Chapter 10: Mission

A horn blared through the camp just as the sun started to rise. The group exited their tents while Melody announced on the megaphone. "Congrats on the group for their first night outside Electric City but in one hour the real test begins. Now the girls will get the shower facility first and then the males can use them after. Now if I catch any guy trying to peek I will write off your death as a Poke'mon fatality that goes double for you Brock Flint."

All of the guys chuckled at Brock after that comment and the female members of the team walked over to the showers.

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The girls used the showers while May asked Melody. "Captain, not to sound like my brother or anything but why were you dressed liked that while with Ash in your tent."

"If you're asking if I changed in front of him, no. I went to another room in my tent to do so. I was getting ready for bed while he was setting up my computer system. Why, you have a crush on him or something and you think I was making a move on him?"

May turned red from that comment. "What makes you say that?"

"According to my information you two were childhood friends, but I also think that Misty has a crush on Mr. Popular," Melody added, causing Misty to turn red.

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw you at target practice, yesterday," Melody mentioned with Misty realizing what she was talking about. "You got right behind him and pressed your chest against his back. Now if I didn't know better you were making a move on him."

"Misty?" May asked in disbelief.

"I was just showing him how to aim the gun properly and nothing else," she replied with her face still a bright shade of red.

"Right," Melody with a mischievous smile, "and your face is red because of the water."

"He is too much of a hot headed agent, why would I fall for someone like that?" Misty fought back.

"I don't know," Melody replied with a wink. "Why don't you tell me?"

Misty just looked away, but then Melody's voice became serous. "No matter how you try to hide it I can easily tell you both have feelings for him. So make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble out on the field. There is just so much a Captain can do for one of her troops."

The other two girls smiled at her. "Is that an order, Captain?" May asked.

She smiled back at them. "Sure, why not?"

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Later the troops stood in rows while Melody stood before them. "Alright troops, you half will stay here at the camp and keep track of this team's location. We are not expected to find much out here but with the incident last night I don't want to take any chances am I clear?"

"Yes, Captain," they saluted.

"Good, you get suited up while the others get ready. I don't want to get caught off guard twice within twenty-four hours."

The group slowly moved in small groups of three throughout the entrance to the forest. "Group B, how are you doing?" Melody asked on the headset to hear Ash reply.

"Everything is clear so far and nothing on the scanners."

Melody saw a bleep on her scanner and signaled Brock and Max to get on the defensive. "Camp, I believe to have a Poke'mon twenty feet in front of me, please confirm."

"Give me a second," one of the agents back at the camp replied. "According to the satellites it is a Chikorita and it seems to be alone."

"Sounds good," she replied, signaling the two to follow her.

The three looked behind some trees to see a Chikorita sleeping on the ground. "Ok team this will be a simple extermination. Just be sure not to wake it up."

They surrounded the low level Poke'mon and aimed their Fire Rifles down at it. But before Melody would give the order to fire, the barrel kept shaking. Remember your mission, she kept repeating in her mind.

"Captain, are you alright?" Brock whispered.

They all stood still while they noticed the Chikorita slowly moved, but when it stopped she shook her head. "Fire."

The three fired their rifles at the Poke'mon, it let out a cry in pain but they never let up till they were sure it was eliminated. "Good job, sometimes I keep forgetting that the adorable ones can be as vicious as the scary ones," Melody replied.

"I bet everyone makes mistake every now and then," Max comforted their Captain. "I know my sister does."

Then with Misty, May and Ash, May sneezed. "You coming down with something, May?" Ash asked.

She rubbed her nose. "I don't think I am."

Back with Group A, Melody smiled down at the young member. "Thanks, now you two go scout ahead while I confirm that this Poke'mon menace is eliminated."

"Sure thing, Captain," Brock replied.

The two walked off while Melody kneeled down to the burned Poke'mon, without a doubt it was no longer living. She plucked a small flower nearby and rested it on the top of its body. "Remember, the mission," she said to herself quietly, standing back up and catching up with the other two.

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About a few hours later, the groups A-E sat in an opened area within the woods for the lunch that Brock was making. "Well so far it seems like you five are doing alright," Melody commented.

"I'm just wondering why there weren't more Poke'mon here," Max stated. "So far all we were able to find is a Chikorita and a few Bellsprouts within the last three hours."

Melody giggled. "Well this area is nearly depraved of any Poke'mon; it is only used by Team Rocket to train agents in the field. Just be lucky you were able to find those at all."

"So when will we go into Poke'mon inhabited areas?" Misty asked.

"When the time comes, don't worry. But for now just enjoy what you got," she answered. "There are plans to start creating new cities in the near future, then we will be on the clock twenty-four seven."

"That good, from what I heard on the news our beautiful city is starting to get over crowed."

"That's true, since the scientist can't seem to see expanding the barrier enough anytime soon we have to start branching out," Melody answered.

Then Ash's stomach started to grumble. "Well right now all I want to work on is the meal we are about to have, how much longer till the food is ready, Brock?"

"Not much longer, but I could use a hand," he replied.

"Come on, Max. Let's help, Brock," Ash said.

"Why do I have to help?" Max complained.

Ash had a sinister look on his face and whispered to his youngest teammate. "Because the sooner the food is done the faster we get to eat."

Max took a few seconds to think about it. "Alright, let's go help our cook."

The two boys walked off when May and Misty realized that Melody was looking at them with a strange smile gracing her face. "Y-Yes?" May asked, yet feeling regrets after doing so.

"Oh come on, I fix it so that you two are all alone with him and you have nothing to talk about," Melody declared.

The two girl's faces turned red. "Well we were focusing more on the mission than anything else," Misty replied.

Melody fell back onto the grass. "All of my efforts wasted, what kind of Captain am I?" she whined childishly.

"And we don't like him, in that way," May added. "We are just his... friends."

But after May said that, Misty and her felt a sharp pain in their chest. "Yeah, just... friends," Misty concurred.

Melody sat back up. "If you love birds say so. I still don't believe either one of you, but if you say so. But as you Captain I order you two to get your feelings straightened out, because I don't want to see friendships broken up during my watch because one of you isn't sure."

The two nodded in reply. "Ah come on, is that any way to reply to your higher officer?"

Then the two girls saluted to her. "We understand, Captain."

"That's' better," Melody said.

"Ok, lunch is ready," Brock announced. "Start lining up."

"I don't know about you girls but I'm pretty hungry," Melody said while she stood up and walked towards the line.

The two girl's stomachs started to rumble as well, their faces turned red in embarrassment then followed their Captain.

To Be Continued

What is Melody up to, what is this "mission" of hers and will Misty and May sort through their feelings? Read and review to find out.