Uhhhhh, I don't know if this is ever a good place to pour my heart out, but I got fired. Without cause, without notice, and without any fucking compensation. Needless to say, I'm very pissed off. If the fucking government doesn't respect their own laws, then little people like me are gonna get our asses fed by our employers. Thankfully I've put enough into my unemployment insurance that I've got something to fall back on, but it won't last forever. So happy job hunting to me, and as a present here's another chapter.


"I accept your terms." Brock said. He gulped back the lump forming in his throat and stepped forward.

Jessie mirrored him, raising her own spear and stalking towards him. They circled each other, studying for any gap in their opponent's guard. Jessie lunged, her spear deflected into the ground by Brock's shield. He seized the opportunity, barreling into her in an attempt to get past the reach of her spear. Jessie turned Brock's tackle against him, using his momentum to flip them both. Brock landed in a heap, rolling to a stop. He scrambled to his feet, bracing for Jessie's assault.

She stood there staring at him. She spun her spear in her hand, smirking smugly. Brock shook himself off and charged, intending to catch her off guard. Jessie shot forwards, meeting his charge. She parried his first blow, disarming him with the haft of her spear. His sword went skittering across the floor, disappearing into the wall of Rockets. Jessie pressed the advantage, jabbing at his exposed arm. Brock spun, yanking the spear with him as he went. Jessie stumbled forward and Brock swung his shield, sending Jessie sprawling.

He leapt at her, jabbing down with the stolen spear. She rolled to her side, barely managing to dodge the tip of the spear. Brock kicked at her, connecting with the side of her head. He raised the spear to strike the killing blow. The persian hit him like a truck, hissing and spitting while it clawed and bit at his shoulder. Brock went down, the massive cat tearing at his armour in an attempt to separate his arm from his body. He heard a pop from his right arm, and searing pain when he attempted to move it. Brock abandoned the spear and rolled onto his back. He kneed at the persian's stomach and brought his shield up to get in the way of its claws. Brock scrabbled at his belt, grimacing in pain while he searched for one of his pokeballs.

His graveler appeared in a flash of light. It lifted the Persian off Brock, grabbing the pokemon by its tail. It hissed in pain, curling up and latching on to the graveler's arm. It scrabbled at the rock, claws useless. The graveler turned and pitched the persian into the crowd of Rockets, bowling them over. The hall erupted, both factions charging. Brock's ryhorn charged, clearing a path for the Ceruleans to form up around Brock and Jessie. His graveler rolled, barrelling through the Rocket ranks.

Brock scrambled to his feet, barely able to bring his shield up in time. Jessie rammed the spear into his shield, snapping it in half. She stumbled forward, all her weight thrown into the blow. Brock pulled his shield back and swung a vicious uppercut with the shield that knocked Jessie flat on her back. He descended on her, bringing his shield down on her head. He rained blow after blow, continuing long after Jessie's head was reduced to a bloody pulp. He stopped, gagged then vomited onto Jessie's corpse. He forced himself to his feet, steadied by Daisy who appeared at his side.

"Are you hurt?" She asked.

He shook his head and doubled over, hurling again. "Bitch didn't even scratch me." He grabbed his right arm and forced it back into its socket with a sickening crunch. "It was the damn cat." He tested his arm, rotating it cautiously. He looked up at her with a smile on his face. "Fight to the last man?"

Daisy nodded solemnly. "I'm with you to the end my lord." She held out a hand, helping him stand straight. "Cerulean and Pewter united… A pity we won't see it."

He smiled, resigned to his death. "I think we already have." He said. "And we put up one hell of a fight."


The door burst open. Misty burst in, a pair of bags slung over her shoulder. She slammed the door behind her. She grabbed the chair at the foot of Jay's bed and jammed it under the door handle. "Flip the bed onto its side. Give us something to hide behind!" She ordered.

Jay grabbed the bed frame ad flipped it to its side. Misty grabbed him and forced him behind the bed just as the door exploded inwards, showering the room with splintered wood. Misty tapped the lone ball on her waist, releasing her starmie. The pokemon leapt into action, not needing an order. A wave of psychic energy lashed out, sending whatever opened the door flying across the hallway.

Jay vaulted over the bed, charging the door. A pair of rebels met him, wrestling him to the ground. His pokemon rescued him, dispatching the rebels with a pair of quick kicks to the back of their heads. A machop push if itself out of a hole in the wall, stumbling around dizzily. Misty's starmie floated out of Jay's room and blasted it back into the wall.

Jay pushed himself upright, wearing a lopsided smile. "How'd I do?" He asked, forcing himself to his feet.

"Terrible." Misty stated, walking out of the room. "They breathing?" She asked.

Jay nodded, checking them quickly. "Just knocked out." He said. "What now?" He asked.

Misty grinned and pointed down the hallway. "We run." She said. "I've got us a way out. All we need to do is get to the exit."

Shouts, followed by a loud growl echoed down the hallway. A trio of rebels were running for them, an arcanine racing ahead of them. Jay's growlithe leapt to defend his master, charging the arcanine with reckless abandon. The two dogs tangled in a mess of growls and spouts of flames. Jay's nidorino came to the rescue, ramming the arcanine from the side as Jay's growlithe disengaged.

The arcanine recoiled, pulling itself off nidorino's horn with a howl. Nidorino turned and raised its hind legs. The arcanine turned back to face the nidorino at precisely the wrong moment. Nidorino connected with the arcanine's face with the full force of its hind legs. The arcanine spun in the air, coming to rest at the guards' feet.

One guard paused for a moment, returning the arcanine to its ball.

Jay turned and shouting an order. "Growlithe, set the floor on fire!"

"Are you fucking insane?!" Misty shouted. "You'll kill everyone down here!"

Jay ignored her, still shouting at his growlithe. "Set the goddamn floor on fire!"

Ever the loyal companion, growlithe ground to a halt. It planted its feet and spat a wall of flame that forced the pursuing guards to break off their chase. Growlithe spat a second stream of fire, adding to the inferno before bounding off after its master.

Jay and Misty rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. A wall of shields met them, spears poking out through the holes in the shield wall.

"Here goes nothing." Whispered Misty. She looked at Jay and spat an order at him. "Hold your breath, arms at your sides." She sighed in frustration. "Whatever you do, don't move. Apparently that makes this more dangerous."

Jay complied, not waiting to ask what Misty's plan was. Before the wall of spears could advance, he felt something tug on his shoulder. He fell back and let the darkness swallow him, too terrified to move.


Wave after wave of Rocket troopers broke upon the wall of pokemon. Hordes of men were battered aside, an onix's tail or a rhydon's bulk crushing them. What few men did manage to pass through the gauntlet of death found themselves completely exposed for a raichu or magneton to pick off with their electricity.

That's where Alan found himself. Surrounded by death, not a single good option left. He took one bolt of electricity to his shield and thanked his lucky stars that it hadn't hit his armour. He turned, making the split second decision to wade back into the gauntlet of rocks.

Alan cursed loudly, dodging a rhydon's falling tail. He jammed his sword into a gap between the massive pokemon's scales. It recoiled and spun, turning its back to the horde of Rocket soldiers. Dozens leapt at the opportunity, spears and swords jamming into every gap in the pokemon's scaly hide. It spun, sweeping its tail along the ground. The attacking Rockets were swept away and picked off by bolts of lightning from the mercenaries' ranks.

Alan sheathed his sword and clambered atop the rhydon, forcing his feet into the gaps between scales. He pulled himself up, holding of for dear life as the rhydon swung wildly at the Rockets swarming its feet. He steadied himself, unsheathed his sword and plunged it into the rhydon's eye. The rhydon dropped like its strings had been cut, it's brain skewered on Alan's sword. Alan went flying, losing his sword in the process. He crashed to the ground, rolling out of the rhydon's path.

He forced himself to his feet, cheers meeting his ears. A sword was forced into his hand, replacing his lost weapon. He felt himself forced forwards, and found himself pushed out of the crowd and in front of a raging golem. He shouted a war cry and charged, sword held high.

The golem simply batted him back into the horde, bowling over a line of men. The crowd of Rockets backed off, allowing the golem room to move. It stepped forward and was taken from the side by a force of riders. The Rocket cavalry bowled over the golem, continuing their charge along the wall of pokemon. Pokemon after pokemon fell, downed by lances piercing their thick hides.

The few onix in the formation fell back, running from the devastating cavalry charge. A barrage of electricity arced from the mercenaries' ranks, dissipating against a psychic barrier that sprung up in front of the Rocket cavalry. The cavalry formed up for a second charge and the barrier dropped. The cavalry charged, their numbers cut in half by a second barrage of electricity. The cavalry plunged into the mercenaries ranks, followed quickly by the Rocket soldiers.

Alan forced himself to his feet, his left leg screaming in pain. He retrieved the sword at his side and stalked towards the clashing soldiers.

A charizard landed on the rear of the Rocket's ranks, immediately belching a glut of flames that roasted the men around it alive. It's rider leapt off its back, plunging into the horde of Rocket soldiers.

Alan charged, putting as much weight as he could on his wounded leg. He abandoned his shield, taking his sword with both hands. He leapt at the charizard and brought his sword down, plunging it through the center of the charizard's back and out its chest. Alan felt the charizard's heart beat twice, tearing itself to pieces on his blade.

The charizard turned, wrenching Alan's sword from his grip. It bellowed a challenge at him, bearing its teeth. The charizard stumbled forward and fell, losing its ability to stand as it moaned in agony. Alan jumped on the beast's back and pulled his sword free in a spurt of blood. The charizard moaned and attempted to rise. Alan placed his foot at the base of the charizard's neck and raised his sword. He stabbed the beast at the base of its skull, skewering the brain. The charizard thrashed once and laid still, dying under Alan's feet.

The charizard's rider turned, hearing his pokemon's death cry. He choked back a sob and charged, bellowing madly. He lowered his shoulder, driving himself into Alan's side. The Rocket and the mercenary went down in a tangle of limbs, Alan flailing wildly in an attempt to right himself. The mercenary landed on top of him, hands finding their way around Alan's throat.

Alan scratched at the man's face, digging his fingers into the mercenary's eye sockets. He screamed as Alan dug his fingers into his eyes and gouged them out. Hot blood poured out, drenching Alan in the crimson liquid. The mercenary recoiled, throwing himself back while screaming in pain. It was Alan's turn to leap on top of the mercenary. He pulled the mercenary's knife free from its sheath on his belt and plunged it into the mercenary's throat. The mercenary choked on his own blade, blood pouring down his throat. Alan pulled the knife free, covering himself in a new layer of blood in the process. He steadied the mercenary's head and rammed the knife through his temple.

The mercenary dropped like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Alan dropped him, releasing the knife and retrieving the man's sword. A devastating roar shook the very earth beneath his feet. He turned the the river, and the beast rising from the water. The gyarados roared again, vibrating Alan's eardrums. He looked up at the beast and ran, loyalty forgotten in the face of certain death.


"FORM UP, YOU BASTARDS!" Bellowed Lord Galbert. "Open the damn gates." He swung himself of a dragonair that one of his aides released from a ball.

He ordered. The gates swung open, allowing the ranks of Cerulean soldiers to file out. Lord Galbert filed out last, his dragonair proudly bearing his massive weight. A retinue of bodyguards followed, each of them riding a pokemon of their own.

One of his bodyguards pointed at the tree line. "I see the rebels!" He shouted. "They're charging!"

Hundreds of men charged out of the trees, covering the distance between the two armies in shocking time. Dozens of pokemon broke ahead of the main body, carving a path deep into the main body of the Rocket army. The main force of the rebels made contact with the bracing Rocket troops and erupted into a hellish pit of flying swords and spears.

Lord Galbert grimaced, reluctantly ordering a charge. The front of his force charged, crossing the bridge as quickly as they could. Galbert's own men hit the Rocket army as its attention turned to the rebels. Their attention shifted again, now beset on three sides by attacking armies.

The fighting grew closer, and Lord Galbert steeled himself. He drew his sword, thinking of nothing but the coming battle. Then his forces hit the Rockets. His dragonair launched itself into the air, coming down behind the Rocket shield wall. He raised his sword and roared a war cry, ready to tear apart any Rocket who dared face him.


Two weeks later

Jay popped out of a shadow, gasping for air. He stumbled to his knees, coughing up a viscous black liquid. Misty appeared out of the same shadow. She bent over, vomiting the remains of her last meal into the dirt.

"Jay?" She asked. He didn't answer, too busy retching violently. "Fuck…" She paused. "You ok?"

"What the fuck was that?" He answered, ignoring her question.

She shrugged, some colour returning to her face. "I think that was our way out." She said. "I don't fucking know. Ask the damn pokemon."

Jay froze, only now noticing the shifting black shape in the shadow. Two bright yellow eyes stared back at him, studying his eyes. The eyes closed, and the pokemon melted into the shadows, no longer content to allow itself to remain visible.

Jay looked up at Misty cautiously. "What was that?" He asked.

She shrugged. "Beats me." She said. "It wanted to help though, so it can't be all that bad."

Jay shook his head. "Misty, that looked like an umbreon."

"What are those?" She asked. "Please tell me something good."

Jay shuddered, remembering the professor's lessons. "They're creepy, vindictive, psychotic pranksters from hell."

"You know it can talk, right?" She asked. "It probably heard you."

He threw his arms up in the air and sighed in frustration. "Great." He said. "And I just insulted it." He stood up shakily, knees not yet ready to bear his weight. "Come on, we've gotta get ourselves as far away from here as possible. I don't want to be anywhere near an umbreon when night hits."


Have to get away.

You ran. You got away. What's the plan now? It's been two weeks, get your act together.

So many teeth. So many dead.

You could've taken it. You're tough as shit. You're a fucking badass, get your fucking act together.

Smelled like death.

So did you. You killed a charizard… And a rhydon. And the charizard's rider too for that matter. Don't forget the boy back in Saffron, the rebel prisoners, or Alicia. You kill people all the time.

I want to live. I can't go back.

You're right about that. They'll kill you for running. So get your act together.

Not if I disappear.

Coward.

I'm no coward.

You ran.

Any sane person would have. It was a fucking gyarados for Mew's sake.

You're a Rocket. A tough as shit, no shits given, badass motherfucker. And you ran away like a little girl.

I'm a Rocket. I'm a tough as shit, badass motherfucker.

Not anymore you aren't.

So where should I go?

Where do you think, idiot? The one place that Team Rocket will never go.

Lavender Town. But there's a mountain range in the way.

Better start hoofing it then. Not like any of these cattle will survive the trip.

Leave them behind? But they're like me. They're scared.

Well unless you can scrounge up enough food to feed a few dozen men and mon, then they ain't coming.

We aren't leaving them. They'll die too if they stay. They're coming.

Your funeral.

Yours too.

Well then, you've got a ton to do. Better get started.

One of the deserters shifted, rousing Alan from his mental conversation. Alan stood up, taking stock of their meagre group. Thirty-two men were scattered around a series of dying campfires. He opened his bag, counting the supplies he'd stolen off the farms during his forced march east. Three small canisters of water, one half empty, and a small sack of grain greeted him. He sighed in frustration and stood up.

"Everyone up!" He shouted, impersonating his old drill sergeant as best as he could. A few blank stares met his, nobody spared the effort to move. He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a breath. "I SAID UP! ON YOUR FEET SOLDIERS, OR YOU WILL BE LEFT BEHIND!" He bellowed.

Alan's threat got results, bringing well over half the deserters to their feet. He fumed silently, glaring daggers at the deserters that hadn't gotten to their feet. "I WILL NOT REPEAT MYSELF!" He bellowed, throat burning from the stress. "ON YOUR FUCKING FEET!"

The last of the deserters stood up, no longer interested in defying Alan. "POOL YOUR SUPPLIES!" He shouted. "I WANT A FULL COUNT BEFORE THE SUN RISES." Nobody moved, prompting another shout from Alan. "MOVE IT ROCKETS!"

Nobody moved, save for one man. He sat back down, turning his back on Alan. The furious former Rocket stormed over to the sitting man. "Did I tell you to sit?" Alan asked, his voice icy calm.

"Did I say I wou…"

Alan's boot silenced him, knocking the man out cold. He turned to the crowd of soldiers behind him and raised an eyebrow. "Didn't I give you something to do?"

The crowd burst into movement, tearing their packs apart to appease their violent saviour.

You enjoyed that.

So?

You're starting to sound like me.

These people don't need me, they need you. They need motivation, not compassion.

I know. Sometimes a kick in the nads does wonders for a man's motives.

And if it doesn't?

Well his face does make a good target too.

You're a smug bastard, you know that?

And you're talking to yourself.

I guess we're both crazy then.

Speak for yourself kid, I'm perfectly sane. You're the one having an argument with his brain.


So I found a new job. Took me under a week too. I got fucking lucky. The rant was important to me though, so I felt like it should stay. I hate to say it, but with how my dismissal went at my previous job I don't know if I'll be keeping my current one. I'll keep you posted, but right now things are a little precarious to say the least. But hey, at least I'll make rent. Who needs groceries anyway?

EDIT: I'm looking for 2 beta readers. One to bounce my ideas off, and one to spellcheck one last time before I post the chapter. Leave a review or drop me a pm if you're interested.

EDIT AGAIN: I redid my profile page. Check it out and vote on the pole if you havent already.