South Pallet Town, 10:24 PM

Dirk took a stick of gum from his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuck it in his mouth. He crumpled up the foil with his fingers and flicked it away into the light breeze. Dirk had good vision--he could see the foil bounce along the grass for a good fifteen feet before it was swallowed by the darkness. He stood still, chewing his gum thoughtfully until his headset crackled at him.

"Sub-Executive."

"I hear you," Dirk replied.

"This is R-13. I think I've spotted someone suspicious. Someone or something."

Dirk snorted. "Then investigate it, you twit. Report back once you've found out what it is."

"Yes, sir."

Professor Oak's Laboratory, 10:31 PM

Daisy Oak was worried about her grandfather.

She worried about many things, actually; presently, her grandfather was just at the top of the list. Not that she showed it. She was good at keeping a strong face, hiding problems behind her pleasant features. Over the years, however, her grandfather had gotten infuriatingly good at reading her emotions, whether she tried to hide them from him or not.

"You're worried about me," he said after turning from his computer to look at her.

"Yes, I am," she said. "And you should know why."

Oak raised his eyebrows. "You've been reading my articles again, haven't you?"

"Of course. I read all of them."

"Even so," Oak said. "I cannot stand idly by as our world decays and collapses around itself. The world will know my opinion; if I am targeted by Team Rocket because it, so be it."

"That's very selfish, grandfather."

"Perhaps." Casting her another glance, he decided to shift tactics. "But you really shouldn't concern yourself. What would Team Rocket want with me, anyway? Half of Kanto thinks I'm senile, and the other half think I'm dead. Shouldn't matter much what I say now, hm?"

Daisy's gaze fell to the floor. "I hope you're right."

Oak slowly stroked his chin, pondering. "You haven't been well lately, have you?"

"How do you mean?"

"I think you may have a little… cabin fever."

Daisy blinked. "What?"

"Cabin fever," Oak repeated. "You're a beautiful nineteen-year-old girl, but you spend your days either with me or alone at home, doing experiments I'm much too old to do or whoever-else-knows-what. I think you should move out--Celadon or Saffron or somewhere. Get out of here. Find a nice young man. Live your life."

Daisy blushed. "Grandpa, I don't want--"

Oak exhaled loudly. "That boy…"

Daisy tilted her head slightly. "What boy?"

"He really did it for you, didn't he?" Oak mused. "How you can hold a crush for eight years--"

"Grandpa!" Daisy shouted, her blush deepening. "You don't…"

"I don't what?" Oak asked, grinning.

Daisy said nothing.

"It's nothing to be ashamed about, you know," Okay said. "I couldn't personally think of a better candidate."

"Can we please change the subject?"

"Certainly. How about your future occupation once you move out of here? Let's talk about that."

"I have no plans to move anywhere," Daisy said. "And there's no way you're convincing me otherwise, so you may as well stop--"

A sharp bang issuing from the front of Oak's laboratory cut Daisy off; both she and her grandfather froze. Then, before a second had passed, the electricity failed, leaving them in a vat of darkness.

North Pallet Town, 10:25 PM

On the other side of town, the Rocket grunt R-13 slid his radio back inside his pocket. With the hurl of a Pokéball he called forth his Machop. The Pokémon leaped from the ball and fell in place at its master's side. Feeling slightly more secure, R-13 crept forward toward the edge of the woods. Though he could no longer see the figure that had caught his eye, he had a vague idea where it might be--if it had been there at all.

As he neared the trees, he was almost certain that his mind had been deceiving him; the woods, dark and foreboding, did not look inviting. He considered heading back, but the thought of Sub-Executive Dirk discovering his cowardice kept him at the edge of the trees. Finally he steeled himself and dove into the woods, Machop at his heels.

R-13 couldn't see much of anything as he stumbled around in the trees. It had been a bad idea, really. Everything was too dark--how could he possibly find some mysterious figure dressed in black? He was on the verge of turning back, ready to call in that he couldn't find anything when a bright beam of light suddenly seared his vision--not just light, he realized, but a beam of energy. With an epiphany, R-13 recognized it as a Psybeam attack--a Psybeam attack that slammed directly into his Machop, knocking it cold.

He was reaching for his second Pokéball--the one that held his Koffing--when a gripping psychic energy held him in place, paralyzing his entire body. A few feet in front of him an Espeon sprang lithely into view. The last thing R-13 saw were its glowing eyes, locked directly with his.

South Pallet Town, 10:32 PM

Dirk spat out his gum. He reached into his pocket for another piece, only to realize that he was fresh out. Grinding his teeth in annoyance, he tapped the side of his headset. If those buffoons weren't ready by now, Dirk thought, God save them.

"Are we green?" Dirk asked.

"Squad 1 green, sir. Preparations complete. We're ready to go."

"Squad 2 is missing a man, sir. R-13."

Dirk licked his lips, tapping again at his headset. "R-13, what's your status?"

"Just rejoining my squad, sir," R-13 replied.

"What of the suspicious… thing?"

"Just a wild Rattata, sir."

"Good." Anther tap. "Squad 2, report."

"Green now, sir. Preparations complete. We're ready."

"Good," Dirk said. "Move out."

Dirk smiled. The execution was simple--a simple execution for a simple mission. Regardless of its importance, which Blue had stressed, silencing a man as old and feeble as Professor Oak was no hard task. And that was all it was. Oak's aids had departed at ten, leaving just the professor alone with his granddaughter. Neither were trainers, and neither were physical threats. Like shooting fish in a barrel… or catching a Pidgey with an Ultra Ball, which seemed vaguely more appropriate.

There were two squads with six men each--not including Dirk himself, who would lead Squad 1. It was his squad's responsibility to break into the lab, then capture Oak and his granddaughter. Dirk wasn't sure what he was going to do with Oak, but he knew he was keeping the granddaughter--Dirk had heard somewhere that she was rather nice on the eyes. As a seasoned criminal, he knew that it wasn't something you needed to waste.

Dirk shook his head. Squad 2, meanwhile, was to surround the lab. In case by some miracle either the girl or the grandpa escaped Squad 1, Squad 2 would stop them before they got too far. It was simple, Dirk knew, but all that was needed. Oak's laboratory was very isolated, so the town itself would not be disturbed. Before anyone knew that Oak and his granddaughter were gone, a fake story would already have been printed in the papers, describing how the pair had moved to the Johto Region or something.

At that moment, Dirk's squad formed around him. Together they swept down upon the lab, slinking along the shadows. Dirk spotted Squad 2 as he approached, and the Rockets from both squads took their positions. Dirk joined two other grunts at the main entrance and signaled for the power to be cut. He then nodded to the two, who together slammed through the door, bursting it open on the first try. The lights flickered out just as Squad 1 poured into the building.

Oak and his granddaughter were easy to find; it looked as though they hadn't moved at all since they had infiltrated the building.

"Please, Daisy, you must hide!" Oak was shouting at his granddaughter.

Daisy wasn't budging. "No, grandpa, I'm not going to leave you alone with them!"

"Daisy!" Oak tried again. "Now! Listen to me, you have to--"

"Evening, governor," Dirk cut in, stepping up toward the pair. He was flanked by the six other Rockets.

Daisy turned on him. "You're cowards, all of you! Haven't you done enough to this world already? Leave my grandfather alone!"

"That's enough!" Oak said. "You've come here for me, yes? I'll go with you quietly, but please leave my granddaughter out of this. She's done nothing wrong."

"Sorry, Prof, no can do," Dirk replied. "I wouldn't say you're in much of a position to make any deals." His lips curled into a smug smile, and he faced Daisy. "Girl, have you--"

"Daisy Oak. I have a name."

The smile grew. "Of course you do, Daisy, how rude of me not to ask. I'm Sub-Executive Dirk, by the way. Pleased to meet you."

"I know who you are. You've terrorized enough people around these parts."

"I'm honored," Dirk said. "Truly honored. But I digress, yes? I was going to ask you: what right does your grandfather have to write articles criticizing Team Rocket?"

"He has every right. People are allowed to speak their minds!"

Dirk unclipped a Pokéball from his belt. "Are they?" he asked. He began to lightly toss and catch the Pokéball several times in succession, allowing it to get about a foot of air before falling neatly down into his palm.

"Yes," Daisy replied, wearily eyeing the Pokéball. "Of… of course."

With a sharp slap, Dirk snatched the ball from the air before it finished its downward course. "This world is ours. Team Rocket's. We control it, because we took it from your lot fair and square. We're the more powerful--the elite--so it's only natural. As the elite, the rulers, the puppeteers, your silly 'rights' mean nothing to us; they only extend so far as your ability to protect them."

"Please excuse me," a voice came, echoing strongly off the walls, "but I believe basic human rights are a little beyond your jurisdiction."

The voice was not Daisy's, nor was it Oak's. The two stood, mouths agape, just as baffled as Dirk and his squad of Rockets, who wore similar expressions.

"You!" Dirk growled, pointing at Oak. "Tell me what's going on!"

Oak shrugged. "I couldn't say. Nothing like this has ever happened in my lab before."

Dirk looked frantically about, fingers clenched tightly around his Pokéball. "You! With the voice! Show yourself!"

"As you wish."

An opening in the ceiling slid away, and out dropped the black, theatrically-dressed form of Scarlet. She landed on all fours, her cape whipping to the ground as she straightened, standing tall. She turned to face Dirk, who was slowly registering her appearance. Clipped to the ceiling, something had been left behind… a small device of sorts. But at present, the device did not pique Dirk's interest.

"What is this?" he shouted. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Presently," she replied, "a small spark in the night--one soon to be a roaring flame." She removed her hat and bowed. "Scarlet is my name."

Dirk shook his head. "You've got to kidding me. Scarlet? Truly? This is some sort of joke, right? Right? You some sort of philosopher/freedom fighter that dresses like a freak?"

"No. I am a Trainer."

"Oh, really?"

Scarlet unclipped a Pokéball, holding it in front of her. "That's right."

Dirk laughed. "Wow… yes, whatever you want. If this battle last more than two minutes I ought to be demoted."

"Shall we assist you, sir?" one of the grunts asked.

Dirk dismissed the thought with a wave. "No, no. If she somehow manages to beat me, though, feel free take her down with a combined attack. Oh, but make sure Oak and the girl don't disappear."

"Yes, sir."

"Then let's not waste any more time, hm?" Dirk said, hurling his Pokéball. "Primape, let's thrash us a clown!"

Scarlet threw her own ball. "Blastoise--knock the words right out of this deadbeat."

The two Pokémon leaped out from their balls and faced each other.

Dirk blinked. "Blastoise?"

"Hydro Pump."

Blastoise took aim and fired, the power of its cannons slowly sliding the Pokémon backwards. A touch unprepared, Primate barely dodged the attack, leaping up and over the thick aquatic jet.

"Follow it," Scarlet said.

Blastoise leaned back, aiming its canons upwards. Unable to take the necessary evasive maneuvers while airborne, Primape took the attack directly. The force of the water rocketed it upward, slamming it against the ceiling. The Hydro Pump held Primape in place, powerful enough to keep the Pokémon wedged and completely immobile.

"It might not be breathing," Scarlet said. "You should probably return it."

"Like hell!" Dirk spat. "Primape, fight on!!"

Scarlet sighed. "Let it fall, Blastoise. Then… Skull Bash."

As the jets of water stopped, Primate--soaked and disoriented--began to fall. With a grunt, Blastoise lowered its body slightly, then sprang up with surprising speed. Primape was barely conscious when Blastoise rammed its skull into its side. Primape was knocked upward again, bouncing once off the ceiling before tumbling to the floor. Now it was clearly unconscious.

Dirk returned Primape to its ball, now wondering with a slight prickle of worry just who exactly he was dealing with. Next he called forth Hypno.

"Hypnosis!" Dirk ordered, determined to get the first move this time.

"Withdraw."

As Hypno began to swing its pendulum, but Blastoise drew into its shell, voiding the attack.

"Tackle it, Blastoise."

Two jets of water shot from the rear of Blastoise's shell, propelling it forward at a tremendous speed--faster than both Dirk and his Pokémon thought possible. Blastoise's shell made meaty contact with Hypno, sending it reeling to the floor.

"Bite."

Blastoise's launched again toward Hypno, its head popping back out of its shell. Hypno attempted to ward off the advancing Blastoise with its arm, but the water Pokémon simply sank its teeth into the first thing it saw. Mouth around Hypno's arm, Blastoise spun on its feet, then released; Hypno flew across the lab, landing in a heap a few feet in front of Daisy.

"Wow, Blastoise," Scarlet said. "That was creative."

Dirk simply gawked.

"Who's next?" Scarlet asked.

"Screw this!" Dirk shouted. "All right, you grunts, run this clown to the ground!"

"Already?" Scarlet said. As the grunts began tossing their Pokéballs, she addressed Oak and Daisy. "If you want to escape, stay close to me."

Then, with the army of Rocket Pokémon bearing down on her, Scarlet raised an arm and snapped her fingers.