes darkened.
"Don't joke."
"I'm not."
"You can't be him."
"Why not?"
"Oh come on. Think about it. Lance. Best trainer in the world. Head of the Pokemon League. In Team Rocket, the world's largest criminal organization."
"Well, I don't know about best in the world, but the head of the Pokemon League and in Team Rocket part is right."
Amanda stared in disbelief.
"Oh my God...but how? When? WHY?"
"Maybe later," Lance said, waving his partner off. "How'd you guess?"
"Well, your name, your knowledge of pokemon, the type of pokemon you have, your reluctance to reveal and/or hide which kind of pokemon you had...." Amanda listed.
"I see," Lance said.
"We better go," Amanda said shakily and left, Lance following.
****
The two new partners entered the cafeteria, Lance surveying the room with severe distaste. At least a hundred and fifty people sat, about ninety-nine percent in pairs and were sitting at circular tables, chatting and eating their dinners. Most of the people were in black, a few in white. There was even a small group who were in gray. As if sensing his confusion, Amanda spoke up.
"The colors signify rank, and in the case of the gray, position. Black is lowest rank, white is highest."
"What about the grays?"
"Don't go near them. They are the worst of Team Rocket. They are Assassins, and very skilled ones at that. No one, as in civilians, has ever seen them, and those that have, well, they're in no condition to tell about it," Amanda said gravely. Lance gulped. He desperately wished he at least had his Dragonair with him.
"Come on, let's get in line," Amanda urged softly, touching Lance's upper arm. Lance turned and followed.
The line moved fairly quickly, like a well oiled machine, and soon Lance was carrying a disposable tray filled with a turkey sub, complete with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and cheddar cheese, a pop, some chips and a rich chocolate brownie.
"You're well fed," Lance commented, his mouth watering. He had been in the cell for two days and all he had ever gotten was stale bread and four day old water. Lance guessed that that had all been part of his 'conditioning.'
"The Boss takes care of us. That's why most join. They're poor, fugitives, or just plain finding themselves at loose ends. It may not be the most glamorous lifestyle, but we have what we need."
"Why did you join?" Lance questioned as they walked over to an empty table.
"I was one of the many who found themselves at loose ends. I..."
"What's the matter?"
"I just thought of something. You joined because you want to destroy Team Rocket!"
"What?"
"Why else would you join Team Rocket?!" Amanda asked, half accusing, half panicked. She would not know what she would do if she did not have Team Rocket. By now, people had begun to stare, so Lance grabbed Amanda's arm and dragged her into a dark corner.
"Look: I joined Team Rocket because I had to. Blackmail. I have no intention of overthrowing Team Rocket from the inside. It would destroy the one thing in this world I love more than life. But believe me, when I do strike, it will be a lot less subtle," Lance said, his voice rumbling dangerously. Amanda began to squirm. His face was inches from hers, his sweet breath and body heat unbearable. She struggled, but his powerful grip held her painfully fast. Amanda gulped as her breathing quickened. Lance terrified her. But then he seemed to soften and let go, silently walking back to the table. Amanda watched as Lance bit viciously into his sandwich.
It must have been awful to make the generally good-natured man to get this upset. Amanda pulled up her sleeve to see a bruise forming there. The bone felt bruised and the muscle complained when she flexed it. She slid the sleeve back down and sat across from Lance.
"Nice grip you've got there," Amanda said lightheartedly.
"Years of dragon handling and sparring with Bruno," Lance replied, his tone getting lighter. Amanda smiled.
"Who won?"
"Bruno. Man, that guy's built like an Onix."
"He's weakened by water?" Amanda asked. That got a laugh from Lance.
"I'll have to test that theory," he said. "I may end up in the hospital for a week, but then again he'll have to catch me first. I'm faster than he is."
It was Amanda's turn to laugh. She did not know what Bruno looked like, but it was funny enough to picture: Lance running at full sprint away from a muscly, soaking wet man. Amanda was about to reply when another female voice cut in.
"Amanda! Hi!" Jessie yelled, waving her arm. Amanda motioned for her to come over. Lance's eyes narrowed. Jessie. And that face. Why were they so familiar?
Soon, Jessie, James, and Meowth were sitting at the table. Amanda was Jessie's only real friend in Team Rocket, and they rarely got to talk to each other. Amanda noticed that Lance was tensing, but she figured it was just nerves.
"So where have you guys been?" Amanda asked, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
"Chasing after that brat Ash Ketchum," Jessie replied venomously. Lance straightened up as his body grew rigid, as if he were trying to hold back something. His already narrow eyes darkened significantly. Amanda decided to show off her knowledge, not realizing the danger.
"You still haven't caught him? It can't be that hard. He's only twelve."
Lance began to shake.
"I'd like to see you try!" Jessie exclaimed. "We've been blasted into the stratosphere so often by that Pikachu that we're considering requesting an assignment transfer."
"You've been defeated by a Pikachu?"
"Pikachu's energy strength exceeds its evolutionary level," Meowth recited. Even in his anger, Lance jumped. A pokemon that could talk human.... Jessie and James looked over at him, noticing him for the first time.
"New?" Jessie asked.
"Yeah," Lance replied, not restraining his coldness.
"He's my new partner. His name is..."
"Sean," Lance interrupted. Amanda gave a confused look but did not question it.
"Well, Sean, welcome to the Team. You ever heard of the Ketchum kid?"
"No."
"Trust me, you will. He's the only person Team Rocket has not successfully stolen from."
"Really?"
"Yep. Butch and Cassidy have come close, but its always backfired," James commented. Jessie tensed at Cassidy's name.
"What I want to know is, is why is da Boss so interested in da kid?" Meowth said.
"I have an idea," Lance muttered darkly. No one heard him except Amanda.
"He wants that Pikachu, doesn't he?" James asked.
"Not only that, he wants Ash," Jessie explained. Amanda nodded her agreement. Lance jerked his head up.
"Why?" James asked.
"Simple. Ash is a pretty good trainer, for a twerp. With the Boss completing his training, he could be the strongest Rocket ever," Jessie answered. "The Boss'll do anything to get Ash."
Lance jumped out of his chair and ran out of the cafeteria. Amanda, Jessie, James, and Meowth followed.
Lance sprinted down the hallways. He had made himself memorize the route, and he had a very good memory.
He knocked people over, but he did not bother to apologize. He was too full of anger. He eventually slowed however, stopping in front of two big doors. Amanda, along with the Team Rocket trio, gasped.
"You can't go in there!" Amanda exclaimed.
"That's the Boss's office!" James added. Lance looked back at him.
"I know," he said simply and pushed the doors open. Amanda darted in, along with the others.
"Sir! I tried to stop him!" Amanda said as Giovanni looked up, surprised, from his work.
"He's new, sir. I'm sure he doesn't know..." Jessie began amid the chorus of voices.
"Silence!!" Giovanni roared, breaking the voices into silence. He stared up at Lance, who was standing still, jaw clenched and glaring. Persian lied back down, restraining itself from attacking Meowth.
"Leave," Giovanni ordered the group behind Lance. They hesitated, not sure of what was going on.
"NOW!!" he yelled and the four quickly scrambled out, the door falling closed behind them.
"You promised. We had a deal," Lance said, his voice dangerously calm and low. Giovanni leaned back in his forest green chair and tapped his fingers slowly on the desk.
"What did those three bumbling idiots tell you?" he asked.
"We had a deal that if I joined, no harm would come to Ash."
"That was the deal, yes."
"Then why go back on it now?!"
"Lance, what are you talking about?"
"What's their faces....Jessie and James said that you wanted Ash to join the team! You have me! Leave him alone!" Lance yelled, slamming his fists on the desk. Giovanni stood up, rising to the challenge.
"In all the years that you have known me, Lance, have I ever gone back on my word?" he asked.
"You have not given me reason to trust you," Lance countered. He felt his power return. He was the Elite Four leader, and this was just another Gym Leader. He had the authority. The Persian was growling deeply, but Lance showed no fear of it. It was jut a pokemon, after all.
"Listen, Lance. I did want Ash. Did, past tense. Now that I have you, I don't anymore. A deal is a deal."
"Yeah, well make sure it stays that way," Lance snarled and turned to leave.
"Don't you EVER turn your back on me again, Lance. And you will NEVER speak to me that way again. You are no longer in charge. I am. You follow my orders. I am not your toy anymore that you can toss around for your amusement. Your leeway right now is coming from who you are and our past association. But know this: you will never get this freedom again and I'll make you regret it. Any other Rocket talked to me like that and they'd be dead before they could say 'unfair.' Remember what is on the line here. Your son. Now would you risk that for a few insults?" Giovanni replied. Lance gave no reply. Giovanni knew the answer.
"I will not be so lenient next time. But then, I trust that there will not be a next time, now will there?"
"No, Giovanni," Lance said. Giovanni smiled.
"And I think it better that you not tell anyone who you are...yet anyway. As far as my team is concerned, Team Rocket is in no way affiliated with the League."
"Yeah, it's too bad that they don't know who the Viridian Gym leader is," Lance said and walked out the door. Giovanni let it go, mainly for the reason that he could find no reply. After a moment, he sat back down and picked up his cell phone. He punched in the numbers and petted his Persian while waiting for an answer. He did not have to wait long.
"Sir?" Wendy's voice came.
"Wendy, disregard my last orders. Do not capture the Ketchum kid."
"Sir?"
"Are you questioning me, Wendy?"
"No sir! Just merely curious as to why."
"Now is not the time to strike," Giovanni replied and turned the phone off. In a sudden burst of anger, he threw it into the nearby fireplace where it exploded and melted in the intense flames.