Heya there! Just finished this and realized it might be good to put a heads up about the POV of this chapter. Its 3rd person limited meaning we see with the knowledge Miauro has. No spoilers though I hate seeing that, Also changed the summary since I think it gave away too much and was kinda mediocre at the very least. Its meant to hook readers!

Miauro glances at the walls nervously awaiting the scolding he is sure to receive from his superior. The second hand feels as though it were minutes with the air still and the low rumble of the base's turbine generator deep within. With the only exterior noises being the rumbling the shifting in his chair put him on edge. He knew Apollo, his other boss, approved of the moral damper that came as a result of the chaos Miaruo's mission, although it seems missions always went right in Apollo's eyes and that maybe it was simply the plan all along, but a roundabout way of executing it.

The door slowly swung open to the comatose abode that had grown to become the place Miauro rests his head at night and an overburdening man known as Lieutenant Blade stepped in with muscles of decades long fine tuning of diet and exercise. Standing at 6'7 he towered over Miauro's meager 5'10 when standing and tying that with the sitting position he was currently in made the man whom Miauro was dreading an absolute menace.

"Private First Class Miauro at attention please" grinning down with malice and hatred, sending shivers down Miauro's spine. "Care to explain today's mishaps?"

Knowing full well that Blade intended to milk the mistakes and shortcomings of his part of the mission Miauro began reciting his part in the mission and how he was unable to make up the remaining stores due to their exposure to law enforcement.

"Now now, I dont want the petty excuses that come from your mouth any longer, I have discussed this with Major Apollo" Pausing with a grimace and looking away "... and he deems that you outperformed expectations, so that means that I bestow upon you your new insignia which displays your rank as Corporal now."

Confused by the sudden praise Miauro sat stunned as Blade leaned down and applied the new insignia to his uniform grunting in apparent annoyance. That soon faded when Blade stood back up grinning widely "As a Corporal Rocket now you are to attend more missions as required, report at 0330 in briefing room 11F for details regarding your next mission."

The sudden relief Miauro had evaporated with the implications this meant, he had never intended to climb the ladder sort of speak at all nor be associated longer than he had to. He had nearly enough money saved to stand on his own two feet and find education to get a normal life behind a desk like any other schmuck. Enjoying the fleeting look on his subordinate's face, Blade chuckled lowly to himself as he departed leaving Miauro to his thoughts.

In a feint attempt to push his worries away Miauro left the room as well heading to the cafeteria several levels down in the facility which at the current time was bustling with people and pokemon alike. While it was no secret that the heads of the organization viewed pokemon as simple tools for domination, many still viewed pokemon as sentient creatures and it showed. The fact that some even allowed the bipedal pokemon to sit at the table spoke volumes that they were above simple mindless creatures the leaders made them out to be.

Getting a plate with simple rations of potatoes and boiled Basculin, Miauro grimaced at the pain the fish must have felt and nearly lost his appetite if not for the hunger he felt. Spotting his normal spot away from the chattiest of tables he made his way towards an empty seat along the wall, out of sight and out of mind he once told himself. Before making it to the table something crossed his vision and slapped him upside the face igniting a flare of pain on his chin Miauro stumbled and dropped his plate, reeling in the lingering fire of nerves. Miauro collapsed to the ground and curled up covering his face ignoring the uproarious laughter from the table he had just passed. A sudden kick to his side wrenched Miauro from the pain on his face as he clutched his side giving a look at his tormentor who held a seemingly raw Basculin in hand.

"Man it never gets old slapping the shit out of you heh" They chuckled retreating to their seat.

Several people around looked upon the curled figure on the ground with varying amounts of sympathy from the other enlisted, because it was no secret that Miauro absolutely feared pain and death. Plenty of his tormentors joked that he was born with the nerves of Mesprit in light of these findings and taunted him evermore to get a pittance of satisfaction.

Gritting his teeth and placing unsteady hands on the cold messy tiles he attempted to get up only to slip on his ruined meal. Grimacing as his chin clapped roughly shooting ripples of pain to spark through his nerves Miauro grit his teeth holding back a groan. People around him began standing up as he laid there, stepping over him like he was merely an inconvenient tree root.

Lying there focusing on blotting out the pain Miauro picked up on footsteps approaching only as the cacophony of voices drifted away following the crowd of people like smog. The footsteps soon stopped just next to him and he rolled over looking blearily up at the stranger. Standing just beyond the mess was an average height lanky man with shaggy auburn hair coming down to just above a set of square rimmed glasses. He also was draped in a white lab coat differentiating him from a usual grunt.

"Hey, are you okay? Need some help?" asked the stranger whilst bending over and extending a hand.

Sighing audibly Miauro took a glance at the proffered hand warily as to detect malice before taking it. Wincing in pain as he stood, he leaned onto the stranger for a moment before righting himself, pushing off him lightly.

"Thanks, I can handle it from here" Miauro stated gruffly, brushing off the mess that became his suit.

Eyebrows lifting slightly "and leave you to surely get a thrashing once you head out the door? Not a chance bud." the stranger said with a bit of a smirk nodding towards the exit which surely had . "Names Dr. Fergin, thought I'd come and speak with you… and I spose maybe give you painkillers for the bruises I ought to presume you have." nodding his head towards where Miauro held his side.

Sensing some sort of ulterior motive Miauro tread cautiously "and why might that be Doctor?"

"Well, lets get you back to your room and perhaps a fresh uniform before I disclose that ok?" he quipped suddenly, tone changing more akin to a higherup and without leaving room for a response turned on his heel and set off down the hall with Miauro to follow.

[Some time later in Miauro's quarters]

"...That'll do for your pain, you can put your shirt down, Now as to why I came to see you is under the command of Apollo who believes that your stay here with us has been inadequate to say the least correct?" Fergin reached into his front pocket and took a small notepad and pen out clicking the end audibly before setting it to paper.

Miauro: "What do you mean by that?"

Fergin: "Your colleagues have become fond to harrassing you have they not?"

Miauro: "Uhh, yeah…?"

Miauro scratches his head while attempting to look disinterested, he knew that when a doctor came, it always was associated with bad news and lucky for him this has happened twice before, although it was to do with this exact reason, but as to why it wasn't the psychiatrist was beyond him.

Fergin: "So, my reason for myself personally being here is that I am doing research for handling characteristics of our current fleet of vehicles to ascertain any way to improve the performance of our drivers in the field, but to also get to know you so that I can make your experience here better."

Unconvinced but intrigued Miauro adjusted himself on his cot so he was actually facing Fergin.

Miauro: "Why you though, what is there about me that makes me special?"

Fergin scratched the back of his head smiling lightly

Fergin: "Heh, partly because Im being forced, but don't get the wrong idea Miauro, I have seen what the meatheads have done to you and its not fair for you. Your the highest performing driver in the Nacrene city division, thats not an easy feat to achieve as your well aware that we carry the lionshare of operations in Castelia."

Fergin: "Additionally, as the most talented we have on base, it would be a great shame if you were to lose it"

Miauro tensed, gripping the cot tightly, remembering the late night transfer he had been ordered to partake in…

Sensing Miauro's sudden stiffness he began jotting things down on the notepad.

[4 months earlier…]

Standing guard at one of the 2 checkpoints leading into the base, Miauro shivered in the chilly night air. He had completed bootcamp just weeks prior and was shipped off to Nimbasa fort where under the guise of a standard military installation Team Rocket operated in secrecy, at least that's what Miauro had been told..

Headlights illuminated trees in the surrounding forest, alerting Miauro of an approaching vehicle. The diesel engine rumbling as it slowly came into view a couple hundred feet out.

A supervisor Miauro never met before ambled to the guard house and casually slipped a paper note in. Someone who went unnoticed until now stood up and took hold of the note and marched over to Miauro.

"Your to accompany the transport to the loading dock with Private Coop leading right flank, Understood?" he ordered, his face was stone cold, leaving his face unreadable.

"Yes sir" Miauro shifted in his boots uncomfortably under the gaze.

"Growlithe!" a canine like dog yipped and tugged at the man's pantleg.

Softening his gaze the man regarded Miauro once more and went back into the booth patting the canine.

Truck brakes squealed announcing its arrival, garnering Miauro's attention. Its the first time he escorted one of the trucks and wasnt sure where Private Coop was.

Walking over hurriedly Miauro stood at attention near the step to the truck while the door opened, emerging an aged man with a belly which could have housed a propane tank. The beard he had jostled as he looked past Miauro, crunching something unseen in his teeth.

"Wheres Ryan? Haven't seen the likes of fresh meat like you b'fore" He grunted.

"Sorry? Im to accompany you to the loading bay tonight sir." Miauro said readjusting the rifle slung on his back.

"Heyysa Buck! Sorry had a bit of chaffin, ya know having big legs sure sucks for that"-A portly man jogged up from the booth- "hadn't realized ya were coming early!"

"Bout time! This new squirt looked bout ready to crumble had ye waited a sec longer" Buck chortled.

Standing in between the two men Miauro felt awkward at the new intrudance and felt the need to clear things "and you are?" he questioned the newcomer.

"Uh, Im Private Coop, I presume your Private.. Maur?" He twisted his brow in confusion "I say that right?"

"Miauro" Miauro Corrected.

"Ah well close enough, shall we follow ya to the bay buck?" Coop shifted attention back to Buck who had clambered back into the truck.

"Ye, yall can follow me, I know where it is!" Buck called out over the starter of the truck turning over.

Without further ado the truck clunked into gear and began rolling forward into the base with the two men following, one more obviously relaxed than the other.

It was uneventful as the truck idled its way across the base and if anything was a bit unnerving to see the lack of activity that had become normal for Miauro during the daytime hours. Soon enough the truck turned out from the bay and the reverse lights came on. Private Coop climbed the stairs beside the bay and started guiding the truck in.

The truck shook as the engine petered out and Coop produced a key and undid the rear doors. When the opened Miauro was horrified, People in nothing but underclothes were tied up, gagged, and blindfolded.

"What the fuck?" Miauro stumbled back catching himself before falling.

Private coop smiled weakly at Miauro "You get used to it when doing it as long as I have, still unnerving…" He turned his attention back to the bound people and grabbed one.

Buck patted Miauro's shoulder as he came up from behind "Kid, I know how ye feel, best not to think 'bout it much though." He sympathized "Sooner we finish, sooner we try to fergit."

Buck moved past Miauro and picked up one of the people who squirmed to get away from his grip only to be roughly kneed in the side. Miauro grimaced at the sight.

[Present…]

It was only later that Miauro learned that the people in the truck were deemed insane, never heard from again. Curiosity got the better of him though and he whispered "Whatever happened to them?"

Overhearing Miauro's whispering, Fergin raised an eyebrow "I don't think it would be wise to ask around about the ones who do go insane. I know your curious, but even asking can be grounds for punishment." -checking the door and vent on the opposing wall before continuing- "I can tell you with time once I know we can trust each other though okay?"

Baffled at the sudden change in tone Miauro simply stayed quiet as Fergin wrapped up

"Well, I hope that you'll be more open with our next greeting and such, and because I've taken up much of your time for rest. I'll have your briefing postponed until 0500, that sound good? He smiled in earnest while placing his notepad and pencil into his front pocket.

Miauro, still unsure what to think of Dr. Fergin simply nodded while he opened the door and left.

- So thats it for the 2nd chapter! I uh, heh, once again not very knowledgeable about the Pokemon universe and I do apologize if its very far off canon, or just hard to follow, but if you have any suggestions or feedback I'd really like to know, cause I do have an idea of where I want to go with this, just not sure if its shit or not :)

- As an aside I do intend to update this around once a month or more depending if Im feeling inspired, but now that I have a goal in mind it may come out sooner.

Anywho enough rambling from me, cya next time?