Chapter 7

"If it isn't the new champion… how are you today?" A blonde haired girl wearing a pink beret, long white socks and a team rocket uniform moves forth from the blockade of Rocket members.

"Domino…" Ash says seriously and in contempt. "It's been a long time." Domino chuckles and pulls a black tulip from her sleeve.

"It seems you are having quite a party here… sorry we had to crash it but we are looking for something." Domino smirks. "… and we aren't leaving until we get what we came for!"

"What ever you're after you can forget it!" Ash yells angrily. "Pikachu!" Pikachu hops to the ground from Ash's shoulder and tenses up. "Thunder…"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you…" Domino teasingly says as she waves her finger at Ash. "Look at your situation here." Ash starts to look around and a grim expression appears on his face. "That's right. You're surrounded. If you resist we'll kill everyone." Domino smiles an evil smile.

"Why you!" Ash mutters angrily.

"Ash stop!" Misty moves over to Ash and whispers to him. "We can't do anything right now."

"She's right… you can't do anything at all." Domino smirks. "Seize them!" The Team Rocket members swarm around the crowd of people and Pokémon; they command everyone to sit down in a group. "Alright now…" Domino points at two of her underlings. "You two; go find the data we are looking for!" The two grunts run into the laboratory. Gary, Seth, and Goliath's face become pale.

"Master… you don't think they mean…" Gary says like the wind had been knocked out of him.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Goliath responds. "We've got to stop them somehow."

"Stop them from what? What are they looking for?" Tracey whispers to Seth.

"If they are looking for what we think they are… they may find everything out about…" Seth doesn't finish his sentence. Seth turns to Goliath. "What should we do Master?"

"Right now… wait." Seth and Gary nod.

The Team Rocket members continue to hold them hostage for several more hours. All this time, the grunts sent to retrieve the piece of data have been looking frantically. Their leader, Domino, is getting testy and impatient. By the time she finally gets fed up with waiting, the sun has fallen and darkness floods the field.

"Where are those morons?" Domino yells angrily putting her hands on her hips with a pouting look on her face. "How hard can it be to find one piece of information?" Suddenly, the doors to the lab open and the two grunts come running out; they reach Domino and she starts to yell. "What took you guys so long? How the hell are we supposed to perform an operation with idiots like you taking for ever to do a simple task?"

"B… But ma'am! The data was protected by a multitude of passwords and security devices!" One of the grunts says with fear in his voice and on his face.

"Do you think I give a damn? Now… get the truck and let's get out of here… Or do I need to teach you how to turn it on?"

"N…No ma'am." The two grunts run off towards the slope of the hill.

"We've got to do something!" Gary whispers frantically. "They've got it!"

"Right." Goliath responds. "Everyone… I need your attention quick." Ash and the others all turn their ear towards Goliath; they try not to look suspicious. "Ash, can your Pikachu use Flash?" Ash nods. "Alright, everyone will close their eyes for the moment of the flash then we will quickly release our Pokémon and take out the guards." Everyone nods and shuts their eyes.

"Pikachu, Flash." Ash whispers to his Pokémon. Pikachu tenses up and releases a massive light from its cheeks; the people, Pokémon, and Team Rocket members all shield their eyes and groan in pain.

"Now!" Goliath yells; he, May, Misty, Dawn, Gary, Brock, Tracey, and Max throw their Pokéballs into the air. A Blaziken, Steelix, Wobbuffet, Marshstomp, Azumarill, Starmie, Blastoise, and Empoleon appear in flashes of bright white light.

"Pikachu, let's do this!" Ash yells and hops up. "Thunderbolt!"

"Blaze Kick!" May screams.

"Bubblebeam!" Dawn yells.

"Hydropump!" Tracey yells.

"Ice Beam!" Gary yells.

"Mud Shot!" Max screams.

"Rock Throw!" Brock yells. The Team Rocket members come to and immediately cock their guns and aim them towards the crowd.

"Wobbuffet, Counter!" Goliath yells. Flashes from firing guns blind the people, streaks of every color blast out from the crowd because of the Pokémon attacks. There are many explosions, bullet shots, screams, and cries of pain. However, when the smoke from the commotion finally clears, only the Team Rocket members are down. "Looks like Counter worked. Seth, get that data!" Seth jumps out of the crowd and rushes in the direction of the grunts.

"Oh no you don't!" Domino says as she jumps in the way of Seth. She takes two Pokéballs from her belt and throws them in the air. A Crobat and Raticate appear in flashes of light.

"Alright then… looks like this'll be our first battle outside of our home town buddy!" Seth grabs a Pokéball from his belt. "Come on out, Absol!" In a flash of light, an Absol appears in front of Seth. "This might not be a fair fight but I'll bet we can handle it!"

"Oh it'll be fair! I'll help you out!" Dawn yells confidently as she runs up from behind him; she smiles at Seth and Seth nods. "Alright, Empoleon Ice Beam on Crobat!"

"Absol, use Razorwind on Raticate!" Seth yells. Empoleon opens its mouth and a small light blue orb appears; three bolts of light blue light fly out of the orb towards Crobat. Crobat is hit and one of its wings freezes at the tip. Absol hurls the scythe on its head towards the Raticate; a rush of white luminescent wind rushes out from the scythe and hits Raticate hard.

"Little brats… Raticate use Hyperfang on Absol. Crobat, use Supersonic!" Domino yells angrily. Raticate lunges towards Absol and opens its mouth wide. Absol jumps out of the way of Raticate as it clamps its teeth hard. Crobat lets out an ear piercing screech causing Absol and Empoleon to wince at the sound.

"Absol, use Hyper Beam on Crobat!" Seth screams while clutching his ears. Absol opens its mouth and a large yellow beam streaks towards Crobat. Crobat tries to get away but cannot because of the ice on its wing making it move to slow. Crobat is hit directly in the face and is knocked backwards on to the ground, completely unconscious.

"Empoleon, use Body Slam on Raticate." Dawn yells. Empoleon jumps in the air above Raticate and slams down on Raticate. Empoleon gets up and is completely unconscious.

"Yeah! Nice job Absol!" Seth yells excitedly.

"You too Empoleon!" Dawn screeches happily. Seth and Dawn look in each other's direction and smile.

"Not so fast you stupid assholes." Domino angrily grits her teeth. She is holding a hand gun and pointing it in Seth's direction. "Don't move, or I'll kill you right here." Seth and Dawn freeze. Absol and Empoleon tense up but are completely motionless. "I will not fail. Team Rocket, get your asses moving and stop the hostages!" The rest of the Team Rocket members grab their guns and snap out of their surprise; they hold the guns up to everyone. "Now… I think I'll kill one of you just for fun." Domino says starting to laugh maniacally. She moves over in between the crowd and the group of battling Pokémon. "How about you?" She points the gun at Gary's head. Gary does not move and his expression of focus does not change. "What? No response? No cry for help?"

"Stop this!" Ash blurts out. Domino turns to him.

"Ahhh… I see. You want to protect your friends." She laughs. "That is so heroic." She says teasingly. "Maybe I'll just kill you." She points the gun at Ash from a few meters away and begins to slowly pull the trigger. Ash's face starts to turn into a horrified expression.

"No!" Gary yells as he jumps in front of Ash…

The sound of the gun shot echoes through out the entire area in the dead of night.