"And remember!" loud voice of Sabrina was spreading across the whole camp, "Act as one! Each squad has to be united. Strikers - defend your backside protectors. Protectors – do your job against real threats. Supporters – watch over the enemy around you and keep contact with each other…"

She finally learned this text by heart. Or, maybe, she began to understand the scheme of the plan.

Strikers are trainers with powerful pokemon that actually battle the enemy. They need to push through hostile forces and clear the area.

Protectors are all trainers with pokemon that have the move Protect. Team Rocket will begin to play dirty at some point and may begin to play with guns. Protectors have to cover other with the invincible barrier. Between the battles Protectors heal beaten pokemon and their trainers always have enough medicine to help in this.

Supporters are actual scouts. They look around for ambushes, additional enemies and all unfair moves from Team Rocket`s side. After the battle they use different status moves to take care of beaten foe trainers and make sure they will not train anymore…

This scheme looked good enough. Strikers will take care of enemy pokemon, protectors will deal with out-of-battle dangers and supporters deal with soldiers. This will lessen our casualties to the minimum. Even lieutenant Surge approved this plan.

So the army had its final briefing and began to move to their starting positions. Yesterday special scouts cleared the four Routes around the Saffron City, so everything must be ready now.

Sabrina returned back into her command center where all gym leaders were waiting for beginning.

"Well… This is not actually what I expected," Sabrina sighed with disturbance when she looked over all gym leaders in the room and didn`t see Vengeance and Leaf among them.

"But his plan may still work," Misty assured her, "I know him too well and for too long. I bet this is part of his plan too."

"Disappearing right before the beginning?" with doubt in his voice Brock asked, "yeah, a great plan."

"This boy has always been a bit uneasy…" Surge added, "but we have to continue. We can`t stop right now."

"He is right. Ven did all this job for a reason," Erika agreed with him, "he planned everything by himself and gave each of us his personal instructions…"

"…and said us to keep them secret from others," master Koga quietly mumbled, "why is that so important?"

"Because of the traitor?" Brock asked.

"Possibly. He mixed up our people but separated US from each other. Why?" Sabrina wondered.

"Because the traitor… is one of us?" Misty carefully suggested.

The silence fell on the command center. Leaders were constantly looking at each other trying to define who is the traitor among them. That sudden revelation this night made them all think a lot. But no one could suggest one specific person. They all know each other too good. They know each other good enough to like, good enough to dislike, but they are gym leaders! The symbols of region. This has to mean something.

"We`ll see," finally Sabrina exhaled, "let`s move to our positions."

And so it began… The Army of Kanto began its crusade…

"Okay, this is the plan," I began explaining while pointing at the policeman near the entrance, "I enter, tell stupid things, kick everyone`s butt, then open the door for you like a gentleman and let you enter. Deal?"

"What do I need to do?" Leaf asked confusedly.

"You? Enter inside when I invite you, of course!" I obviously answered and headed to the building.

Lone cop with Growlithe noticed me very soon and headed to me with his hand stretched forward.

"This is a restricted area! No civilians allowed!" he warned me.

"What`s so restricted in a regular city?" I asked him without lowering my speed, "I have a girlfriend there, may I see her?"

"The secret operation, region-scale importance! Get lost!"

His pokemon barked at us angrily showing the seriousness of their intentions.

"Fine, fine, I understand," I raised my hands up and retreated a bit back, "but please tell her that she is a bitch."

"Wait a second!" suddenly he called out to me, "you look familiar… Aren`t you a trainer?"

"Me? Noooo… I don`t even have pokeballs!" I unpinned my greatcoat to show him my empty shoulder belt.

"You look like one very suspicious man from Fuchsia City…"

"Nah, not me. I`m from Cerulean City…"

"You`re Vengeance!" the cop stated loudly and tried to get his radio set.

"No, not gonna happen…" I warned him and grabbed a small pile of green powder from my pocket to throw at him. This stun spore worked immediately on contact with the man and caused paralysis. The strong body twitch made him drop the device on ground and break it.

His Growlithe didn`t like my actions for some reason and growled dangerously at me. I gave him some more of stun spores and paralyzed the puppy pokemon too.

"You… piece… of…" the angry policeman tried to tell me something. But I kicked him in the stomach and crouched before him fixing my cap.

"No, I am Vengeance. You told me," I introduced myself and then stood up. I think the cops inside that transition building have already seen me but that will just my appearance more effective. I grinned and headed there.

"Stay where you are!" one of the policemen shouted to me through the speaker.

"I do not want to! We live in a free region where the rules of great democracy live and prosper!" I replied and showed them my middle fingers.

"We will shoot!" he warned me.

"Of course, you will. Team Rocket bitches! Corrupted bastards! Proud protectors of people!" I told them everything I think about them. They didn`t dare to begin shooting immediately even after that. Maybe, Team Rocket pays them not enough for this. Too bad, I wanted to test my reserve protocol.

While I was marching towards the transition building three cops jumped outside and quickly headed to me pointing guns. Some more Growlithes followed them to take me.

"On your knees!" they ordered me, "you`re under arrest!"

"Again? No, thank you. It was hard to get from under that…" I refused from their generous offer. I don`t want to waste my precious time again.

"Shut up!" the nearest cop tried to punch me with pistol but I intercepted that, grabbed the gun and pointed it at him.

"This is useless. Let`s go, guys!"

The loud rustle of leaves on the nearby trees broke the calmness of this place and five deadly creatures jumped out of it. Charizard, Beedrill, Golbat, Victreebel and Gengar – my reliable gang – rushed to our enemies to finish them off. These poor bastards couldn`t do anything to us – we were stronger and faster. The whole cop group was defeated in mere seconds. This was too easy…

"Well… Looks like we`re done here." I said while looking around, "girl, come on!"

Leaf quickly ran to me under the protection of my pokemon partners. I grabbed her hand when she approached me.

"Okay, are you ready?" I asked her with confident smile.

"Even if I`m not, what gives?" she replied.

"Well, let`s go then," I released her and proceeded in the direction of gates, "you know what to do."

"No, I do not!" she shouted, "you didn`t tell me!"

"Really, I didn`t?" for a second I tried to remember whether I actually forgot to tell her my plan or not. Possibly not, "well then, take out your team and protect the Big Boss. He will tell you what`s needed."

"And… who is the Big Boss?" Leaf confusedly asked.

"He is," I pointed at the car slowly appearing before her. The heavy-armored road monster with a pack attacked to its roof. Spikes all over the place, aggressive red color and crazy driver inside…

Bill`s Blood Devil.

The machine stopped near Leaf and the driver in it playfully addressed Leaf:

"Hey, baby, wanna ride?"

"…Bill, you scared me! What the hell is this?" she asked worried.

That were her last words I heard as I entered the Saffron City through the main South Gates. Here goes nothing…

The city looks dark and abandoned. The black cloudy sky makes its atmosphere much more brutal than it is. I don`t like this place. Team Rocket turned it into something really evil.

I saw no people on the streets while heading straight – only a couple of dirty wild pokemon gnawing some plastic trash. This really looks like the post-apocalypse, damn it!

My team was following me and looking around. Dumpling made a couple of quiet growling comments on what`s happening around there – and I can agree with him. This is not a place I would like to live in. Too deserted for a city where people still actually exist.

"Moment, scout that area!" I pointed to the right for my Golbat to observe. He screeched readily and headed to the nearest yard.

I need to look around too, and for this I chose another building nearby. It may be not the highest one, but it has a ladder to the very roof. That`s more important to me.

"Reaper, Loser, follow me. The rest – wait for us down there."

We split up for some time to cover the biggest territory. Maybe if I had more faith in Magikarp I would let him help us too, but… not now. I don`t think he is ready for this.

I quickly got to the roof and looked at the city from the height. The highest building – my actual goal – the central office of Silph Co graciously rises over all other houses. And the center of city looks a bit more alive – many people actually show some signs of life. What a relief.

Through my binoculars I could see some crowd on the city`s biggest square. This actually looks like a protest of some sort… Our ninjas did well in social interaction with the citizens, though I did not expect this protest to be this big. This may interfere with the progress of Misty`s squad a bit later.

"Anyway… good job, guys." I quietly said to a ninja hiding behind me. Maybe there was no one, but then no one heard me anyway.

I got all the information I need and gave a signal for my pokemon to go down. I was the last one to return to ground right at the second my Moment returned from the scouting. He had something in his mouth.

"Oh, how much do I have to tell you…" I grumbled and took the thing from him. "What is it?"

I didn`t expect my pokemon to answer this question. The thing he brought looked like a gun… melted gun. And the source of such melting has to be acid – not fire. Curious…

Who actively uses poison-type pokemon? Team Rocket. Koga`s ninjas. Suddenly me.

And…

The Courier.

Does this mean he is here somewhere? Does this mean my car is here somewhere?

I`m definitely in a right way. Maybe Moment has brought me some useless trash; this trash meant a lot to me.

I rushed to the yard where I sent my Golbat to just to check this by myself. A couple of purple poison burns on the ground made my way clearer. The track of tires on large deserted junkyard… But as on Route 3, they disappear very soon. They appear like out of nothing! And I can`t track them down… I can`t understand where did it appear from and where headed next. How can this be?

The tire tracks definitely belong to my car. They are straight… They are clear… They are not widened – the tires are not flat. Damn it… All that is so sudden I can`t even focus on searching the place. Maybe the time is short now but I will return there later.

My team regrouped on the main road and looked in the direction of city south entrance. I paid my attention to it too and saw Bill`s car heading our way surrounded by Leaf`s pokemon. The girl herself was sitting on a back of her Roarer riding near the car.

I actually wanted to scout more territory before their arrival. But I can adapt too.

Leaf waved to me and I replied with the same. Soon their company approached me and Bill got out of his window.

"Is the road clear?"

"The part after you – yes. The rest… we`ll see," I suddenly remembered I didn`t pay much attention to the road we are going now to during the observation.

"Take this," Bill suddenly gave me a small list of paper.

"It that it?" I asked him to make sure.

"Yes. This map will help you orientate in that damn labyrinth of Silph Co." he replied and returned to driving. We all moved quite slowly comparing to regular car speed, so I easily followed them on my foot.

"Why does he need a map?" Leaf joined our conversation, "is that office too complicated?"

"It was built by idiots," Bill answered, "navigating in their office is the hardest thing to learn when you begin working there. I was there a couple of times, repairing their teleport system. I… have copied a couple of schemes. I knew they`ll come in handy someday."

"But you didn`t expect this day will be THIS day?" Leaf nudged him and playfully looked at me.

"I had no idea…" Bill replied and then suddenly stopped, "wild ones ahead!"

Three shabby Raticates appeared from the back alley and blocked our road.

"Move away, and we won`t hurt you!" I shouted at them. Unfortunately they completely ignored me and opened their mouth open. The large teeth began to glow threateningly and their owners jumped on us.

"Take care of the left one, Dumpling. Metal Claw!" I gave a command to my leading pokemon.

"Roarer, Flamethrower on the right one!" Leaf joined the battle.

"And what about the middle one?" Bill asked worried, "Nevermind, I`ll take care of him."

And even before any of our pokemon managed to hit his target, Bill`s gun on the top of car turned on, flashed brightly and began to spin its end. The energetic lightning inside the device turned into a beam that moved to poor Raticate and grabbed him. Pokemon was taken into the air and then powerfully thrown into the wall.

This sight made two other Raticates run in fear from us.

"That was awesome!" I cried out loud, "but a bit cruel. Let`s save such methods for the last, okay?"

"As you say, boss." the inventor replied and turned his crazy laser off.

Leaf`s face was the mad mix of confusion, shock and amazement. She did like it… But she didn't like it.

"You… never do… that…" she quietly and seriously said him.

"What is the difference between his machine and your Roarer`s Tackle attack?" I questioned her.

"I don`t care. This… was wrong."

"Okay! Fine, we`ll never return to this again!" Bill stopped us and just moved on.

Maybe there is a hole in my plan…

We crossed some more quarters and saw just barely ten people. They hurried to walk away as they notice us with our deadly invention.

"Not good…" Bill whispered suspiciously, "we`re opened on this street."

He was right – we are on a dangerous place now. But even this was foreseen.

"You do have a flying support, yes? How far is it?"

"Three minutes of flight from here," he replied.

"All of them?"

"All of them."

"That`s good," I smiled evilly, "we have seventeen pokemon and a Magikarp… We can withstand the attack for three minutes."

"Yeah. It`s easy when you can store an army in your bag," Leaf added and smiled.

"Exactly. But remember that Rockets will have more than army. They will have guns. This is a thing we don`t have… A thing we must be aware of. If the battle goes not in their favor… they will not hesitate to use it. If they will not use it at our sight."

"I remember! To give the signal if this happens!" Leaf said and turned away.

"Good. Kletto is our only Protector here, but this is all we need. If there is a slightest sign of it – you two are jumping under protection. I`ll handle these bastards by myself."

In our talks we moved even deeper into the city. The night streets were a good cover for us but also for bandits. Not just Team Rocket – they act like a masters here. I`m talking about regular robbers, rapists and other scum. Saffron City turned into crime lair even worse than Cerulean. We need to stop it.

On our way I grabbed someone`s large carpet from the yard and covered our gun with it. Bill conveniently left his coverage right on the entrance to city, and now we do not need attention.

"Wait here," I silently said and left my companions to guard the car.

I found another good and high building as an observation post. Reaper and Moment followed me to guard on the very top this time.

The weather became even worse as the rain began when I reached the roof. This aggravated my binocular vision but I could see our target close. Just a couple of quarters… and a couple of Team Rocket guards with their Koffings stand near the entrance. Maybe most of their men are robbing people or beating them at that protest…

"Damn it!" the girl behind me swore, "it`s getting cold."

"Why did you leave your post?" I quietly scolded her. Leaf somehow managed to get up and approach me and I didn`t even notice. I don`t like it.

"Bill can handle it, all my pokemon are with him. I just want to talk privately."

Her tone was quite serious. I like this even less than the terrible weather.

"To talk about… what?" I asked her.

"I still don`t know what are you trying to achieve with all this. You want to free the city or get Giovanni?"

"To get Giovanni, of course! What kind of question is that?" I answered honestly. This question really offended me.

"Why are you so sure he is there? What is happening in the Silph Co.?" she continued to question me.

"I have no idea what exactly is happening there… Even our ninja allies could not infiltrate the office itself," I admitted, "but Giovanni has to be there. I chose this day for a reason. Every Friday Giovanni`s helicopter comes to visit the president of Silph Co. This is why I chose this exact day for an attack. He is there, I am sure of it…" I focused my vision on the roof of Silph Co office, "you see?"

I gave Leaf my binocular and pointed at the left side of building.

"His helicopter is there. The big 'R' sign, yes?"

"Yeah… Are you going to sabotage it so he doesn`t escape?"

Damn, is this so obvious that even Leaf guessed it? Well, she is quite smart girl, but Team Rocket are not complete idiots too. Not all of them. We need to hurry.

I took a signal rocket launcher and shot one small flare into the air. This charge exploded in the sky with beautiful purple firework.

"Why did you do that?" Leaf judgingly whispered.

"Wait…" I replied shortly.

After some seconds the same signal flare exploded on the north of city with blue color. A bit later – another one with green color exploded on the east. And after them the yellow-colored signal rocket exploded on the south from us.

"Damn it…" I swore after some more seconds.

"What`s wrong?" Leaf asked worried.

"The squad from west doesn`t respond. It either Brock doesn`t trust me anymore or just dead. Which is the same to me."

"How can you say such things!"

"With my mouth. Let`s go, they are approaching."

I headed back to the ladder and clicked my pokemon to follow me down. But sudden scream of Leaf scared me immediately.

"Ven!"

I turned back to see Golbat grabbing my companion with his legs. And that was not mine Golbat…

"So, that`s who you are…" the haughty man voice sounded from the side. When I turned to its source the bandit appeared from the roof superstructure. The high and proud man in classic black-colored Team Rocket uniform with blue hair and incredibly arrogant face expression. I want to punch him so much already!

"Reaper, warn Bill, quickly," I commanded to my pokemon, "and YOU! Leave her alone!"

"How rude…" he just shook his head. So overconfident he didn`t even stop my Reaper, "I know you. I will let you know me. My name is Proton… and this is the name of a man who kills the infamous Vengeance."

He clicked his fingers and his Golbat released Leaf… into a free flight from the very top of building.

"Moment, save her!" I commanded to my pokemon.

"Confuse ray!"

The enemy Golbat launched a colorful ray into my pokemon to stop him from rescuing Leaf. I couldn`t let that happen so I jumped in front of my pokemon to take this hit myself. And that made the world spin around me… The vision gone blur and strange, I completely lost the orientation.

Just sounds stayed with me. I heard Leaf`s scream from the side, I heard Moment flying towards her, I heard that bastard of Rockets laughing at us.

And suddenly then… My leg felt no ground under it and all my body fell too. I felt the free falling just like Leaf. But I stayed silent. I could not say anything.

But Moment still noticed my fall. And he had a choice to make: save Leaf or save me.

My pokemon didn`t hesitate too long to rush to me and grab with his strong legs.

But he had no more time for Leaf. He left her falling with a restrained tear on small evil bat eyes.