"How have you been?" It was a lot easier for Breccia and Morice to get into the hospital than first expected. Going up to the front desk, all they had to do was ask for Vanessa by name and they were led to her room. Breccia wasn't sure it was safe to let just any humdrum person in to see a patient, but she wasn't going to question the convenience.

Vanessa herself was in better shape than when she first arrived.

Wheelchair bound, her left arm was broken in two places, her leg was still on the mend from surgery and she had a slipped disk in not only her back, but her neck.

"Better." Nessa's usual bubbly attitude was muted. The confinement to her boxed-in hospital room caused an endless depression. (Losing her brother didn't help either). "They're giving me six weeks before they remove the casts. After, they're taking about a microdiscectomy...that is if the tingling in my left side doesn't stop."

Morice placed a hand on her knee. "You know we'll always be here for you. Just give us the word and we'll sail over any time."

Sitting in her wheelchair, Nessa tried to turn her head to Breccia but was unable due to the cast around her neck. "I haven't had the chance to thank you."

"For what?" Breccia said.

"If you hadn't reacted like you did, we'd all be dead." Vanessa sighed, "Like Caleb." There was a shakiness to her voice. She swallowed. "I wish I had been there...for the funeral at least." Too tired to hold it together, she ignored the stream of tears pouring out of both eyes. She wanted to lift her good arm and wipe them away but because of the pain from the disk in her back, she wasn't able.

Morice retrieved a tissue from the box beside the bed, using it to wipe her cheeks dry. "Try and calm down. Caleb wouldn't want you sitting around crying over him."

Nessa sniffled. She tried to lessen the awkwardness she created by smiling a little. "I'm glad to see the two of you getting along. Morice didn't seem too thrilled when we picked you up."

"I didn't want another nut ball moving in on my crew." When he received a kick to the shin from Breccia, Morice snickered. "She's only half as crazy as I thought." From there, he stood and tossed the used tissue into the nearest trash can. As he walked past, he shoved Breccia playfully. "I have to take a piss. I'll be back."

Vanessa waited until he left the room before addressing Breccia directly. "How are things in the lab?"

"Everyone is still upset about what happened." Breccia pursed her lips. "Well, almost everyone."

"Lars?"

"Yeah."

Nessa closed her eyes, as if to collect her thoughts. "I keep telling myself I shouldn't be angry." Cringing, she lifted her good arm and attempted to rub her temples. Crying caused a headache to surface. "The bitch in me wants to say Lars sabotaged it on purpose but I know even he has more dignity than that."

Afraid she was going to cry again, Breccia reached into her pocket. "Here. I brought a friend to cheer you up." While she was sure the hospital had a rule against letting Pokemon out of their balls, she really didn't care. Pressing the button, she let Nessa's Koffing out. "I wanted to get him out of the apartment, but since we're here..."

After glancing about to see where he was, the Koffing took one look at his trainer and a dopey grin stretched across his face. He went to Nessa and rubbed against her cheek, the toxic fumes from the craters in his skull puffing out in thick clouds.

"Hey buddy." Nessa forced her hand up to pet his head. "I missed you."

"He missed you too." Breccia said. "He's been laying around watching soap operas. Mostly The Young and The Jigglypuff. It helps him sleep." Having set Nibs' Pokeball in her lap, Breccia was surprised when it popped open and her own Pokemon crawled out. As to be expected, he was in a foul mood.

"He's a weird looking one." Vanessa said, commenting on the Zubat's green fur and deformed wings. Regardless of his disabilities, Nibs used the tiny claws at the end of said wings to climb the length of Breccia's wool sweater. He stopped at her collar and proceeded to gnaw on her chin. "What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing major." Breccia let her Pokemon continue. His little bites tickled more than they hurt. "He's just different." When she shifted in her seat, Nibbles was startled by the reaction and hissed. "And feisty. Riker put me in charge of caring for him. He says he wants to see how I manage with our recent job."

"He told that to Caleb once." Vanessa said, leaning her head against her Koffing as he floated alongside her. "Then he promoted him. He must have a lot of faith in you."

"I don't see how." Breccia kissed the top of Nib's head. "All I've done the last two weeks is take care of this terror and sweep the floors."

Morice came back a little while later and the three conversed sporadically throughout the day. Before leaving, Breccia put Koffing back in his Pokeball and handed it to Vanessa.

"You better take him with you." Nessa commented. "I'm in no shape to care for him."

"But..." Breccia frowned. "He's your Pokemon."

"And he's never gonna get out of that ball if I take him." The woman in the wheelchair attempted to wheel herself out of the way when her friends stood up to leave. "I'm gonna be in here for another couple weeks at least. They don't like Pokemon running around, he'll be trapped in there. After they send me to Cerulean, I still have physical therapy." She smiled. "I think as long as he knows I'm okay, he'll be fine. You're doing a good job with your little guy-" She motioned towards Nibs. "I know you'll take good care of him." She accepted a hug when Breccia gave it to her. "The moment I'm able to, I'll give you a call to check on him."

The three said their goodbyes before parting.

Morice and Breccia were a block of so from the hospital when he stopped shy of a small cafe. "You want lunch?"

Breccia shrugged. "I'd say yes, but I'm flat broke."

"Don't worry about it." Morice held up a wallet. "Courtesy of the RN."

Dinner consisted of coffee and cheap scones (considering the nurse was about as broke as they were). By the time supper was over, it was dark and both were on their way back to the Motel.

"So, you think Riker will be pissed?"

"What for?" Morice chucked the wallet into the nearest dumpster.

"Well, you know, the whole 'be back before dark' thing?"

"If we don't get there before him, I'll make something up." Their trip to the Motel was uneventful. As the evening wound down, the streets were barren save for a few occasional bikes and a couple of cars driving by. Going down one of the many allies, the two did their best to make conversation.

"Don't you want to put pipsqueak in his ball?" Morice asked, in reference to the Zubat snoozing on Breccia's shoulder.

"He won't fly away." She said. "Besides, I tried ball training him. He busts every one I put him in. Some Pokemon aren't meant to be captured I suppose." Emerging into a more open plain, the road led into a small, abandoned park. From beyond that lay the Motel and a (likely) angry Riker. Breccia was wondering why she wasn't scared about his impending rage. She figured, at this point, she was use to people being pissed at her.

As they neared the exit of the park, ignoring the small creeks, cute rose plants and berry trees, Breccia noticed a change in Morice's attitude. He seemed uneasy. "Everything okay?"

"I thought I heard someone following us." Morice glanced over his shoulder. "Come on. Lets get back."

His intuition served to be correct. As they went through the gates, two men stepped out from behind an abandoned building. It was dark, save for the street lamps, making it hard for either of them to get a decent look at their faces.

When they turned to head back in the direction they came, another man was blocking their path.

"D'you really think you could hide?" One, the tallest, said. He had a baseball cap on over his umber hair with strands sticking out underneath. "You losers are always easy to find."

Morice's first course of action was to guide Breccia so she was behind him. "Whatever you want, we aren't interested." He took a second to glance around for an easy way out. "We aren't here to cause any trouble." He pondered if, maybe, they were undercover police. If that was the case, it'd be irresponsible to run back to the Motel. The last thing he wanted to expose the others.

"There won't be an issue so long as you cooperate." The leader of the three moved closer, as did his men. "We're here on business, and I think you and your pretty little friend can help us." The man behind them made an attempt to touch the back of Breccia's shoulder. Nibs, who was now awake, gave him an appropriate punishment and bit his finger. "Our boss sent us out to recruit people like yourself. Consider this a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"Calling someone a loser works against your plan." Morice said. "Just to let you know."

"Don't be snide." The leader answered. "Think about it, more pay, less work. You won't have to run rounds like a trained Seel." He glanced around Morice. "As for your companion-"

Breccia felt a strong chill when he locked onto her. He wasn't making eye contact, he skimming over her body.

"We'll find use for her in other ways."

A scared, shaky whimper escaped Breccia's lips. While it was involuntary, Morice noticed and reacted accordingly. "We aren't interested. Back off."

"This is my final offer." The men weren't backing down and their leader became agitated at having to repeat himself. "Join us, or else."

"We have others in the city. They'll come at a moment's notice." Morice responded. "We aren't interested in your perverted games." He could call for help with his Transceiver. Though he wasn't sure the others would get to their location in time.

"Sad." The leader snapped his fingers. "You two grab the girl. I'll deal with him myself."

If they thought they were going to snag them without at fight, they were sorely mistaken. One made a move for Breccia and received a swift kick to the groin. When he doubled over from the pain, she slammed her fist into his nose. The crack of her knuckles making contact was drowned out by the attacker's screams.

With this hands encasing his nose, blood pouring from between his fingers. "You stupid bitch!"

Morice took a cheap shot to the jaw, courteous of the man in the baseball cap. He recovered quickly and laid out the one behind them when he made a grab for Breccia's shirt. Despite taking two more jabs to the stomach, he secured one final blow to the leader's throat, who gagged and sulked back, grabbing his neck and gasping.

From there Morice snagged Breccia's wrist and took off running. They hurried down the street, unsure of where to go next. He didn't want to head for the Motel, as he worried about more of the thugs showing up and he didn't want them piecing together where the others were hiding.

They made it to the end of the block when vine snagged Breccia by the ankle, pulling her from her friend's grasp and dragging her about on the ground. Nibs fell from his spot her shirt tumbled.

"You cheating motherfucker." Morice spotted the leader's Bayleef as it pulled Breccia through a puddle. Letting Pecks out, she flew high before landing a sharp blow to the Bayleef forehead.

Laying it out in one attack, Pecks turned to fly back to her trainer. As she did so, she was struck down by wayward bolt of static. She landed with a thud and lay paralyzed on the ground. One of the other men sent out their Ampharos and its lightening went through the damp asphalt, shooting up into Morice's legs, He collapsed, grabbing his Pokeball in desperation to try and call Pecks back.

Breccia went into an army crawl, sending Koffing out as she scurried to reach Nibs. Koffing did his best to fend the Ampharos off, spewing thick streams of acid. He was, however, no match for it. The moment one of the static beams made contact, he was out cold with no chance of rebound.

"I hate when they put up a fight." The leader of the three men, despite his Bayleef being knocked out, was in a good humor. "Most of the men we talk to come without question...granted Ampharos is pretty good about reducing anyone who denies us to ash."

Dirty and scratched up, Breccia managed to stand. The only Pokemon she had left was Nibs and he was too small and inexperienced to take on such an overpowered opponent down.

This didn't stop him from trying.

Hissing, Nibs made an attempt to fly from his trainer's hands. This failed, but he started spitting tiny poison barbs from his mouth. They were insignificant and only traveled a short distance.

"Isn't that cute?" The leader mocked. "Ampharos, just step on him."

As the Ampharos charged, Nibs stopped his steady stream of useless pinneedles. Opening his maw wider, a light began to glow inside.

"Nibs?" Before Breccia could gather her thoughts or ponder what he was doing, a strong, steady blast flew, nailing the Ampharos in the gut and sending it back into one of the men. The blast itself was so massive, poor tiny Nibs was tossed back as well.

"What the hell was that!?" Morice regained feeling in his legs and struggled to find his composure.

Breccia retrieved her Pokemon, only to find he was too weary to fight any longer. The power used was so great, it wore him out.

This wasn't the end of things, and when Breccia and Morice attempted to call their Pokemon back and flee, the last man standing sent out his Gyarados. It was a creature so massive, it stood above the structures around it.

"Great..." Breccia tucked Nibs into her blouse. "I don't think we're out running that thing."

Morice placed a hand to his stomach where he had taken a swift jab. Between that and the soreness in his legs, he wasn't sure he could run at all.

"I've had enough of this!" The leader yelled, enraged that they had lost two Pokemon. "Take care of these idiots!" Breccia hoped that, maybe, he was bluffing, as the Gyarados going on a rampage in the city would raise alarm.

As the Pokemon came at them, the only course of action she had was to hold Nibbles into her chest and duck close to the ground. Perhaps, if it hit her, at least her Pokemon would be spared.

"Arlia!" A familiar voice broke her from her fears. As she looked up from her crouched position, she saw a red blur pass over head, putting itself between her and the rampaging Gyarados. Before she could respond, she was pulled from her spot by a swift grab to the collar.

Riker tossed her back into Morice. She was planted face first into his chest and would've slipped to the ground had Morice not hooked an arm around her.

With Breccia out of the way, Riker's next order was directed towards his companion. "Beat the piss out of him." It was answered with a nod before the Blaziken bounded forward.

The battle that ensued was hard to keep up with, as Arlia moved quickly, launching several painful kicks into the Gyarados' sides and head.

In spite of the creature's large girth in comparison to hers, Arlia acted as if the Gyarados were a mere paper crane, dodging several blasts of water and laying one final blow to the monster's skull.

It wobbled for a moment, trying to move forward. Instead, it fell backwards, stretching out on the sidewalk before going comatose and still.

Upon seeing his Pokemon and men out for the count, the last man standing went from confidant to pitiful. He tried to run but was caught in Arlia's claws and dragged back to where Riker stood.

Riker folded his arms, looking at the sad, pathetic captive as he shivered and wept. "I want you to tell me why you thought it was a good idea to attack my men?"

"I-I...I was just-"

"Answer the question!" Despite his calm veneer, Riker was trying his hardest to keep an even temper. "Answer, or my friend here will snap you in half and piss on the ashes."

The captive trembled. "The boss wanted us to recruit...new m-members."

"And you do that by trying to kill mine?" The calm, deathly tone to Riker's voice gave both Breccia and Morce a chill. They could only imagine how terrified the other guy was. "Arlia, take care of him."

"N-no please! I don't know any more!" The man begged. "I've never met the boss, I was just following orders." He gulped. "I was sent from Travessia, up north, we have a network there."

"Is that the only place?"

"No, we have small ones all over, in other regions."

"I see..." Grabbing the man by the jaw, Riker drew him closer. "You go to this network of yours and tell them there are stronger men than me in this Organization. And trust me, they'll be happy to destroy every outpost you idiots have. Got it?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Good." Looking at Arlia, Riker nodded to her. "Let him go...make sure he doesn't forget." Arlia dropped the poor fool. Though before he could flee, she grabbed him by the arm.

Breccia watched in horror as she twisted the limb all the way around, snapping the bone in two and leaving it to dangle uselessly from the elbow.

The man screamed as he was thrown into the streets. Grabbing his limb, his screams continued as he writhed in agony, trying to nurse the bone sticking out of his arm.

"You two." Riker said to his subordinates, ignoring the painful howls behind him. "Come with me." He walked passed them with Arlia in tow. "And keep your mouth shut when we get back."