They stood in the lab side by side having heard Tracey's 'pokemon for beginners' speech. They were more than a little dumbfounded. The boy talked about things that meant nothing to them, naming creatures they'd never heard of or dreamed of hearing.
"So, you understand most of that?" They didn't answer, their jaws slacked.
"Uh." Ash tried, scratching at his head as he started to return to the foreign planet.
"Want me to go over it?"
"N-No, that's not necessary. We get it, it's just a lot to take in." May assured, she'd die if she heard all that again. "So, is Professor Oak gonna be back soon?"
"He should be. The old man gets side tracked easily, he'll be talking to Gary about anything." Tracey assured, waving his hand flippantly, "he's always been like that, he's obsessed with his grandson, loves the bones of him. But he does sometimes forget he's not five anymore." Tracey smiled at the thought, dropping onto a chair behind a small desk.
"If Pikachu's wild how can we get him back?" May asked, trying to scramble the information she'd just learned together.
"So you have understood a bit. Good. You can capture him, then he'll be yours undoubtedly."
"And to do that we'd need a poke ball?" Ash tried, leaning closer slightly.
"You would, of course only one of you can call Pikachu yours, you can't share custody, he's not a child."
They eyed each other, trying to see who should own the pokemon.
"May will."
"Ash will."
They responded simultaneously, staring at each other bemused.
"You found him you should capture him."
"You're only saying that because you're afraid you'll be zapped by him,"
"I'm not, why do you want me to have him?"
"I don't know, it just seems right that you call him yours."
"May-" He started but was cut off by Tracey.
"Well it's settled then. Ash we'll call Pikachu yours, of course you can still command him, but for trainer purposes he'll be classified under Ash." He decided, clapping his hands, he didn't want to spend too much time deciding this. May sounded like she'd made her mind up already.
"Hey wait-"
"Now wait here I'll look for the professor." Standing he walked past the two, Ash still trying to object. Closing the door behind him he scanned the village. His eyes immediately landing on the cheery old man chatting animatedly with a bored ten year old. "Professor Oak!" He called, waving his hand in the air.
"Oh, Tracey, I've found Gary, we were just talking."
"I thought you'd gotten lost Professor, you've been gone for nearly an hour."
"Have I really?" He asked shocked, his eyes widening fractionally. Gary smirked, placing his hands on his hips as he strode past his grandfather.
"You drift too much grandfather." Gary muttered, moving past Tracey and straight into the lab. The old man chuckled, rubbing a hand against the back of his head.
"Gary is a cheery one isn't he?"
"He used to be, a smile never left that kids face when he was younger." Tracey added, he couldn't say he knew Gary when he was little but he'd seen enough photos to have a fair idea.
"Well, children do change." Professor Oak agreed, walking with Tracey to his lab and opening the door. Inside he saw Gary looking over the two new arrivals, his head cocked to the side.
"You don't look like much." He muttered, more to himself than them. But it was enough to riel Ash who glared at the boy.
"What do you know? You don't even know our names."
"I don't need to, knowing your names won't change anything. You're weak. Simple as that." Gary seemed pleased with the reaction he'd gained from them, he wasn't even talking to May but she seemed ready to strangle him.
"Gary, be a little more polite to our guests. I do need you to help them."
"Fine, whatever, they're weak after all. I guess I'll have to help them."
"Who're you callin' weak?" Ash snapped, glaring at the boy. He really didn't like him, too cocky for his own good.
"You, only weak people could have their pokemon stolen from them. And that easily too. Especially as it's a Pikachu, those things are real common around here. Just insult to injury that they stole yours other than a wild one."
May glared at him, her fingers clenching. She really hated that boy, her jaw tightening.
"Now, now Gary." Professor Oak soothed, his hand settling on the boy's shoulder. "Be nice, they need your help. You will help them, right?"
"Of course, anythin' to teach them Rocket thugs a lesson." A smirk spread across his lips at the thought of doing just that. "I may not like you guys, I don't really like anyone who's so weak they can't protect their own pokemon, but I hate Team Rocket all the more. They keep trying to take my grandfather's research. That's unforgivable."
Ash couldn't help but smile, Gary was annoying but he did have good intentions. That he could see.
"I'm glad you've agreed. Now, why don't we get going? The 'hideout' is further into town. You won't miss it." He smiled brightly, Gary heading straight back from the lab.
"Wait!" Tracey called, as May and Ash went to follow.
"What is it?" Gary asked, his voice clipped.
"You need a poke ball." Grabbing one from the desk he tossed it to Ash who caught it easily.
"Thanks." And with that they left, Gary eyeing the thing with curiosity. What would they need that for?
The headquarters wasn't exactly discrete. A tall building loomed over the town, shining bright in the sky. A sign stood before the building declaring in bright letters 'Team Rocket Base'. If the sign wasn't proof enough men and women of all hair colour were exiting and entering the building adorning black uniforms, in large bright print the letter R clear to see.
"Not very discrete." Gary noted, though it was more for their benefit. "They don't like it, they're more the 'flaunt it' type. They love to show off and brag about their crimes. But they're never arrested cos they run whenever Officer Jenny tried to catch them."
"They sound stupid." Ash muttered.
"They are."
"Come on, let's go."
"Wait! Don't we need disguises?" Ash asked, louder than he intended.
"No, they let anyone in, as long as we say we're willing to pay them to commit a crime anyone's welcome. Even the police. How they're still free I'll never know." They could see the genuine confusion on his face and couldn't argue with it this time.
Standing Gary led them inside, throwing glares at every Team Rocket grunt they passed.
"Bloody low lives." He grumbled, holding tighter to the poke ball he'd produced from his pocket.
"Is that really gonna be needed inside?" May asked, from what she'd learned pokemon were dangerous when enclosed. And this Team Rocket didn't seem very dangerous.
"There're a lot of levels to the pokemon room. Grunts attack you at every turn. The ground floor is open to everyone, even the police but past then you're in Rocket territory."
They passed the doors, immediately being enveloped by heat. Black was everywhere, accompanied by unnatural hair colours. They were chatting to one another, looking merry, their hands on their hips and smirks on their lips. They looked more like gossiping school girls than tyrants kidnapping pokemon.
Gary casually sauntered past them, heading straight to the lift. A few eyes followed him but once he stood by the sign they returned to their conversations. Ash and May followed, leaning beside him and tilting their heads in confusion. But Gary ignored her, watching everyone before pressing the lift button, the doors sliding open.
"Come on, they'll try to stop us." He whispered, grabbing their hands and pulling them after. They barely made it inside before the Rocket grunts charged and the doors dragged themselves closed. "We're going straight to the top. Only idiots climb level by level."
The doors pinged as they arrived, Gary throwing his poke ball out as soon as there was enough space. From the sphere immerged a large beast, cannons strapped to its back and a large shell encasing its body. A loud cry irrupted, the creature stretching his arms out by its sides as a show of power and size.
The light that had surrounded the creature faded, revealing deep blue skin and a brown hard shell.
"Blastoise!" Gary shouted, the pokemon turning to face him as he nodded in acknowledgement.
Two grunts had been slouching against the walls, now they had come to life, throwing their own pokemon out. An eyeless bat and a floating ball of gas.
"What the hell are they?" The two cried, hiding behind Gary.
"Wow, you really are new at this. They're just Zubat and Gastly." Looking to Blastoise he gave the silent command and the creature shot two high powered water blasts at the pokemon. Throwing them into the walls and letting them slowly slide to the floor, their trainers looking on in horror.
"W-Who the hell are you?" They cried, but didn't back down, they stood up to the creature, trying to puff their chests out.
"I'm Gary. You're boss has my friends pokemon. We're getting it back." He answered with complete confidence, smirking as he looked from Blastoise to the two grunts. They paled in comparison. "You gonna move or is my little friend going to have to show you the door?" There was only one way out of this floor beside the lift and that was one window glued beside the turtle.
Wisely thinking of preserving their lives they ran, far and fast away.
"That was impressive Gary." Ash praised, though he didn't really want to.
"It was nothin'" he insisted, though the smirk on his face told different. "Come on, Blastoise can clear a path, they may be the strongest but we've been training hard haven't we Blastoise?" He received an affirmative growl in response, the creature looking pleased with its master's faith in him.
Gary and the pokemon lead the way, the hall taking a right at the very end. The walls were painted grey, only one singular window on the whole row. It was tight, the turtle having trouble not scraping its shell against the walls. The ceiling too low down forcing him to bow his head. It seemed to be getting smaller the more they walked. Blastoise not having nearly the room he once had.
Gary scowled, at this rate he'd have to withdraw the pokemon.
"You doin' alright Blastoise?" He asked, worried about the beast. He was hunched more than a ninety year old woman. He cried out, though it wasn't one of discomfort. It was one of strength, denying that there was a problem. "Good."
They carried on, the pokemon struggling more and more, but he refused to acknowledge a problem, instead he forced himself up higher at the sight of a door not too far ahead. With a cry out to his master he quickened his pace.
Gary smirked, pushing past Blastoise to grab onto the door handle, swinging it open.
"Seems we're here. That was quicker than expected. Hope you kids are ready. Things might get ugly."
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