Today's the big day.

Morales are high, spirits are pumped. Team Rocket is more than ready to take over Indigo and subsequently, the entire world.

Sounds like a big joke. World domination. It's just not possible. Nobody had managed it since the beginning of time.

But if you are aware of what Team Rocket is truly capable of, then the threat suddenly seems all too real. It may not happen in the next year, the next five years, or maybe in the next decade. But two decades later? Three?

It's entirely possible, on the basis that Team Rocket did succeed in taking over Indigo today. If you are a part of Team Rocket, you will be eager, enthusiastic, because you are going to be taking part in an important turning point of the world's history. Giovanni and Ariana are surprisingly confident in Team Rocket's ability to take down a nation that has been around since more than 500 years ago and change the course of history.

And it just didn't make any sense to me.

Even after discounting the fact that I had already warned the Indigo. Resources, manpower, firepower, element of surprise, Mewtwo. Yes, all of these are crucial and they are needed to make Team Rocket's vision a reality. However, are they truly enough? No matter how weak Indigo may seem in current times it is still a nation that has a history of more than half a millennium. No matter how weak it seemingly is it is still a force to be reckoned with. I am not even talking about Indigo's legendaries that are known to make their appearance during the nation's times of crisis.

Can Team Rocket really take Indigo down today?

No matter how I think about this, for Giovanni and Ariana to be this confident means that they have another trump card. A trump card that is probably on the same value or higher than Mewtwo. A legendary level trump card.

And it terrifies me, because I have no idea just what Giovanni and Arianna is hiding from even me for them to be this confident. It's then I see the practicality and the need of having the level of information control Team Rocket is known to implement. It really works, even against an Executive like me.

One of the other Executives must have the information that I lack, the information regarding Team Rocket's hidden trump card. Information that even I am not made aware of. I would place my bet on Archer but knowing Giovanni, he might do the very opposite instead. It really could be anyone else.

Lance has to be warned about this. It's a little late, but better late than never. I don't have any concrete proof, all I have is my gut feeling and logical reasonings but it will have to do. Nosy can do the informing for me, the world of data and information is his battlefield. For the rest of us, our battles will be done the conventional way.

Our last battle.

To be honest, I am looking forward to it, my final battle. I'm tired. I want to rest. For all twenty-two years of my life I have been fighting and lying without an end in sight. It's time for things to stop, for things to become right once more. For the greater good. Using whatever it takes.

If there's one thing that I can take comfort in, it's that I'm not alone.

Today marks the conclusion of Project Illusion. No more illusions, no more lies. Let the sacrifices of three hundred and fifty-eight lives and their wills determine who comes out on top. Jane is with me, the other three hundred and fifty-seven operatives of Project Illusion are with me, Mewtwo is with me, my pokemon is with me.

Together, we may be individually weak. But together, we are dangerous. Dangerous enough to end Team Rocket for good. The grand finale that I had been orchestrating for over a decade is near.

Although, it's best if we do not have an encore. Let the price of breaking this vicious cycle be limited to just the three hundred and fifty-nine of us.

Like this, our sacrifices will mean something.


The execution of Operation Skip has officially commenced.

He is excited. How could he not be? He's been looking forward to this for years, to change things for the better.

Today, he is not doing this as Executive Petrel, but also as Henrik Amon.

"This is team Crobat. We are in position."

"Team Arbok, in position."

"Team Muk, we are ready."

Petrel grinned. Just like Plague had foresaw. Infiltrating into the Indigo Stadium is really easier than it seems.

"Petrel to all. Proceed."

"Roger."

With that, Petrel kicked back and relaxed from where he was sitting… within the control room of the Indigo Stadium.

Too easy.

At one corner of the room, the original staff that are supposed to handle the celebration proceedings are tied up and unceremoniously tossed to a corner. They will not be waking up anytime soon. Around him, Petrel's most trusted subordinates are getting busy doing whatever they need to do to hack into the Indigo Stadium's network and defense system.

Every year without fail, the celebrations of Indigo's National Day will be televised live on TV to the entire world. Today, Team Rocket is here at Indigo Plateau, here at Indigo Stadium where the celebration proceedings of their nation's founding. They are here for one sole reason.

They are here to announce themselves to the world. It is irony at its finest, to announce their presence, to bring Indigo down on the day it was founded and expose all the hypocrisy and lies that Indigo has been fooling its people.

How fitting.

This is why everything that they are doing today must leave an impact so great that it will be remembered for the next few decades. This is why they are going into so much trouble to do what they have to do. A good start is half the battle won.

"Sir, we have successfully taken control of the stadium's defense system."

"Good. Carry on as we planned. Make sure we have definite control over the stadium's gates and shutters. Monitor the Indigo forces stationed within the stadium. They should move according to the schedule we dug out."

"Yes sir!"

Petrel grinned. Everything is going according to plan. So this is the plan Jacob had come up with to take Kain and Indigo down for good, eh? He can see why Giovanni was convinced. It is too tempting an opportunity to pass up on.

Now, he's curious as to what other surprises are in store.


Despite living in Indigo for more than two decades, this is my first time here at the Indigo Stadium.

The Indigo Stadium is famous and has a long history. Not just because it is one of the biggest and oldest stadiums the world has to offer, not just because the world's very first Pokemon League Tournament was held here, not just because this is where every important pokemon battle in the Indigo will be held, but also because this is one of the few places that can effectively contain the most destructive of pokemon without problems.

Yes, you read that right. The Indigo Stadium is capable of containing threats within and preventing them from coming out. Likewise, it is equally capable of defending everyone within from any external threats. You can think of it as an enormous bunker with its own sophisticated defense system. That description really isn't too far off that mark.

The Indigo Stadium became this way partly out of necessity, and partly due to its purpose of being a venue that can hold any form of pokemon related events, including extremely destructive pokemon battles on the Champion level. The stadium itself is built with the hardiest materials you could find. The numerous rooms, big or small, are also designed to contain destructive pokemon if there is a need for such an action. The entire stadium is strategically designed and separated into many sections, with large heavy metal gates and shutters positioned at key areas that can be immediately activated to quickly isolate a given section when needed if a pokemon within the stadium somehow goes berserk and needs immediate containment. Those gates and shutters are said to be near indestructible unless you are on a level of a Pillar.

Like with all important events, the VIPs are seated at a different section of the stadium away from the rest of the audiences. For an event as important as the celebration of a nation's founding, all the important figures are here. Good, bad, upright, corrupt, they are all present.

Meanwhile, I am dressed like any other participant of this year's celebration, a dark bluish purple that is the national colour of Indigo. Today, I'm one of the minorities within the organisation that do not need to wear the organisation's uniform.

I prefer that, actually. It's more symbolic this way.

My job as Executive Plague is to infiltrate the stadium and make my way towards where the VIPs are seated. While I can hold my own in a fight, fighting battles head-on isn't my forte. Sneaking around, assassination, and gathering information is. I will leave the fighting to everyone else. Today, I have only one goal.

Kain is mine.

With my pokemon's hypnosis and zoroark's illusion abilities at work, sneaking into my target location isn't hard. Regarding Kain, Giovanni's and my goal had always been aligned with each other. For that, I am willing to play the role of the Rocket's Exterminator for a little longer until I inevitably turn my blade towards Team Rocket to exterminate them instead.

I leaned against a wall as I waited for the celebrations to kick off. Already, most of the audiences are seated, basking themselves in this joyous sensation. If only they knew that they would be Team Rocket's hostages in about half an hour's time.

Petrel should have already taken control of the network and defense system of the Indigo Stadium by now. Team Rocket's porygon army should be enough to achieve such a feat. Since all the pieces are already in place, then all I have to do now is to wait.

Hopefully, Lance didn't let me down. Even if he did, it's fine.

It's not like I will bear witness to whatever becomes of Indigo after today anyway.


Today is Indigo's National Day, the day of Indigo's founding. Like always, it is a big event. The Indigo Plateau is flooded with people, spirits running high. Parents held onto the hands of their children. Children held onto the mini national flags in their small hands, waving it enthusiastically in the air as they celebrated their nation's founding. Kantonians and Johtonians alike join together to celebrate their nation's birthday.

A nation built by the merger of two regions to unite under a single banner.

It is such a sight that made Kain believe that everything was worth it. Every single thing that he had to do, legal or not, moral or not, was worth it. The results justify the price. Peace in Indigo would never be achievable if it wasn't for his efforts. Only he can handle such a burden to walk the fine line between good and evil. Only he could do this, to make his dream a reality, to make Indigo an utopia where people need not be afraid of being born different.

It's all for the greater good.

"Mr President."

"Langley." Kain greeted Senator Langley with his classic smile. "Enjoying the celebrations?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Langley replied suavely, dressed in the national colour of dark purple as everybody is. "See you later, Mr President. I'll be taking my seat now."

"You do that. I'll join you when I have finished giving my speech." Kain returned with a smile at the traitor that Operative 2046 had identified for him. Langley is a government official that is secretly working for Team Rocket, among many other high ranking ones that 2046 had dug out for him during his spy work.

The only reason Kain kept these traitorous ministers close was so that he can spy on them at places where he can see them. When the day comes where he can finally smite Team Rocket down for good, they will be gone too.

It's either him or them, and he has no tolerance towards those that threatens the sovereignty of Indigo.

Cheers erupted from the crowd when they saw the Indigo Police Force putting up a splendid performance. The demonstration of Indigo's three main forces had always been the highlight of every single National Day. This year is no different. After all three forces are done with their performance, it will be his turn and give his annual speech as Indigo President, thanking the citizens for making the Indigo dream possible.

Although not everyone's contribution can be recognised, because the work of some can never be brought to light. It is the type of work that is crucial to maintaining the fragile peace but cannot be learnt by anybody else if Indigo is to remain standing.

The unsung heroes.

Many good men and women believing in the same things he did had lost their lives working for him, but it was worth it. They are the unsung heroes of the nation, people who will never be remembered but are no less important. He had done many things that he is not proud of. Controlling minds and speaking lies had never been what he enjoyed doing, but it is necessary.

Only he could do it. Only he could see what others could not see, the threats looming across the horizon. Only he can lead Indigo to peace and prosperity. No one else can.

He never did understand why the first Indigo Champion set up the Government-League system of governance. Yes, he understands that checks and balances are necessary. He understands that even the average trainer will know more about pokemon than any brilliant minister that works in his cabinet. Pokemon-related issues should always be handled by trainers. Non-pokemon issues should be handled by the experts in their respective fields.

It sounds good on paper, but it's so inefficient in practice. Lance and him often argued because of their differing views. That man-child knows nothing about how to run a nation. Because of his foolishness, Indigo had stagnated. It had not improved as much as he liked it to be.

That moron.

He can handle both, so he will handle both. Lance is inept. He's naive, childish. Strong as he may be as a warrior and trainer, Lance is no good in politics. The only reason why he agreed to have Lance as their Indigo Champion after Samuel Oak stepped down is because Lance is easy to fool and pacify.

He, on the other hand, had been involved in politics for over forty years, a veteran in this area. Only he knows what is best for Indigo. He had risen up and led the nation in one of her darkest times and he will continue to do so until a suitable successor can be found.

Since Lance proved to be incapable, he will do Lance's job for him. That is his duty as President of the Indigo Government. To him, Lance's duty is to repel and deter physical threats in and outside their nation, which is no different from an Army General. That's it. The title of Champion is just a fancy title, a glorified seat for a warmonger. The man called Lance who is wearing the crown of the Champion title is just a naive and ignorant boy who is too inept at even solving anything pokemon related, always needing him to secretly help him clean up his mess.

No one else can do it, that's why he will do this alone. The only help he has is from those people he personally picked to help him. They are people who have shown that they have both the potential and the capability to do whatever it takes.

He's picky in who he chooses to be his helper.

Not only must they have the potential, they must have the loyalty. The logical way is to groom his secret helpers from scratch, preferably from when they are very young. That already means that his project to build his own secret army will be a long term project. If the child's loyalty cannot be secured, then he tampers with their minds with Hypnosis. Hypno used to help him with such an endeavour until it was killed when one of his operatives somehow broke free of it and went rogue.

It used to be him, his father, and hypno. Then, it was him and hypno. Now, it's only him.

Hypno is irreplaceable. Still is. Till date, he still hasn't found a psychic pokemon with the same skills and which he can trust without question. That rogue operative almost ruined everything for him.

Professor Samuel Oak's granddaughter. Of course that man's spawn would be the special one.

Too bad that failure had to be terminated. She found out too much, too soon. If she remained ignorant or remained loyal to his cause, she could easily be one of his most trusted operatives, like 2046.

But at least her death brought about something good for Indigo.

He had picked many other children from various other places in Indigo to help him on his quest in making Indigo great again. 359 of them. Out of so many, only one child was truly special.

A child that was born different from birth. A child loved and protected by the darkness. A child protected and adored even by wild vicious dark types when he was still swaddling in baby clothes, even if the child had no memories about it since his mind is already so scrambled. The only reason why he went to such lengths to get that child, even if it meant risking a political war with another region, was because he believed getting that child into his fold was worth it.

A child naturally loved by dark types. He still couldn't understand pokemon and their eccentricities sometimes.

Back then, just by looking at the nameless child, Kain did not need to be a trainer to know that he would grow into his most dependable helper. He was proven right. Operative 2046 had proven time and time again to be his most invaluable asset in maintaining the peace in Indigo. He's priceless. He had infiltrated the most dangerous, largest, and secretive terrorist organisations in Kanto and worked his way up to be one of Team Rocket's Executive.

Only he could see what others could not, only he could do what others could not. He was proven right every single time.

With 2046 working for him, taking down Team Rocket is no longer a dream. There's no way he is going to inform Lance about this, that buffoon will only blow this up somehow. Yes, morals and principles are important qualities to have as a human being, but when you are dealing with that, that kind of monsters clad in human skin, that kind of organisation that don't play fair and will do anything to corrupt their beloved motherland, morals and principles will only hold you back.

You cannot play fair with these types of creatures. Dark and dirty is the only way to go.

Yes, he is certain that he will only call upon Lance's help in exterminating Team Rocket when he needs the military might of the Indigo League to uproot them for good. Until then, Lance should just stay put, because that Dragon Tamer does not understand.

To keep away the darkness from the things you want to protect, one must step into the darkness himself. If no one is able to do it, if no one wants to do it, then he will do it.

Because he is Kain Briggs, the President of Indigo. He will do whatever it takes for the sake of the greater good.

According to the emcee, the Rangers' performance is next. Although, they are taking a little long to make their appearance. This obviously is not part of the plan if the emcee's expression is to go by.

And then, the largest screen within the stadium flickered and the display changed.

"Greetings, citizens of Indigo."

Kain's eyes widened. He doesn't know who the man that is talking through the screen is, but he does recognise the large red 'R' imprinted on the left side of his shirt over where his heart is.

Team Rocket.


Character and Pokemon List:

Name: Jayce

Age: 22

Official Identity: Jacob Myers

Real identity: Oldest son to Grimsley Dandolos

Indigo Government Identity: Operative 2046, Code Name: Gengar

Indigo Government Rank: Special Agent

Team Rocket Identity: Executive Plague

Team Rocket Rank: Executive

Pokemon Team:

1. Ninetales, female

2. Exeggutor, male

3. Weavile, male

4. Honchkrow, female

5. Gengar, female

6. Houndoom, male

7. Umbreon, male

8. Hydreigon, male

9. Drapion, female

10. Zoroark, male

11. Bisharp, male

12. Shiftry, male

13. Porygon-Z, (Nosy), genderless