Chapter 5: Hunter's Last Stand

The sun dipped far behind the towering mountains just beyond Viridian City. I sat on Kim's shoulder as we walked along the sidewalks beside the many skyscrapers of the city. We tried our best to stay on the back streets so we'd be less likely to be noticed. After all, we looked like criminals! We didn't want to bump into the police - or any real Team Rocket members for that matter.

Hunter's trainer map of Viridian City helped us find the quickest route in the shortest amount of time. Soon, dusk was upon us, and so was the monsterous Team Rocket Enterprises skyscraper. It stood omnimously, almost mockingly - daring us to try and enter.

Shivers flooded all over my body as we gawked at this mammoth building that lay only across the street. Even from behind, it still freaked me out. It was the building I had lived in since before I could remember. The memories of my imprisonment there became fresh once more as we darted across the street.

"Okay guys, here's what we'll do-" Kim started as we reached the other side, "Hunter! Put Ivy back in her ball!" she exclaimed, "Team Rocket members never let more than one run around outside of battle - if at all."

"Nuts!" Hunter mumbled, "Ivy, return!" His pokéball opened as Ivy became red energy and swirled into the pokéball.

"Anyway, Pika," she grabbed me off her shoulder, "You need to pretend that we caught you. Try to get away... And don't worry about shocking us, we're prepared!" She added as Hunter waved his rubber gloves.

"So that's what they were for!" I chuckled, "You think of everything!"

"Save the compliments for when we get out of this creepy place!" Hunter said, taking hold of my right hand. Kim held onto my left.

"Okay team. Are you ready?" she asked. We silently nodded, "Then let's get started!"

We walked past a brick wall covered in Team Rocket grafitti and started down an alley barely lit by the light of one bent street lamp. I decided to begin my part and struggle a bit.

We turned a corner and came to the back of the building. A partially rusted metal door with a rectangular opening near the top lay before us. Hunter knocked roughly on the door.

"Let me do the talking," Kim muttered.

"Alright."

A fraction of a man's face appeared in the opening, "Password?" it asked in a raspy voice.

Kim answered in a rough voice, "Vanilla Gorilla."

The face pulled away from the opening. I looked up at Kim. Her features were dark and cold, still as the night. I had never seen a look like that on her face. It almost scared me. Then I looked up at Hunter, who looked like he was going to throw up. I hoped he wouldn't.

The door suddenly opened before us, making Hunter and I jump. Kim made sure we stayed anchored to the ground.

"Come on in," the voice said.

I began to struggle and grunt a little. Kim and Hunter played along as well. We could now see the man who opened the door. He wore a full-length, black trenchcoat, and his mouth was the only part of his face visible from under a matching hat.

"Ah..." his voice commented, "What's this?" He stepped in front of us and looked straight down at me. I struggled to get away, "Let me go!" I yelled.

The man straightened up, "Oh... I see. Giovanni's been waiting for this little guy... You might be lucky enough to get some promotions out of this."

"All right!" Kim said in her street voice, winking at Hunter, "All this trainin' finally payin' off, eh Dirk?"

A semi-enthusiastic "Yeah," was all Hunter could add.

The mysterious man stepped aside, letting us through. We continued down a dark corridor. I heard him say behind us, "Kids these days..."

We took a sharp left turn, and kept going. Memories flashed in my mind of the neverending maze that made up this horrible building. So many doors and halls that I hoped I wouldn't have to leave my friends' for fear of getting hopelessly lost.

Suddenly, Kim pulled us into an open room and shut the door. We looked around our surroundings. It looked like some kind of commons room with 3 old couches and a TV with a twisted antenna on top. Kim peered around and then talked to us, "Now that we're in, we haven't got all night. Gusty said Giovanni's office is on one of the top floors, so we should split into two teams... Pika, you and I will cover floors 23 and 24. Matt, you and Ivy checkout 25 and 26. We'll meet on floor 22 at 9:00 - that's in about an hour. Everyone got that?"

Hunter and I nodded, almost too afraid to speak. I was beginning to see Hunter finally calm down a bit, and Kim become braver by the minute.

* * *

After locating an elevator that would take us to the 23rd floor, Kim and I waited inside with anticipation as I heard the familiar tone beep as it climbed.

The also familiar woman's voice announced, "23rd Floor", and the metallic doors parted, revealing a more stylish hall than we had left - golden trashcans stood on either side of us. We stepped out and the doors shut behind us. Suddenly my mind triggered something. I tried to remember what that elevator voice had said before. Not that I had really been paying attention when I heard it - I was in too new of surroundings to take in everything I had seen my first day of freedom. If only I could remember.

We looked at each of the plates on the doors of the hallway... Dr. Yucca, Chief Breeding Engineer... Mr. Rosebud, Human Resources Coordinator... and more. Unfortunately, we didn't come across Giovanni, or anyone near his rank.

"You know what this means, Pika, don't you?" Kim whispered as we headed back through the long hallway to the elevator.

The memory finally became clear, "26!" I half-shouted.

Kim snatched me up and began to walk faster down the hall, "Pika! Shush! Keep it down... what do you mean?"

"26th floor..." my mind was piecing it together, "Giovanni's office is on the 26th floor..."

"How do you know?" she asked as we kept walking her head turning to make sure no one was watching us.

"No time to explain. We'd better head up and see if we can find Hunter."

"Right," she replied as we reached the elevator.

* * *

We checked the entire 25th floor, but couldn't locate Hunter. Kim checked her watch, "It's only 8:30, he's probably up on the next floor... Oh, I hope he hasn't done anything rash!"

"Knowing Hunter... we'd better hurry!" I said, "Let's take the stair well."

"Why?"

"I remember a motion sensitive security camera outside his office. It can see whoever is coming up on the elevator, but all the staircases are on the opposite side of the building. We can go up them and sneak down the other side of the hall. If we wait for the elevator to open, the camera will watch it and not us."

"Okay, sounds like a good idea - let's go!" Kim said, pushing the large metal door that led to the stairway.

We hurriedly climbed two flights of stairs. I was glad to finally reach the 26th floor which was indicated by a silver mural fastened to the wall. Kim cautiously pulled the door open. I stuck my head out and peered around. We were in a dark hall, mostly devoid of light except for another main hallway that branched out from it. I leaped out and got a better look, "All clear," I whispered to Kim, and she followed me.

"Okay Pika, lead the way. Once we get to his office, I'll take over."

I nodded, and I bounded towards the dim main hallway. I slowly spied around the corner. My heart leaped, this is it! I told myself. I remembered it. Giovanni's door was the first one on the left side of the hall. It was a large office and took 3 offices worth of space on it's side. Only two doors lay on that side of the hall.

"Is this it?" Kim bent down and asked me.

"Definitely."

Suddenly the elevator dinged. I leaped back out of the way, "Someone's coming!" I whispered, backing away. Kim picked me up and we backed down the hall. My ears perked up and I waited to hear someone come off.

The sound of the elevator doors opening echoed down the hall. I heard a few people almost falling out of the elevator. I heard another noise during this scuffle - a pokéball dropping, opening and a familiar sound, "Ivysaur!"

Another voice followed, "Ivy! Help! Use your Vine Whip!"

"Hunter!" we both cried and peeked around the corner again. One buff-looking Team Rocket grunt had Hunter in a fierce headlock, lifting him off the ground. His partner was now facing Ivy head on.

"Come on, ya little runt! I've seen rattatas bigger than you! HA!" The grunt teased Ivy, laughing heartily.

Ivy lashed out with her vine whips and picked up the now surprised grunt, and before he could comment, tossed him into the elevator. The elevator dinged and the doors shut. Ivy then turned towards the other one, who laughed as well, "You wanna save your little runt trainer? HA! Mick might have been a push over, but you aren't movin' me with your little roots, Toots!"

Ivy growled and shot out a spray of orange powder from the bud on her back. He coughed and gagged and dropped Hunter, who fell to the floor gasping for his breath. The villain fell down and lied still. We emerged from the hallway and hurried to our friend.

"Great Stun Spore, Ivy!" Hunter said as he tried to get up, his right leg wobbled and he fell over, "Ouch!" Ivy tried to help him stand up, "Guys?! What are you doing here?" he asked as he still struggled to stand.

"Are you alright?" Kim asked, trying to help him stand up straight, "Oh, your ankle!" she bent down to inspect it, "I think you've sprained it!"

"No? Really! I didn't notice," he grimaced as he held his leg, "Great... Just great... I even lost my hat too... Those guys jumped me when I was sneaking around on the 25th floor. Luckily I managed to get Ivy's pokéball..." he then tried once more to stand.

"You'd better not walk on it." Kim made him sit down, "Have you got a pokémon who could give you a lift?"

"Yeah... Doduo..." he answered, reaching for a pokéball and tossing it to the ground. It popped open revealing a stout doduo. It was about to screech but Kim held it's beak shut.

"Doduo, shush! Try not to make a sound, okay?" It gave a nod and she released it.

Ivy and Kim helped Hunter onto Doduo's back, "I can't fight like this!"

"Exactly, you're going home."

"What?"

"You heard me... You need to leave before those guys fight back," Kim pointed out, gesturing to the unconscious villain.

"But what about Matt? Won't you need help?" Hunter asked sincerely.

"Can we borrow your other pokémon?"

"Sure... I guess," he pulled the last two pokéballs off his belt and tossed them over. I caught one and Kim caught the other.

Kim turned to Doduo and Ivy, "Guys, I want you to make sure Hunter gets out of here safely. Take the stairs and meet us at the back entrance. If we don't come out with Matt by 11:00, go home. Okay?"

"Are you sure?" Hunter's eyes glowed with worry.

"We'll be fine, right Pika?" Kim smiled down at me.

"Yeah!" I said, trying to sound enthusiastically, "Get out of this place."

"Fine..." Ivy extended a vine and he held out his hand. She wrapped it around his arm and pulled herself up beside him on Doduo. They then went back the way we came and disappeared around the corner. We waited until we heard the door shut behind them. I hoped they would make it out alright. Then again, I hoped we would as well.

END Chapter 5


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Author's Note: This chapter is hereby dedicated to everyone who has read my fanfic and especially to those who have reviewed it. Thank you for your support and input. It makes my job as a writer that much more rewarding.

- Falconess /^

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