A/N hi guys. Welcome to a new chapter in this story. I re read my old version of this and I do prefer this one. I hope you do too.
Chapter 8
Ash's POV
When I got upstairs I put the key into the lock and walked into the room. It was very impressive. Lance had really outdone himself. I sat down on the sofa in front of the TV. Paul sat next to me.
"So Paul, how is the Sinnoh branch going?" I asked my friend.
"Good, team Shadow are still yet to make a big impact on Sinnoh like they have on Unova and Hoen. We have pretty much a free reign in Sinnoh as the police are still picking up the remnants of team Galactic." Paul explained.
There was a short silence between us as we remembered how we had met after I joined team rocket.
Flashback
My father had sent me in to help out a team that had infiltrated one of the final remaining team Galactic bases. This was where all of their scientists were hiding out. My father had intelligence suggesting that a team of individuals had entered the base, presumably to take it down considering how they were armed.
I had been keeping surveillance on it myself for the last couple of hours. No-one went in, no-one went out.
I shrugged. I brought out Hypno. It was a shame that the trio had not come with me. They were in the middle of elites training at the moment and were unable to help me. Hypno teleported me to right outside the entrance of the base. I thought about stealth and then thought that it would be good training.
I brought out Gengar and he blew the door down with focus blast. The unfortunate grunts who were guarding behind the door were crushed to death. I walked through the corridors of the base with Gengar, Crobat, Hypno, Raticate, Marowak and Dragonaire out. We fought our way through. Every single Pokémon that we came across was either knocked out or chased off. When we reached the one room that I had not checked yet in the entire facility I returned them all bar Dragonaire. He could do with the experience.
I kicked down the door and there were four scientists gathered round someone. That someone was strapped to a bed in the middle of the room. The scientists turned to face me. The one closest to the door was hit by a dragon pulse. The next one was punched in the face. The third and fourth were wrapped in a tight embrace by my serpentine Pokémon and the last was hit by an aura sphere. I went over to the man strapped to the bed and was shocked to find Paul, with burn marks all over him out cold.
End of flashback.
I then brought him back to team rocket. When he awoke he revealed that he along with some friends tried to destroy the base. His friends turned out to be team Galactic operatives. He was captured and they tried to force him to join up.
When he saw me in a team Rocket uniform he was curious and with my explanation he joined up. It took him only a bit longer than me to pass all of the tests required. He took his elites exam about a year ago and was posted by my father at my suggestion to start a Team Rocket branch in Sinnoh.
I switched on the TV and just as I was flicking through the channels the room phone rang. I sighed and got up. I picked up the phone.
"Red Satoshi?"
"Yes."
"My name is Scott and you are required in the press room along with the other trainers recommended by the Champions. You can bring a companion with you and will need to be ready for an interview." Scott then hung up.
"Great," I yelled exasperated. "I am needed in an interview."
James pocked his head round the corner, "Do you want me to come with you?"
"Yeah that would be great. Thanks James."
It took about half an hour to get there. When I arrived I was swamped by reporters.
As soon as he saw me Lance with the help of James brought me into another room to speak privately.
As the light flickered on Lance turned to me. "It is good that you got here early. I do however have some news for you. The other three trainers that were suggested by champions are apparently incredibly powerful."
I rolled my eyes, "That goes without saying, otherwise they would not have been suggested."
Lance shook his head, "The one that Wallace suggested is said to have beaten him in a battle."
I sighed, "I assume that the ones put forward by Alder and Cynthia are also very powerful."
Lance nodded, "They are all in fact cousins."
That caught me off guard, "Do you think that they have anything to do with team Shadow?" I asked.
Lance shrugged his shoulders and said, "I do not know. I just thought that I should warn you that they have all been sighted as favourites and practically scoffed at your victory at the indigo Plateau."
I shrugged, "I did not use any of my six strongest Pokémon."
Lance smiled. "You will do well in this competition Red, but do not let that get in the way of your real purpose here." I nodded.
There was an announcement from outside and they called for the four trainers to come up to the interview table.
When we were all sat down Scott announced us all, "Firstly we have the trainer who took the indigo plateau by storm and is Lances Sponsored trainer, Red Satoshi." I smiled and raised my hand. "Next we have Dilan Taguchi the immovable object. He is sponsored by Wallace" He was a huge six foot plus man with short, brown hair. He was built like a Golem and wore a simple training top and trackies. "Next we have Ming Taguchi the ice cold professional, sponsored by Cynthia" She had pitch black hair and was skinny but not scrawny. She was wearing a black punk-like outfit. "Finally we have Stu Taguchi, the lightning fast competitor. The sponsored trainer of Alder." He was average height man with blond hair. The only abnormal thing about him was his Mohican.
Scott then went on to ask all four of us how we had met the champions and about how we had impressed them.
By the end of it I was tired, I was however not unaware of my surroundings. No matter how many times a journalist tried to creep up on me I would always take my newly acquired food elsewhere. James had returned on my request at the beginning of the interview. I wanted to keep an eye on my competitors.
A/N this was a rather short chapter. It was mainly to introduce the other Champions entries. I also put some Paul and Ash backstory into it. I like Paul's character and like him as a good guy. Especially when Ash himself, is not the complete moral compass like in the Anime.
Thank for reading the chapter, the next one will be up soon
HCS signing off.