A/N: Thank you, and welcome back! I'd like to make a quick note that, on account of a slight change in plans in this book, a conversation in Another Road Repaved - Contemplation Chapter 4; Observations; has been slightly modified, in regards to the Viridian City Gym Leader. Sorry for the inconvenience!

"Please leave… all of you! Don't make me call security!"

"Hah! Security…? Security's already been dealt with. Just sit pretty and shut up, if you know what's good for you."

"Is this all it took to take over? Really? All that preparation's feeling like a real waste, right about now."

"This can't be happening…! Oh, why did I have to come into work today!?"

"We're really here… Oh, I hope we don't screw this up. I'm feeling queasy."

"Shut up, James! We were trusted with an important role. The cops won't see the inside of this building, if it's the last thing we do."

"It's the least we can do, for da boss!"

"See to it that no one interferes with my meeting. Operation Augmented Rocket will not fail."

"S-stay away from the President! I won't let you near his office!"

"Aha ha… I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter."

Several — no, dozens of voices echoed in and out, filling a mind that, at the moment, was meant to be empty and calm. Uncertainty leaking in. Fear and terror crashing like a tidal wave. Malice and ill plots enrapturing it all in a storm of negative feelings that hammered at the skull of an unwilling, pure-hearted vessel.

A pure heart that felt compelled with every fiber of her being to beat those putrid intrusions to a pulp, until they were no more. An impulse that jumped into her mind, whenever such malice and mayhem reared its head.

~Enough! Shut up!~ Rosemary, a spunky young Riolu who'd been hatched by Ash, lunged off of Dawn's lap, and onto the floor. Clutching her head with both of her paws, she looked about for the source of her ire. ~Where are you!?~

"Rosa!? What's gotten into you?" Dawn frowned, sitting up with a brush in her hand that she'd been running across the Riolu's baby blue fur. Moments ago, she'd been grooming her self-proclaimed daughter, in the lobby of Saffron City's Pokémon Center. She and Ash had returned to Kanto's central city for an upcoming Pokémon Contest, several days away. But, now, that was the last thing on her mind.

Ash dropped the trainer magazine he'd held, crouching beside the Emanation Pokémon. A worried frown etched onto his features. "C'mon, girl. Tell us what's up!"

"Pika, Chupika!" Pikachu dashed down to support her upright.

"Pol, Empol!"

~Bad vibes. Really, really bad vibes.~ Rosa shook her head. She was feeling crowded. Suffocated. If not by the negativity filling her mind, then her loved ones crouched around her, voicing their concerns. ~Gotta crush 'em.~ She leapt over Pikachu and sprinted towards the sliding doors to the Pokémon Center. She'd find these perpetrators, and—

"Rosa!"

She heard Ash's voice call out, and froze. Her very own trainer and parent, somehow, brought a moment of clarity and rationality with his voice. It was enough for her to reconsider her actions, and push the scheming and fretting to the back of her mind.

"You jumped right into the thick of it without thinking it through. That was dangerous! You were supposed to wait for my signal."

"It's always a good deed to strike against the evil, selfish, and rotten. But if you don't observe the right opportunity, it can backfire in quite the ugly way. Do you understand that?"

"This is the price you pay for your arrogance. You should have heeded the words of the referee instead of speaking over him! In your inexperience, you have sullied the Fuschia Gym's good name!"

"...I. Apologize."

"You should heed those wiser than you, if you want to be trusted to lead the clan."

Ash's scolding. Bertha's lecturing. The shame and shortcomings she witnessed firsthand, when Janine's haste and ego blinded her. Acting on your own could be dangerous.

~...Sorry.~ Rosa walked back towards Ash, and the rest of the group, bowing her head. ~I almost got carried away again. I could've put us in deep trouble, if I didn't stop, right?~

Ash, for his part, smiled fondly, petting the top of her head. He couldn't deny the pride he felt, even if it was ultimately trumped by concern. "Maybe. I couldn't tell you. But you did good by stopping and showing some self-control!" More than he did, sometimes, but he'd leave that out.

"Is there a problem!?" Nurse Joy scolded from behind the counter. "If there's something wrong with your Riolu, you should bring her over for an examination."

In addition to the Nurse's chastising, a small number of trainers were giving the group looks ranging from concern to bewilderment. It was more attention they needed or wanted, Ash quickly realized.

"Oh, no! She's okay, Nurse Joy!" The trainer waved his hands, trying to placate the Nurse's worries. The last thing they needed was her on their case about… whatever this was.

The Nurse hardly looked satisfied, but she did relent with a huff. "Well, alright. But do let me know if anything else goes amiss."

"Will do," Ash promised, and turned his attention back to his Pokémon, now speaking in a hushed whisper. "Now, what's wrong? Whenever you act like this, it means something rotten is happening nearby. Can you tell us anything about it?"

"And maybe keep it to just us," Dawn suggested quietly, flicking her eyes towards their audience. Maybe half of them had gone back to minding their business, but there was no need to cause a panic.

Rosa nodded, still holding her head. ~...There's some kinda break-in, nearby. Some rotten scheme! People who were afraid… rotten bad guys… I think I heard Jessie, James, and Meowth.~ Even if she'd only seen the three a handful of times, they were drilled well into Ash's psyche, which meant at least some familiarity, on her part.

"...Shit. It's Team Rocket." Ash grimaced. Unwelcome memories welled up in his stomach like a sickness. And they'd just been getting better about chasing off their regrets from Fuchsia. "I was hoping we wouldn't see them for a while…"

'Try ever," Dawn spat. "I wonder why they're even here."

~Something about 'Operation Augmented Rocket,'~ Rosa recalled. ~No idea what that means, but I hate it.~

Ash couldn't help but feel exactly the same. Whatever that was a code for, it gave him a very unpleasant feeling. "Whatever that is, it's something serious. And with their track record lately, maybe we shouldn't just go barging in. Especially if we don't know what they're up to."

"I think we should go take a look," Dawn suggested. "Just to see what we're up against. Nothing loud. Especially now that we got everyone's attention."

"Agreed," Ash nodded, and looked between Dawn, Rosa, Pikachu, and Empoleon. "Let's all play it off and go snoop. We all agreed?"

"Agreed," Dawn said.

"Pika-chu," Pikachu nodded.

"Pol!" Empoleon added.

~Uh-huh.~

"Right. Break!" Ash said, and got back on his feet. "It's alright, Nurse Joy! Dawn just had her music player on too loud. This gal's real sensitive to noise!' Ash held Rosa in his arms, laughing in a way that was meant to sound nonchalant, but definitely cracked a few too many times to be believable. "So, we're gonna get her some fresh air. Bye!"

"Thanks for checking in!" Dawn said, walking out after Ash.

"Pika!"

"Empoleon!"

"...Silph Company?"

That was where the group found themselves, following the ailing Riolu's lead. A few twists and turns through the lively, crowded streets of Saffron, and they'd come across the tallest, most illustrious building in the city. In the region, even, perhaps. Futuristic and sterile in its design; it boasted wide glass windows on each of its floors, framed by spotless silver. Its top floor climbed the skies, as if it were overlooking the entirety of Kanto.

Rosa wasn't sure whether she hated the suffocating stimuli of the city or the rotten feelings emanating from the skyscraper more. She sat in Ash's arms, covering both of her ears. ~This is the place!~

"That's… definitely not good," Ash muttered. A few important-looking men and women in black suits stood around the premises. They eyed the group like a looming Noctowl would a foe, but stood absolutely still. He was conscious of keeping his voice low.

"Why's that?" Dawn asked, leaning closer to whisper without being immediately obvious. "Isn't it just some company? What would they want with that?"

"They're a big shot company that puts out all sorts of Pokémon technology," Ash explained. "I don't know the ins-and-outs, but word is, they make Poké Balls of all kinds, TMs… Who knows what? I hate to think what Team Rocket would. . . Wait a minute." Ash narrowed his gaze.

"What? 'Wait a minute,' what?" Dawn prodded.

"I saw something in the magazine I was reading, today. Silph was gonna put on some exhibit soon, for some next big thing that'd 'change the future of Pokémon battling.' That's got to be it!"

"Piiiika." Pikachu growled. His pointed ears folded back. He already hated where this was going.

"Whatever that is, they want it then," Dawn concluded, frowning. This whole thing just got significantly worse. "We've got to find a way to help!"

"Let's just pretend we're regular ol' trainers," Ash suggested quietly. "Even if we get kicked out, we're bound to learn something." He flicked his eyes to each present, and then towards the front entrance. "C'mon."

The group entered the sliding glass double doors, stepping into a large, well-furnished lobby. A large fountain sat in the center of the ground floor, with a statue of a Lapras summoning a steady spray of water. It looked ordinary enough… except for a variety of individuals and small groups, dressed in either sterile lab coats, or decked entirely in black.

"Gives me the creeps," Ash muttered to Pikachu, walking towards the reception desk towards the back of the lobby. He heard his partner hum a note of agreement. Even if they hadn't been bothered yet, they felt all sorts of eyes on them.

Dawn could swear that she heard two strangers in black muttering something as they passed by. A man with lavender hair and a woman with scarlet, both tied into buns. The man suddenly had a gut that she swore she hadn't caught before her double-take. She wrote it off as her nerves acting up on her, and followed Ash to the front desk.

There was but the one receptionist who greeted them. "H-hello, children! How can I help you?" She stammered on her words, and her eyes were frequently flicking towards a staircase to the right.

"Uhm… Yes! We were here for the new exhibit!" Ash fibbed, forcing the most innocent and curious of smiles onto his face. "We're really curious about the latest change in Pokémon battling!"

"Y-yeah! We just couldn't pass it up!' Dawn fibbed, plastering on a grin.

The guide clearly stiffened up. "I'm sorry, but we aren't offering any more tours today." She paused. "Actually, I don't know when we'll be offering tours again. Here, why don't I walk you out? I ought to lock the door."

The group frowned, exchanging glances. They, and they alone heard Rosa's voice in their heads. ~She's not one of them. She's terrified they'll hurt her… Or us, if we stick around!~

'Then, there's no choice but to leave,' Ash thought to himself. He felt incredibly frustrated, and he was sure he wasn't alone. To just walk out without helping…! But they couldn't just put this poor bystander's life in danger with their heroics. Not while they were definitely surrounded.

"Oh, no need to worry," Dawn said, surely on the same wavelength. "We'll see ourselves out."

"N-no! I insist!" The receptionist's heels clacked against the floor, as she goaded the group towards the front entrance. "Don't forget to stop by the Poké Mart for all your Pokémon Trainer needs, provided by Silph! Enjoy your time in Saffron, you two!"

The five of them were left standing outside, only for the receptionist to mouth 'call the police.' The sliding glass doors closed in front of her, behind which she could be seen being coaxed back to her post.

'Those damn creeps…!' Ash seethed, turning his back to any other shady figures present. As much as he wanted to charge in, and beat them all down at once, the receptionist probably had the best idea of them all. He nodded to Dawn, and started to walk away from the premise.

The blue-haired girl kept pace, walking alongside Ash to whisper to him, now that they had some degree of privacy in the crowd. "You saw what she tried to tell us, right?"

"Yeah. We've gotta find Officer Jenny, ASAP. Maybe with some proper back-up, If Team Rocket's really brought out the big guns, this ti…" Ash trailed off, his eyes growing wide. "Wait a damn minute…"

"What?" Dawn prodded. "What is it?"

"I swear I remember something about Team Rocket planning something big… I can't remember where, but I know I heard it! This must be it!"

"Where did you hear that?" Dawn frowned, then shook her head. She didn't recall any instance of that, herself, but it didn't really matter, did it? "Whatever. All we can do now is—"

The blaring sound of police sirens deafened and drowned out what Dawn was about to say. Or, any sound at all, for that matter. Flashes of red and blue highlighted the duo, and a scattering crowd that took the sight of several police cars zipping through the streets of Saffron. Furthermore, Officer Jenny's voice could be heard over a loudspeaker from the leading car.

"Civilians of Saffron City! This immediate area is now under curfew! Please return to your homes, or if that isn't possible, stay as far away from the Silph Company as possible! This is not a suggestion. It's an order!"

All of the noise was enough of an incentive for Rosa to climb down Ash's side and return to her Poké Ball for the moment; likely for the best, as a concerned and confused crowd shoved and shuffled away from the scene. While a few confused and curious bystanders lingered, Ash and Dawn found themselves against a coming tide of people.

"Looks like someone got to—" Ash started, before being interrupted by a child squeezing by. "—call them before us!"

"Yeah!" Dawn reached for a Poké Ball and recalled Empoleon. "Ash, this might be our only chance to slip by! If we stay close to the crowd, we might not get noticed!" The implications were obvious — they were helping, somehow, whether they were wanted or not. She looked down at her partner's capsule. "Sorry, big guy… You'd stand out."

It was a sentiment that Ash couldn't help but smile at. Dawn was just as stubborn as he was… not that it surprised him. But, there was little time to dwell and fawn. He nodded. "Right. Let's see what we can do! Pikachu, hang close!"

"Pika!" Pikachu crawled into Ash's arms, with Rosa no longer occupying them.

Camouflaged by the chaos, Ash and Dawn made their way back towards Silph Co. As they closed in, it became more apparent that the police were setting up a blockade around the premises. Out in front of the gathered cars, Officer Jenny stood with a megaphone.

"Attention, Team Rocket! This is a direct order from the Saffron City Police Department! Evacuate the premises with your hands up, and promptly surrender, or you will face the consequences! Be reasonable, and you may not face life behind bars!"

Predictably, no Rocket left the building without fanfare. Instead, a golden flash approached the sliding doors, before shattering them completely, and going on to detonate and demolish the stairway leading to the entrance. An Earth Power sent glass and cement flying, prompting Jenny to leap back and gain some distance, and smoke and debris clouded the entrance.

"Demanding surrender? How foolish indeed."

"The words of the law are ones we'll never heed!"

Three silhouettes stood out among the dust and ash; two tall ones, and one shorter.

"Bringing the blinding white of evil into the future!"

"Thrusting the hammer of justice down onto the black darkness of the universe!"

"Carving our names in the Rock of Eternity!" Razor-sharp claws sliced through the smoke, revealing the sinister gleam of gold atop a grinning bipedal feline's head.

A figure with long, scarlet hair twirled out of the debris. "The fiery destroyer, Jessie!"

A black rose was flung into plain sight, its stem catching in the rubble. The lavender-haired man, clad in black, walked suavely onto the scene. "And with thunderous emotion, I am James!"

The feline touched down before Jessie and James, with one paw planted on the broken ground. "Wisest of the wise, Meowth!"

"And now, gather under the name of Team Rocket!" The trio struck a pose together, just in time for a purple silhouette to leap cleanly over their heads, and hit the pavement with enough force to make a crater below them. Nidoking struck with another Earth Power, sending a chain of explosions towards the gathering of police vehicles.

"Team Rocket…!' Ash snarled through his teeth, as the gathering of officers scattered for cover. "I should've known they'd… Wait, that's right! I remember, now!"

"What? Remember what!?" Dawn prompted. More than last time, even, she sounded impatient.

"What I heard. About Team Rocket pulling something. There were some…!" Ash hesitated, ducking under an incoming cloud of smoke. One of the cop cars was decimated by an Earth Power; pieces of it sent flying past them. The shock of it all gave Ash a moment to think, and his words caught in his throat.

When he'd heard about 'those three' climbing the ranks for some big move… That'd been at the Game Corner. He still hadn't told Dawn about that, somehow.

"Ugh, never mind!" Dawn groaned, and yanked on Ash's hand. Just as Jenny's Arcanine fired a Flamethrower, Wobbuffet had been called to deflect it. With a roaring blaze scattering the police, they were far too occupied to pay attention, which Dawn took advantage of, dragging Ash behind her towards the closest alleyway.

'Good thinking,' Ash thought, but didn't dare speak, lest he draw attention to them. Unfortunately, this meant charging through a dense cloud of smoke and ash that escaped the conflict. He coughed and hacked into his sleeves, eyes tearing from the smoke. He reached to wipe them with his glove.

As it turned out, that wasn't a very good idea. "Crap, that stings." He blinked his now red eyes, after they'd passed through the chaos, into a well-kempt, but secluded alleyway.

"Here," Dawn reached into her pocket, pulling out a handkerchief to hand to Ash.

"Thanks." He took the cloth, gently rubbing his eyes with it. "How'd you know to have that on you?" He reached up to use the clean side to rub Pikachu's eyes, as well.

"Chuuu," Pikachu purred, using his stubby arms to rub his face clean.

"I came prepared!" Dawn declared proudly with a raised finger. "I'm sure you know that practicing appeals can get pretty messy, especially with moves like Smokescreen. If we weren't in such a rush, I would've brought eye drops…"

"I'll be fine," Ash assured. "Now, let's find a way in!"

"There's a window!" Dawn pointed to the side of the large structure, where a glass window closed off what looked to be a dark and dingy supply room.

"Great eye," Ash praised, and looked down to his partner that he held in his arms. "Pikachu, I'm gonna jump in first. You should be able to slide through easy, but we need to be sure Dawn and I can fit."

"Pika… Pikachu!" Pikachu nodded, and turned in Ash's arms to hop onto Dawn's shoulder.

Ash then adjusted his cap atop his head. "Let's do this." Stepping forward, Ash put his hands on the window pane. Pushing it in, he was relieved to see it was unlocked. The question was if the space would be big enough for him to go through. Heaving himself up and then through the small window, he found that once he got his shoulders through, the rest was relatively easy.

That was, until he fell face first towards the floor. Acting quickly, he tucked himself in, and rolled forward to land on his feet. "Okay," he called out, "It's all clear! Send Pikachu through and I'll help you in."

"Okay!"

Poking his head through the window, Pikachu was pleased to see the room really was closed off. Filled with cleaning supplies but otherwise harmless, this was an ideal entry point. They could gather their thoughts.

"Here I come," Dawn announced as her head poked over the window sill. Soon, she was crawling through.

Ash held his hands out to catch her…

But, she wasn't budging.

"...I'm stuck!" she whimpered, realizing that, while her top went through easily, her bottom wasn't having it.

"Are you kidding me?!" he hissed in a whisper. "C'mere!" Tugging on his girlfriend's arms, he tried to bring her on through.

"Ow! Be gentle!"

"What's even stuck?! You're not that big!"

While the two were struggling to get all the way in, the closet door opened.

"Hey! We've already been chided for slacking off in-... the…"

Looking behind them, Dawn and Ash spotted a female grunt with a flashlight. Beside her, a Zubat fluttered.

"... Ah… Ah! Intruders!" she shouted, making an attempt to dart out of the closet.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Ash snapped, letting go of Dawn to grab the grunt and pull her into the closet. He kicked the door shut as he did so. "We're not going down to Team Rocket, that easy!"

"Ugh! Who let you nosey brats through!? I knew those three bozos couldn't be trusted." She waved a hand, siccing her screeching Zubat on the pair. "Get them, Zubat!"

"Pikachu! Iron Tail!"

Pikachu followed Ash's command with swift action, and lithe acrobatics. Springing above Zubat, he coated his tail in sturdy metal, and winded up his body. "Chua… Pika!"

Pikachu's tail bashed into the Poison-type's head, knocking it swiftly to the floor. The Pokémon laid on its back, completely unconscious. A red flash of light recalled them.

"Damn it… You won't get away with this!' The young woman snarled, and bolted for the door, again.

"Uh-uhn." Ash pressed his foot against the door, folding his arms. " You're not going anywhere."

The grunt growled through her teeth, and yanked on Ash's arms. "Get… Out of… my… way!" She found very little luck in the way of removing him, though. Did this brat have the muscles of a Machamp, or what!? Once he shoved her back, she grimaced, folding her arms. "What're you, a cop!?"

The trainer's eyes widened, as an idea struck him. The events in Celadon weeks ago came rolling back all at once, leading Ash to hatch an idea on the spot. "As a matter of fact, we are. We're undercover."

Dawn said nothing, only blinking at Ash in confusion. When had they agreed to this!?

"Yeah. Right." The grunt rolled her eyes. "What kind of undercover cop goes and blurts that out to Team Rocket!?"

"The kind who has bigger priorities than dealing with one grunt," Ash answered. He felt fortunate that improvisation was one of his stronger traits. "We've got a whole Team Rocket break-in to deal with. We can't afford you busting us, right here!"

"...Yeah!" Dawn finally tagged on, catching on to his act. "So you better listen to us, if you know what's good for you."

"Uh-huh. Yeah." The crook rolled her eyes, though she was hugging her arms to her chest, rubbing one of them with her opposite hand. She'd started to fidget; a clear sign that she was growing nervous, regardless of what she said. "You're too young to be cops. You're full of crap."

"Wanna bet?" Ash narrowed his eyes, leaning his foot more heavily against the door.

Catching onto his trainer's act, Pikachu scurried up his trainer's back to stand atop his shoulder. Electricity danced from each of his cheeks, lighting up the otherwise dim room. The result made himself and Ash look quite frightening, in the eyes of a half-baked enemy.

"...Ugh." Shoulders slacking, the grunt seemed to give up on any notion on gambling in this situation. "What the hell do you want from me!? I don't want to go to jail."

"Maybe you won't have to," Ash said. "...Maybe. You got an extra outfit on you?"

The woman made a bewildered face. "What kind of question is that!?"

Ash sighed. It sounded less strange coming from Bertha's lips than his. "Look. We have a bunch of innocent people to save. I'm not here to spend my time hassling you, and I don't want to, either. But as long as you're wearing those rags, Officer Jenny's gonna catch you, anyway. If you ditch it and renounce being with Team Rocket, we can let you run." He nodded his head towards the window. "The same way we got in."

"...Actually, I do. These stupid uniforms chafe. But, you have to look away," she demanded.

"Yeah! Yeah, duh— I mean, of course." Flushing, Ash turned to face the door. Pikachu did the same out of courtesy. After a short time passed, Ash heard the sound of garments flying.

"Alright. You got what you wanted. I'm out of here." The grunt had thrown her uniform at Dawn, who caught them, and made for the window, now wearing a tanktop and shorts. After a few kicks of her legs, she pulled herself through. The singing Chatot was out of the picture.

"...Phew." Ash leaned back against the door, exhaling in relief. "That's settled. And check it out — now we have an extra fit. You can totally disguise yourself as one of them, Dawn!" As relieved as he'd been that his plan had worked, he only just noticed the complete look of bewilderment Dawn was giving him. Quickly, he grew self-conscious. "...What's up?"

"What's up?" Dawn blurted out. "Ash, what was… What in the world was all that!? The police act, the uniform, the… I've never seen you pull anything like that, before!"

"Oh, that? That was more…" The young man frowned, consciously rubbing the back of his neck. "...I actually got that whole act from Bertha."

"Bertha…?" Dawn's voice trailed off, as the gears turned in her head. Fury, offense and worry struck her all at once, when that night in Celadon finally made sense. "So you were involved in that mess at the Game Corner," she hissed, conscious to conceal their location, even in her fury. "Ash, you told me that you weren't involved in it!"

"I know! I know… I was gonna tell you, but…"

"I thought we agreed to be honest with each other," Dawn said pointedly, stepping up to Ash with her one free hand on her hip. "Why wouldn't you tell me that you were involved with something that dangerous? I was worried sick!"

"I wanted to, I did! But, Bertha insisted on it, and…" He flinched. "I know. Bad excuse. I just… followed her lead, I guess. I'm sorry, Dawn." Ash hung his head.

"Piiiika," Pikachu pleaded, his ears falling to frame his face.

"...It's fine. We can talk about it later. We have bigger problems. Turn around, so I can put this stupid disguise on."

"Done." Ash turned to face the wall again, crossing his arms. "So you can snoop around undetected, and maybe get some information off them without them knowing a thing. I wouldn't let Empoleon out, though… No Team Rocket grunt's going to have them."

"Piiika. Pikapi!" Pikachu voiced his concerns. He'd be noticed, easily!

"...Yeah. I'll have to be a little more subtle, too. Pikachu, you might have to stay inside my bag for just a bit. I'm sorry, Buddy. Rosa's gonna stand out enough, and we need her to make sure we sense everything around us."

"Pi…" Pikachu pouted, but nodded along, having no argument. He let out a gracious squeak when Ash affectionately pet his head, and crawled into his trainer's green backpack.

"Alright. You can look, now."

Ash found himself taken back by the sight of Dawn in the uniform. With her characteristic bangs tucked away into the hat and her long hair gone, she could easily blend in with the others!

"Now, Houndoom should be fine. I've seen a few Rockets with Houndour… I think?" Dawn frowned, but tossed her canine partner's Poké Ball, nonetheless.

The horned hound appeared, his tail wagging behind him.

Ash scratched the dark type's chin. "You're gonna help us out a lot, aren't ya, buddy?" Turning back to Dawn, Ash spoke again. "I can't go with you, so I'm afraid we're gonna have to split up. But, what should we do if one of us gets in trouble…?"

"If that happens…?" Dawn hummed, cupping her chin. "I know! If we're already in trouble, we have nothing to lose. Whoever's caught should just make a whole lot of noise, and the other can come running!"

"Ha! Right." Ash laughed, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You know I'll come running. Let's try not to get to that point though, huh…?"

"No need to worry." Dawn winked. "You know I'm too sharp for that."

"You know that's when I worry the most," Ash followed, predictably. They both shared a light laugh at their scripted exchange. "...Alright. Let's do this." Feeling the pitter-patter of his heart rise with the coming danger, Ash impulsively leaned in, and left a peck on Dawn's lips.

Dawn ghosted a hand over her lips, cheeks filling with pink.

"Just a good luck charm," Ash explained, flashing a cheeky smile. Then, he tossed Rosa's Poké Ball.

The Emanation Pokémon appeared, taking a deep breath. ~Let's kick some villain ass.~

"You know Brock's going to lose it when he finds she's still talking like that," Dawn warned, as Ash opened the door.

"I can handle it," Ash flashed the briefest of smiles. "You take the right. I'm sensing some more people that way. I'll take the left."

"Got it!"

With that, the two parties split.

Keeping to the shadows and pressing one shoulder to the wall at almost all times, Ash found that the hairs on the back of his neck stood with his heightened awareness while a light sweat was working up along his brow from constantly using his aura sensing abilities. Similarly, from her perch on his shoulder, Rosa's aura bundles were wiggling almost non-stop.

Within Ash's bag, though, Pikachu grew cramped and discontented. When could he go ahead and get out?

"Alright, first group," Ash muttered as he picked up on the aura signatures of strangers. "I'm clocking in three. How about you, Rose?"

"Rio," she yipped quietly in agreement.

Crouching down at the corner of the passage, Ash tried to figure out how exactly he was going to handle three at once. He could fight them, sure, but they'd call for help, no doubt.

Instead, he looked above him. The hall light! Forming a very small bundle of aura, he launched it towards the fixture. It shattered almost quietly and then suddenly the hall was taken over by darkness.

"What the heck was that?" called one of the grunts.

Backing off into the darkness he'd created, Ash was suddenly extremely grateful for Riley's training. Closing his eyes and relying on his abilities, he tapped occasionally along the hallway to lure them in further.

"Sounds like a lost Rattata," one of the grunts grumbled. "One of you go get it before it chews up every wire in the place."

"... Me? I don't wanna!"

"Scared of the dark?"

As one of the three walked into Ash's waiting trap, the trainer supposed they really should have been more afraid. Still, he waited. It was only when the grunt was right in front of him, blind in the darkness but clicking his tongue for a Rattata that wasn't there that Ash struck.

One swift punch did it. Connecting against the grunt's chin, the poor guy went down easy. Ash carefully caught him, not trying to hurt the underling more than necessary.

"... Was that a smacking noise?"

"Y'think it maybe used Fake Out on him?"

"Can Rattata learn Fake Out?"

"Well, if it can, it can only use it once. I'll go drag the big idiot out. You go ahead with the patrol."

As the first grunt walked away, the second stepped into Ash's darkness.

"Here, y'little rascal. You aren't supposed to use moves on us, y'know. We're your masters."

Once again, the darkness was on Ash's side. Aided by aura detection, he delivered another swift blow to the grunt. With a strangled cry, this one went down as well.

Shaking his fist after, Ash walked down to the end of the hall.

"Alright Rose… Four halls meet here. I know which way they came, but where did our guy go?"

~To… the left!~ she conveyed.

Walking briskly down the hall, Ash soon saw the grunt before him.

Without turning around, the grunt spoke. "You got him, I guess? … Hey, why aren't you-"

Another slug took down the final grunt.

"Pikapi…" Pikachu complained from within the bag.

~Well, that was easy,~ Rosa relayed telepathically.

"Yeah, yeah, but my knuckles are gonna be cracked by the end of this," he grumbled. "Oh! Hey! An elevator!"

Walking over, Ash supposed this was what they were all headed to. He could just use this and meet up with Dawn on the second floor!

However, Ash found that the buttons didn't respond to him. Furrowing his brows, he looked back at the grunt. Did they have a card key on them or something? As he walked back over, he spotted something more revealing.

"Dammit… They had walkie talkies. I can't call for an elevator. It'll all sound too suspicious." Shaking his head, he looked around. "Let's keep looking. We may find a stairway. Dawn's looking, too."

Meanwhile, shortly after exiting the closet, Dawn ran smack into a pair of other grunts.

"What'd you scream for?!" one of them demanded.

"Yeah, did you see someone?!" the other asked.

Scrambling for an excuse, Dawn held her hands up. "O-Oh, no!"

"Then, what'd you yell for?!"

"Um… I… Got spooked by a Rattata," she weakly replied. "Yeah, that's why I got out my Houndoom. I didn't want it to bite me, so I scared it off."

Grunting, the underling put his hands on his hips. "I've heard of girls who were afraid of bugs, but Rattata? What kind of grunt are you?"

The other shrugged his shoulder. "Zubat are more popular among girls. That's probably why."

"Well, why don't we keep this between us?" Dawn pressed.

"Sure, it's not worth bringing up."

"The uppers sure wouldn't care."

"Great!" Dawn sighed in relief.

"C'mon," one of the grunts said. "We're gonna see who's gonna relieve the others on reading duty."

"Reading duty?" Dawn echoed, but followed the two boys all the same.

"Yeah, you know they told us they couldn't afford to bring in the scanners or any big tech for this mission. We've had to be real discreet." He huffed. "The Boss is here, so we shouldn't have any problems, but some weasel hiding out here called the cops!"

"What a coward! We weren't doin' nothin' to the hostages!" the other grunt snarled. "Anyways, because we can't just download the information, we're all remembering it. If we all know, it won't matter if we get split up… Or, caught." He shook his head. "But, I ain't gettin' caught!"

"Me neither!" the other grunt insisted. "Aight, shortie, we're here! Maybe we'll all get reading duty together? Or, we'll relieve someone on patrol…"

Standing among a small group of grunts, Dawn noticed that her Houndoom was the only fully evolved Pokémon there. That was, of course, aside from the overseer who was speaking to the group.

A woman who decidedly stood out from the rest — tall, with a straight and confident posture, and sleek clothing to match. A white v-neck top with long sleeves and a second cut at its hem mostly concealed a black turtleneck, and a long white skirt that parted in a cut at her boots and golden earrings completed the ensemble. Most striking perhaps, though, were her scarlet, horn-like hair, and striking, blood-red eyes.

Deep in her gut, Dawn felt that she did not like this Rocket. Something about her…

"Giovanni is still negotiating with the President. As such, floor eleven is absolutely vital to guard. Elevator service is still strictly forbidden. You will be cycled into the testing room upstairs, as soon as the four brothers have completed their round…" she paused. "Hm. You, there, in the back with the Houndoom."

Had she been caught already?! Dawn nervously nodded. "Yes?"

"You'll be on patrol duty."

While Dawn resisted sighing in relief, the two boys beside her snickered.

"Don't get spooked," one muttered.

"As for the rest of you, break's over. Go wait for your turn, on floor seven."

As the crowd parted, Dawn decided to take a gamble, stepping forward.

"Um, Miss?"

"That's Executive to you, Grunt." The woman scowled, glowering down upon Dawn with disdain. "I expect your full respect when addressing me."

"Yes, Executive," Dawn forced out through her teeth. The urge to jump her for her attitude was overwhelming. "...Where should I be patrolling? If the elevators aren't working, I should stay on this floor, right? But, if it's another, how do I get there?"

The superior narrowed her eyes. "... You're very pretty but very dull. Who have you been brown nosing to get that Houndoom?" There was a pause. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Whoever favored you ought to receive a stern talking to. Only competent agents need apply for a Lift Key. Stick to this floor, and keep a sharp eye for any rebellious behavior among the captives. Try not to use more force than necessary, but what must be done, must be done."

The Executive passed Dawn, folding her arms behind her back. "And, do try to not waste anymore of my time."

'I'd do a lot more than waste your time, if I wasn't trying to keep a low profile… What a total creep!' Dawn thought bitterly to herself. But, for the sake of appearances, she complied. "Yes, Executive! Follow me, Houndoom."

Houndoom hummed a low growl of disdain at the villainess, but followed Dawn, nonetheless.

'So, a Lift Key is the answer, and 'Giovanni' must be the boss that Meowth was always talking about… Then, we need that key, so we can get to the eleventh floor! At least one Rocket has to have one. Now, it's our job to find them.'

"There… Sorry, Pikachu." Ash shut a door behind him as Pikachu sprung from the green backpack, gasping for breath. Sure, he had air, but man, was that sack cramped.

"Piiii," Pikachu purred as he shook his body out, spare electricity crackling off as he let off a good bit of movement that the knapsack had denied him. It was nice to be active again, even if only for a minute. He couldn't wait to get to the bottom of this, he was ready to get out of this joint.

"This floor looks kinda empty. Maybe nothing important's going on here." Ash reached to wipe some sweat from his forehead, stretching his back out. Getting a minute away from the action was nice. The room seemed to be air conditioned, judging by the hairs standing up on the back of his neck, and the scent of cheap air freshener passing the group. A few desks with ordinary-looking computers were scattered around.

"Must be a bunch of regular old offices around here. Figures that Team Rocket'd leave it alone."

A wooden creak sent a chill down the trio's spines, all six eyes flicking toward the other side of the room. Each tensed, ready to leap at the next agent to pop out and bust them.

Meanwhile, all they heard was a strained gasp.

"Who's there!?" Ash barked, scrambling to his feet. If their plans got spoiled by one rotten…

"P-please… I didn't mean to get caught up in this," a feeble, vaguely masculine voice cracked. Slinking up from behind the desk was a trembling man, looking to be in his thirties, with a white-collar outfit complete with glasses and a buzz cut. "I'm just an office guy, please-"

"Hey, it's fine," Ash interrupted, raising a hand in a weak attempt to reassure the hostage. "You can calm down, I'm not one of them." Even as he denied hostility, his fist tightened. Too much so, probably. "We came here to kick those creeps out and help out whoever's trapped in here."

"Pika-Pika!" Ash's companion asserted in tandem, climbing up his trainer's back to sit atop his shoulder, raising a paw to attest to their peaceful message.

"Rio!" The pup joined them, punching a fist in the air.

The worker slid down against the wall, letting out a pained breath of relief. "Thank Mew… After I managed to call the police, I thought I was done for. Look, kid, that's noble of you, but you'll get yourself killed! I can't even get out of here. I… I tried to sneak out, but the elevator's busted! Going down the stairs is way too risky. Run into just one of those thugs, and-"

"Pull yourself together," Ash interrupted, doing his best to use a calming voice. He was used to looking out for startled Pokémon, but humans even older than him… He wasn't particularly used to it. "Don't worry. You're talking to a trainer who's been fighting Team Rocket for his entire career. This is practically our specialty."

"Someone your age…?" The man frowned, his brows furrowing in concern. "Honestly, it's a disgrace that Team Rocket has been allowed to run rampant this long. And now look where we are!"

"Yeah, tell me about it," Ash scoffed. "Well, as soon as I get to the bottom of this, you guys'll be good to go. There may be a lot of 'em, but it's not every day they meet a trainer like me!" Or Dawn, for that matter. Arceus, he hoped she was doing alright.

"Thank you," the man swallowed, beginning to calm down. "You're a lifesaver. Just be careful, huh? Is there anything I can do?"

"Unless ya know something, not really," the trainer admitted. "But hey, don't sweat it. I wish I could get you out of here now, but having' someone else with me would bring on more attention." Already feeling guilty, he yanked up his backpack, rummaging through it before pulling out a sandwich coiled up in plastic wrap. He tossed it to the anxious worker. "You might be in here a lil' while longer, so it's the least I can do."

"Pika-Pikachu!" The electric mouse waddled over to the man, patting him with his tail.

The man took a deep breath, reaching to pet Pikachu's head. This day had been hell… But maybe there was hope of him walking out of here alive, after all. "Thanks, kid. You've got a good heart in you. I'll be rooting for you three."

"You can count on us!" Ash pumped a fist, flashing a confident smirk at the man. "Hey, Rosa, could ya check out the rest of the floor? I think it's about time we get out of here."

Mew forbid any other hostages were suffering under this operation.

~Roger!~ The Emanation Pokémon yipped. She let her gray lids fall shut, each nerve bundle on the sides of her head levitating as a paw was pressed to the floor.

A low hum came from the pup, mono-colored blueprints growing outward in her mind. Things seemed relatively quiet and uneventful in the general area… At least for a moment. Her heart began to pick up paces when a great deal of activity began to emanate from down the hall. A lot of signals…

Way too many auras. Erratic, racing pulses that turned a hum into a high-pitched whine. Her eyelids clenched painfully tight, nerve bundles standing straight up. Anxiety thrived… Enough to cause the Pokémon's eyes to shoot open, a high-pitched anxious howl alerting Ash and Pikachu alike.

"Hey, hey, Rosa!" Ash rushed to the Emanation Pokémon, scooping her into his arms. He lightly stroked the trembling Pokémon's ears, brows knit downward. He bit his lip, doing his best to keep his breathing steady. Extra stress was the last thing the Pokémon needed. "It's fine, it's fine… No need to worry. It's just us, over here."

"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu fretted, rushing over on all fours to pat the Pokémon's rather slim back.

"W-what's wrong with her?" The man present stammered, having nearly spit bread out of his mouth. He'd managed to swallow. "Did they do something!?"

Ash shook his head. "She's really sensitive to a lot going on at once. Especially if other people are making her anxious… Or Pokémon. There's gotta be a lot of one of 'em gathered somewhere."

~Rotten… they're rotten!~ She exclaimed, wiggling her way out of Ash's grasp to land on her feet. ~So many scared Pokémon… We gotta go save them, now!~

Ash swallowed thickly. This whole situation made him sick to his stomach. "Alright. Let's go, Pikachu!"

"Pika!" Pikachu howled in agreement, running up Ash's back to slip into the main compartment of Ash's backpack. He pulled the flap halfway shut, ready to keep his eyes open for danger.

"Don't worry, buddy. Once we find the top dog, you'll get to beat 'em good."

~Wait, wait!~ Rosa hesitated, just before Ash turned the knob to the room they'd cooped up in. Her trainer stopped, looking her way for clarification. ~Weren't we supposed to stick to the plan…? You said that we were supposed to sneak around and be careful, right? If we charge in, we'll get noticed!~

"Well… that may be true." Ash smiled to himself. Even in this hostile situation, he felt like his daughter was growing up, right before his eyes. And as much as he willed himself to be a responsible role model… He was still Ash Ketchum. "But it's like a great hero once told me… If someone's in trouble, we have to do something, right?" He turned back to her, and winked.

Rosemary processed her own words being thrown back to her, and her big, red hues shone. The pup couldn't keep herself from smiling, punching a paw in the air. ~Right!~

"You can do it," the worker encouraged, crawling back into his hiding spot behind the desk in the corner of the room. "Everyone working for Silph Co. would be rooting for you!"

"We won't let 'em down," Ash flashed a thumbs-up as he stepped out, shutting the door behind him. Sliding up against the wall, he inched towards the center of the floor. "Alright, Rosa. Show the way!"

She huffed, pointing to the hallway to the left. ~There! The far door to the right!~

"There's gotta be some people hurting… Or Pokémon!" Ash growled, caution pushed to the backburner of his thoughts. He hurried down the brightly lit corridor, swerving on his heels to turn his attention to the wooden door with a faded glass window. Some loose-leaf sheet of paper was blocking his view in; probably taped up at the last minute. A plate on the door read " 503 - Product Test Room."

"This it?" Ash checked with the Riolu on his shoulder.

"Rio," she nodded furiously.

"Then let's bust it open," he grunted, jiggling the handle. He grimaced. "It's locked… C'mon!" He jammed his foot against the wall, yanking on the door with all of his might. "Gnh…! No luck. Hey, Rosa, mind helping' me bust this thing open?"

"Rio!" The Pokémon yipped, leaping at the wooden barrier to deliver a fierce kick.

The wood began to show cracks. Ash bashed it with his shoulder. The splinters spread.

"Okay. Both of us on one, two… three!"

"P-please… All of the commotion has the Pokémon stressed. You won't get optimal… Likely even accurate results!" A man in a white lab coat pleaded, fiddling to place a small metallic pin onto the fluffy body of a squirming Flareon. He jerked his head back, just barely avoiding a spit of flames.

"Shut up and do as yer told," a man dressed in a Team Rocket outfit and cap spat, looking over a clipboard. "Unless you want us to take over. Ol' Fido here wouldn't like that, would he?

Another Rocket leaned over, whispering to the first. "But, we don't know the first thing about these gadgets… If they don't do it, we couldn't make heads or tails of this mess."

The first jabbed the second with his elbow. "Shaddup, don't let them know that."

"I-I'm very sorry… I don't want to work under these conditions any more than you do." The scientist implored the Flame Pokémon with begging eyes. He managed to clip the small gadget into the Pokémon's fur.

Flareon howled in protest still, kicking free to isolate itself upon its tabletop, its fur quilling as a threat to the humans enclosing upon its personal space. Flames were moments from leaving its throat.

A loud booming explosion ripped through the room, shattering planks spraying across the floor in the wake of a spreading cloud of smoke. A teal flash of light dispersed, clearing the air.

Standing in the now empty doorway was a raven-haired teenager, accompanied by a Riolu with an outstretched paw, faintly glowing blue before fading away. A Pikachu popped out of the young man's backpack, perching aggressively on his shoulder.

"Alright, break it up!" The trainer barked. "What's going on in… What the!?"

Ash's eyes flicked across the exposed room. A couple of startled Rockets and unwilling scientists were scattered around, and a shuddering Flareon sat on an examining table in the center of the room. A few cages lined the walls, occupied by a few Pokémon. Namely a Growlithe, a Jolteon, a Mankey, and a Machop. Each shrunk into their enclosures at the commotion.

A treadmill and a punching bag were stationed in the back of the room, along with several computers.

Ash felt like he wanted to vomit. "So, this is what you were freaking out about… Those Pokémon must be terrified!" Baring his sharp canines, Ash threw a hand back towards what was left of the door. "Alright, you guys better beat it, if you know what's good for you!"

"Hey, kid! Why don't ya mind your own business!" One of the grunts barked.

"Before we, the Rocket Brothers, make ya!" All four gangsters drew their Poké Balls.

"Pikachu, Rosa, get 'em!" Ash commanded, throwing a hand out.

"Pika!"

Pikachu launched off of Ash's shoulder, springing onto the table that Flareon occupied before launching at the first Grunt to speak, surrounded in a silver gleam. He smashed into the man's abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. Hopping onto his falling cranium, he jumped at the next.

Gasping in horror, the bumbling man anxiously juggled his Poké Ball in an attempt to get his act together. "Hold still, ya lil' ra- ah!" Before he could finish his sentence, a tiny yellow foot had slammed into his face, knocking the dazed man onto his rear.

Rosa wasn't far behind, closing the distance between herself and the closest man before he could so much as toss a ball. His foot was kicked out from under him, sending him falling right into her fist.

"Hypno! Confusion!"

The Emanation Pokémon froze, finding her body restricted in a telekinetic hold. Her gaze shifted to the fourth man, who had succeeded in releasing the formidable Psychic-type. His leering eyes emitted a blue glow, holding the vulnerable Fighting-type in place.

Crouching in fright atop the table, Flareon whined. If there was any chance to break free, it was now. "Flare!" It howled, spitting a flurry of hot embers at Hypno. Naturally, it'd used Ember.

"Hyp!" The Psychic-type yelped in surprise, hopping erratically to escape the heap.

"Great work, Flareon!" Ash praised. "Now's your chance, Rosa! Reversal!"

The Riolu let out a gasp of relief, feeling control of her body return. She gnashed her canines, leaping at the terrified Hypno. A shining fist slammed into its gut, sending it flying into the last Rocket.

Trainer and Pokémon alike slid down the wall.

"Good job, guys." Ash commended, implicitly declaring this fight over. "Now, let those Pokémon go!"

"O-of course!" One of the eggheads who'd clung to one of the computers stammered. "We do our best to give Pokémon humane treatment in our experiments… Our hand was forced!"

"We'll give them their space right away." The other agreed, pulling a key out of his pocket. "We're so sorry, Flareon. We owe all of you an apology." He approached the cages, unlocking each in succession.

Several of the Pokémon growled and hissed, still retreating from the men.

"They've gotta be scared, right now." Ash grimaced. "They're better off away from a place like this after everything that's happened." Damn that Team Rocket.

"O-of course… What should we do with them, now?" After all, it was pretty clear who had the right to make decisions for a Pokémon's sake, now. How demoralizing this all was.

"Keep 'em safe here, for now. This job's not done yet." Ash advised, walking towards the hallway with Pikachu on his shoulder and Rosa accompanying him. "The police'll be here…"

~Pa! Wait!~ Rosa warned, as she bounded back onto Ash's shoulder that didn't occupy Pikachu. ~We've got company.~

"I take it that's the bad kind," Ash grimaced. "...Well, we already started a fight. Guess the jig's up." He punched a fist into an open palm. "Let's take care of 'em, and meet up with Dawn."

With caution thrown to the wind, Ash stepped into the hallway.

"Now, what is with all this noise!? If those four are sabotaging Giovanni's great plans… Well, well. What do we have here?" A lanky man cloaked in a white, clearly outstanding Rocket outfit and short-cut teal hair stepped forth. His eyes narrowed upon the red-cloaked trainer and his pokemon. "I'm fairly certain you aren't with Team Rocket."

"Not on your life," Ash spat. "I'm here to kick you guys out!"

"Now, isn't that adorable… What a brave young man you are." The decorated Rocket drew out his backhanded praise with total disdain, approaching Ash. Suddenly, he stopped. "Now, wait just a moment… You're that boy with the Pikachu, aren't you? You've acquired quite the name for yourself in Team Rocket, you know."

The man laughed to himself, shaking his head. "I don't care for that fixation towards your Pikachu that's become such a topic; I'm only here to serve our great leader. But since you're here, then I cannot allow you to foil Team Rocket's meticulous plans! Your charge forward ends here, with the great Executive, Archer!"

"Is that right…?" Ash hardened his gaze upon the man, firmly adjusting the red brim of his cap. "Well, since I've been spotted… Then, there's no harm in going all-out! We'll knock you out, and your grimy boss is next!"

"Pika-Pikaaa!" Pikachu hissed, emitting violent golden static from his cheeks.

"Rio!" Rosa touched the carpeted floor on her feet, standing before her trainer.

The time for running and hiding was over.