So, it has begun.

Everything had gone according to plan thus far. Petrel and his men will hack and take over the control room of the Indigo Stadium without anyone the wiser. Just right after the performance from the Police Force during the military procession, they will make use of the hijacked defense system to trap and contain the Indigo forces within the stadium. That way, nobody will come to the audience's rescue when Team Rocket announces their appearance to the world.

And it really has begun, starting from the pre-recorded video of Archer being played on the largest screen within the stadium for the entire world to see live on TV. If things had got to this stage, it meant that Petrel had already taken his leave to enact the next part of the plan, leaving me here as the only Executive at Indigo Plateau.

Good.

"Gengar, ninetales, exeggutor, zoroark. To work."

I felt more than I saw my pokemon leaving my side. It's not like I can see them in action with zoroark's illusion up and active. Even without my instructions, they would know what to do. We had run simulations after simulations just in preparation for this day.

Some things couldn't be done by playing fair. I will weed out the greed, corrupt, and evil within Indigo. This will be my last gift to Indigo.

Bisharp and umbreon stood beside me patiently as we waited for everyone else to be done with their work. Everyone's attention is now being drawn to the screen where Archer is busy exposing Kain for what he truly is to the world, leaving us free to do whatever we need to do.

"Happy National Day! Five hundred years of our founding, built upon lies and oppression! It is an event to celebrate about, isn't it? Happy National Day everyone! Happy National Day!"

Typical Archer-esque humour.

"I am Executive Archer of Team Rocket! And today, on behalf of the organisation, I have come to deliver the perfect birthday gift for our nation! What is the perfect gift, you ask? Why, the truth, of course! Nothing but the undeniable truth! Starting from our very own President, Kain Briggs! Everyone, give him a round of applause please!"

Sadly, the only one clapping is Archer and he's not even here right now. This video was pre-recorded.

"Do you know how Indigo prospered? Do you know how we earn our money, enjoying the riches that we enjoy today? Do you know who we have to thank for that? It's President Briggs! Mr President, do you want to share with us your secret to success?"

A separate screen that is filming the stadium live on TV changed its focus of attention to Kain. Even the crew of cameramen on duty today had been replaced by Team Rocket. Right now, the cameras within the stadium will only film the things which Team Rocket wants to show to the world.

Kain obviously wasn't pleased. You can tell from the expression on his face. That curled lips, those clenched fists.

He's pissed alright, which makes me very happy.

"No? It's fine, I understand. You are just shy, aren't you? In that case, let me do it for you! Kain Briggs, the man who defied the impossible and became the leader of a nation at twenty-two years of age! The youngest President to be appointed into office in Indigo's history in its most turbulent times! Never losing a single election, the man adored and respected by both regions that made up the Indigo! Now, how did you do that? It's impossible!"

Impressive, isn't it? To be a President of a nation as large as Indigo at the age of twenty-two, the same age which I am right now. Granted, it was only possible because Indigo was in turbulent times back then. People always say that heroes are born within troubled times. You can say that Kain was one such example. It cannot be denied that he was the one who led Indigo to where she is today.

You can also argue that without Kain, there wouldn't be an Indigo now. It would have fallen apart about forty years back.

If Kain was such a hero, what really happened from when he became President till now? What changed? That, I don't know. And honestly, I have no interest in finding out more.

Back on screen, Archer's speech continues.

"It's simple. You are an expert manipulator, in more ways than one. Your empire is built upon illusions upon illusions, lies after lies! In fact, Team Rocket would never have existed if it wasn't for what you did two decades ago! Today, we are here to tear down your lies and expose the truth to the whole world, live on TV! Right on the day of our nation's founding!"

Do you know what is most painful? To rip out all the old wounds and scars that you forgot you had. It is both brutal and effective when you are reminded of their existence once again.

This is what we are going to do. This is the plan that I made which convinced Giovanni to decide and mark the start of Team Rocket's revolution today. Hijacking the Indigo Stadium's network and defense system on the day where it will be fully filled, holding the people inside hostages that can be used against the Pillars.

And you might ask, why do we need hostages?

Right at this moment, Team Rocket's forces are marching towards Johto's cities. What is standard protocol for towns and cities when an unknown army comes knocking on their doors? Their Gym Leaders will be called upon to help defend their assigned area. Gym Leaders are people who can be individually considered as one-man armies. Under ordinary circumstances, even Team Rocket wouldn't dare to do something as bold as they are doing right now.

But what if, we have 100,000 hostages?

Everything changes. With Team Rocket taking control of the stadium's defense system, nothing that we want to go in or out could go in or out. This stadium has a seating capacity of 100,000. The majority of the Indigo forces are isolated and trapped in different sections of the stadiums behind those enormous gates and shutters. They won't be able to break free to save the 100,000 hostages.

At least, not without a little help.

"Today, I will tell you the truth behind the founding of Team Rocket, starting from the great economic depression two decades ago! Starting from the extermination of some of the greatest and most loyal minds Kanto has to offer! Many of you here present would have heard of the event, the extermination of SKIP! Separation of Kanto from Indigo through Peace! That was us! That was what Team Rocket was before we were forced to become Team Rocket! Forget everything you thought you know about SKIP! None of that was true, lies spun by our dear Mr President in his last ditch attempt to hold onto his seat of power and we have the evidence to prove it! Today, let me tell you our story!"

Regardless of whether Team Rocket was in the wrong or right, their story is something that the world should know, so that such a thing will never happen ever again.

"Let me start off by telling the world the story of how our President publicly ordered a genocide in Kanto without the world knowing about it, the genocide that gave birth to Team Rocket."

I tuned out Archer's words as I closed my eyes and continued to lean my weight against the wall, standing within the shade where the sun doesn't shine. My pokemon should be done soon. Killing selected members of the cabinet without anyone the wiser isn't too hard for us, even if it meant doing it in broad daylight.

I mean, the Vice President beside Kain had his neck slit and Kain is still unaware of it. It's all thanks to zoroark's illusion which he blanketed across the entire stadium. The entire stadium is still unaware of what had happened to their ministers that I had chosen to take this opportunity to kill of my own volition. These are people who I have indisputable proof that they are nothing but blights to Indigo. Removing them will be in everyone's best interests.

There, my quota of one good deed done per day is completed. Maybe this will help me accumulate some good karma? One can only hope for the best, right?

Somewhere down the line while I was lost in my thoughts, Archer's speech had ended. The crowd is in an uproar but yet nobody dared to move out of their seats.

Mewtwo had teleported into the stadium as per Team Rocket's plan. Anyone who tried to go against Mewtwo were viciously defeated. Even when constrained with the M2 Bind, Mewtwo's power cannot be belittled.

Right now, live on TV, Archer had dared Lance to come out and challenge Mewtwo to a deathmatch with the lives of everyone in the stadium at stake. He will have to accept it. Towards the end of the video, Archer had made it very clear to all Gym Leaders in Johto that if they were to resist, then for every Rocket that they defeated one person among the audiences will be killed by Mewtwo. That means that for Indigo to get themselves out of such a disadvantageous situation, someone that is currently within the stadium has to defeat Mewtwo.

This is Giovanni's wish, to slaughter the Dragon Master in front of the entire world. If the Indigo Champion fell under Mewtwo's might, it would only be good publicity for us. Not only that, it has an added effect of allowing Team Rocket to swiftly take over Johto's major cities should things play out the way we wish for them to. Sure, the Gym Leaders are free to choose to resist and defend their towns and cities, but it will be at the cost of 100,000 lives.

100,000 lives, or the sovereignty of Indigo? Giovanni sure gave them a hard question.

I never informed Lance about this part of the plan because Mewtwo had stated that he is interested in facing Lance in battle. So, I indulged him.

'I'm, OUT!'

'Glad to have you here. I barely recognised who you are with all that metal strapped on you.' I replied to Mewtwo as I signalled to Nosy to get on with the next stage of our plans. This is where I am going to split ways with Team Rocket.

'Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a Mewtwo masked in an armour of metal.'

'Ho? V for Vendetta this time? Well, go on. I'm interested in seeing where this is going next.'

'You need to stick to the script for me to carry on with this marvellous and monumental conversation. And by the way, where is that lizard trainer? What is taking him so long? I look like a fool floating in the middle of the stadium and acting all scary looking.'

'If my memories serve me right, the next part of this marvellous and monumental conversation was, Well I can see that.'

'Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation, I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked Mewtwo who he is.'

'Oh, right.'

'But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace sobriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona-'

'It is daytime right now. Your statement is invalid.'

'Quiet. Just let me have my moment. So, ahem. Voila! In view humble maestro master, cast magically as both muggins and malefactor by the metamorphosis of fate. This manifestation, no mere membrane of mercy, is a mark of the beliefs of the majority now maculated, melted. However, this magnificent manifestation of a bygone madness stands merry, and has maintained in his ideals to murder these malign and manipulative madmen, magnanimously guarding against malice and manipulating the melodramatic mediocres and magnifying the meaning of the mind.'

Wait, what?

'The only maxim is meliorism; a motto, held as a motivation in merriment, for the miracles and metaphysical of such shall one day materialise the merciful and the mighty.'

Holy- He actually did it.

'Mindfully, my magnified memorised monologue most mundane, so let me simply add that it's my good honour to meet you and you may call me… Mewtwo.'

'You crazy bastard, I don't even care if that made any sense. You actually did it.'

'Well, thank you.'

'Fess up, how long have you prepared for this moment?'

'For me to know and for you to find out. Ah, it seems that the lizard tamer is finally here to meet me in battle. I assume his appearance means that Nosy had informed him on what to do?'

'It's up to him to believe us. Nosy should have the shutters and gates that lead to the exits opened soon. With that, people can start to make their escape.'

'Oh, I will make the lizard tamer a believer. Don't worry about anything or anyone else, do what you have been wanting to do for ages, Jayce. Go, Nosy and I have things handled. The next time we meet, I will be a free being.'

'You will, and thank you.' I thanked Mewtwo as I felt my pokemon returning to my side at this moment. They must be done with their assigned jobs.

And so, with my worries gone, I made my way towards Kain.

It's time we settled our score.


Admittedly, this is the first time he actually is glad that the man-child appears before him.

Right in the middle of the stadium, that abomination known as Mewtwo is being held back by Lance, Karen, and an Unova Gym Leader. While he has no idea why a Gym Leader from Unova is here, this is not the right time to question things.

From what he can see, the gates and shutters are slowly opening one after the other. The Indigo forces that were previously trapped elsewhere are starting to flood into the stadium to defeat the Rockets that had taken over this monumental building.

The Indigo forces should have this handled.

"Mr President, for your own safety, I think we should find a safe place to retreat to."

Kain gritted his teeth as he glared at the screen, which is now showing the webpage of a website that Team Rocket had created, SKIPedia. From what Archer had revealed every single file uploaded there are confidential or classified files from the government's databases, with secrets so dark that it is only privy to the eyes of a select few.

Not anymore.

He will find out who is behind this. He will send 2046 to investigate the mastermind behind the entire thing after he calms the masses. And speaking of which, why didn't 2046 warn him that such a thing is going to happen today?! Him of all people should have gotten word that such a plan was being hatched!

Or could it be that his identity had been exposed? It couldn't be, right?

Either way, for now, his bodyguard is right. There is a need for him to hide until the storm has passed.

"Let's go."

With one last parting glare at the screen, he walked off with his guards as they led him through a series of passages that is reserved for his sole use. He is sure that everything outside will be a chaotic mess right now. There's no way he can leave like that. In that case, then he will bunker down in the safest place in the entire Indigo.

"We are going to the Indigo Vault. Lead me there."

His guards acknowledged his request before quickly ushering him along the secret passageway that leads them down into the very pits of Indigo Plateau, the forbidden and unknown area that only a select few people in the entire nation would know. They quickly rushed down the endless flight of ancient stairs that were made of stone, making sure that they are going in the correct route because this is a maze of stairs they are in. The maze guarding the Indigo Vault was made in an era where war and strife were commonplace. No one knew the reason why the first Indigo Champion made the Vault or how he made it. If anyone other than him knew, that knowledge had also been lost to time.

The Indigo Champion was said to be unrivalled, a being that surpassed mortals. His rhydon could move the earth and shape the region. His venusaur could grow forests in an instant or made land inhabitable for decades through poison. His arcanine could run through volcanoes and torch the fields by simply being there. His alakazam was the epitome of all psychic pokemon. His crobat was said to be able to fly faster than the speed of sound.

In fact, someone from centuries ago once speculated that the first Indigo Champion's rhydon was the one who created the Indigo Vault, which is utterly ridiculous in Kain's opinion. Mythicals and legendaries, he could understand, but no normal pokemon could be that strong.

Ancient murals and carvings on the stone walls by their sides telling a story long forgotten greeted them as they ran down the endless flight of stairs. To think that everything here was done through the work of pokemon is unfathomable. The Indigo Vault is incredibly huge and deep. While it won't take long to reach the end if you know the correct route to take, just running through the stairs could take hours and maybe days if you took a wrong turn and got lost within the maze of stairs.

They quickly travelled through the correct route that brought them out of the other side of the maze in a short time. They are now at the very bottom of the Vault. The sight of a huge pair of doors made of stone greeted their eyes, secretly guarded by an immensely powerful psychic barrier unseen by the naked eye that had lingered even after more than five centuries had passed.

Initially, only pokemon with Champion level power can open it, but with the recent advancement in technology the reliance on pokemon to do this specific job has been eradicated. Kain wasted no time keying in the required access code required to open the doors. No one in the world except for him knew the exact access code.

With a click of a button, the computer whirred as it displayed the 'ACCESS CONFIRMED' on its screen. Dust fell and the underground cavern shook when the large set of doors began to slowly move and open, the psychic barriers flickering away temporarily to allow them entry.

"Alright, in we go."

The familiar voice that suddenly spoke to him was the first clue that something isn't quite right. The sight of his bodyguards suddenly smirking at him and then shimmering into nothing was when Kain realised that something was wrong.

The person standing in front of him is none other than 2046 himself. None of his bodyguards can be seen.

Where had they gone to? Was everything just an illusion?

How?!


AN: One of my readers once suggested to me to have Mewtwo recreate V's speech, so here it is, just for you. You guys have no idea how long it took to complete Mewtwo's marvellous monumental monologue.

Hope you guys enjoyed the story so far.

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