Davis has managed to earn his seventh badge. He is now only one badge away from entering the Centros League. So, as they are heading for Calforn City for Davis' next gym battle, they have stopped for some lunch.

"How long until we get to Calforn City?" Davis said.

"It looks like it's going to take some time." Cletus said as he looked over a map.

"I can't wait to get there." Tetsu said. "I heard that it's one of the sunniest cities in Centros with it having an amazing beach."

"Sounds nice, but I'm more interested in my last gym battle." Davis said. "We should call Flint. He should be able to..." Suddenly, the ground around them began to shake like there was an earthquake. "What's going on? Why is the ground shaking?"

"It feels like there's something under us!" Imperialdramon said. That was right when the ground burst.

"Roo!" They all looked and saw a Steelix emerged and it looked really mad. All of them were worried on what might happen, but Steelix looked like it was in pain as it just collapsed.

"What was that?" Tetsu questioned.

"It's a Steelix, but it looks like it's in pain." Cletus said. Wanting to know more, Davis pulled out his pokedex.

"Steelix, the Iron Snake Pokemon. A steel and ground type, and the evolve form of Onix. It is said that it's body is harder than any iron because of all the temperature and pressure from underground."

"Steelix looks like it really needs some help." Davis said as he took a few steps forward, but some sort of attack came out of nowhere and stopped him from doing anything.

"Keep away from that Steelix." They all looked and were met with a group of people. One that stood out was big and muscular with spikey blonde hair. He wore grey pants and a vest with a blue shirt. He also had an Aggron standing next to him. The part that really stood about them was the logo they all had.

"That logo... It can't be!" Davis said as he and Imperialdramon recognized it instantly.

"It's Team Rocket!" Davis and Imperialdramon said.

Pokemon

It's a battle, win or lose

It's the friends you make

It's the road you choose

We've got the right stuff

So make your mind up

And find the courage inside of you.

If you're strong, you'll survive

And you'll keep your dream alive

Let the battle begin

Pokemon

Be the best you can be and find your destiny

It's the master plan

The power's in your hand

Pokemon

(Davis' voice) Blasting Off Pt.1

Davis and Imperialdramon couldn't believe it. Members of the organization they're familiar with, Team Rocket, is standing right before them.

"Team Rocket? Here?!" Imperialdramon said.

"Team Rocket?" Tetsu questioned.

"Who are they?" Cletus questioned.

"Tell you later. Imperialdramon, don't let them get near that Steelix!" Davis said.

"Right." Imperialdramon said. He tried getting closer to Steelix to protect it, but the big guy snapped his fingers. When he did that, his Aggron charged right at Imperialdramon with Double-Edge and smashed right into him. Imperialdramon got hit pretty hard with getting knocked to the ground rather easily. Seeing that was a shock to Davis and the others.

"Big mistake." The big guy said. "Stay out of our way or else. Of course, if you hand over every pokemon you have, we might be willing to let you go." He threatened. "That big armored one looks rather interesting. I've never seen one like it before. Our boss would surely love it."

"Say what?! You've got a lot of nerve to ask for that!" Tetsu said.

"I say you're the one with nerve to even oppose us." The big guy said.

"What shall we do with them, Commander Boomer?"

"Easy. Get rid of them, but make sure you secure that Steelix." Boomer said.

"No you don't!" Davis said as he attempted to stop them, but Aggron swung his tail around and knocked him away. Tetsu and Cletus couldn't believe what they were seeing. Pokemon actually attacking humans with trainers allowing it.

"You claimed you know who we are, so you should know not to mess with us." Boomer warned. "Aggron, get rid of these kids." Aggron stepped a little further and was willingly going to attack them.

"That's enough!" They all looked up and saw someone dive out of the sky. Davis and the others were surprised to see it was Chase and his Hydregion.

"It's Chase!" Davis said as they were astonished to see them.

"Hydregion, Dark Pulse!" Chase ordered.

"Hydreigon!" Hydreigon unleashed a blast of dark rings and blasted Aggron with it and provided some cover for them.

"Come on! Now's our time to escape!" Chase said.

"What about Steelix? What's going on?" Davis said.

"There's no time!" Chase said as he just grabbed Davis and ran out of there. The others didn't understand what was going on, but they trusted Chase and just ran out of there. When the dust cleared away, Boomer saw they were gone.

"Should we go after them, sir?"

"Leave them." Boomer said with annoyance. "We got bigger projects to work on." He looked at Steelix when he said that. If Team Rocket wants Steelix for something, it can't be good at all for Steelix.

...

Davis' Group

"That was close." Chase said. After helping them getaway, they all found a safe place for them to rest. "This is actually a surprise. I wasn't expecting to see any of you out here."

"We weren't expecting any of this." Davis said. "Chase, what is going on? What are you doing out here?"

"I'm here because Team Rocket is here." Chase said. This sounded serious. "You see, while I am the Champion and try to spend my time like any other trainer, I'm also part of a task force."

"A task force?" Cletus questioned.

"As you know, pokemon are incredible creatures with extraordinary powers, but there are those who use those powers for selifh, even malicious, purposes." Chase said. "Many organizations have been built upon to use pokemon or at least what pokemon are capable of for their own goals that are considered illegal and put others in danger. Team Rocket is one of those organizations, as well as previous organizations like Team Galactic, Team Flare, and Team Plasma. Unlike most trainers, they care more about using pokemon to bring harm to the others. I became part of a task force in an attempt to bring them down." Tetsu and Cletus were shocked as this was a first they were hearing of this. "We've been following Team Rocket's movements and found them here."

"I've dealt with Team Rocket before." Davis admitted. "My friends and I constantly ran into a trio that belonged to the same organization. They were always trying to take all our pokemon, especially Ash's Pikachu."

"I remember those three, but these guys are on a whole other level. They are a lot more serious than the ones we know." Imperialdramon claimed. "That one guy named Butch and his Aggron mean business. I could tell with how he just attacked us like that."

"That's for sure." Davis said. "What are they doing here? What are they going to do with that Steelix?"

"Team Rocket has set a research station here." Chase said. "They're conducting experiments to bring out the full potential of pokemon."

"They're full potential? I don't get it." Tetsu said.

"No matter how hard one trains, whether they're a person or a pokemon, it's quite difficult to bring out one-hundred percent." Chase said. "Team Rocket is working on an experiment that allows that to happen, forces the power to come out and be exerted constantly thanks to the use of some machinery. It would make pokemon incredibly strong."

"But isn't that cheating? Many trainers have to work to bring out their pokemon's strength." Cletus said. "They're doing it through some sort of machine?"

"That's the least of our problems." Chase said. "Gaining power through such methods comes with a price. It puts a lot of physical and mental stress on the pokemon. They act out in rage and pain and just can't seem to help it. There's even the possibility of severe and permanent damage happening."

"That's what they're doing to Steelix?!" Davis said as none of them liked how that sounded. They're using Steelix in twisted experiments that could seriously hurt Steelix, and it sounds like they don't care either.

"We can't let that happen! We have to do something!" Tetsu said.

"Wrong. You three are leaving." Chase said as he stood up. "This is something that I will take care of. You three must continue on and leave this all to me."

"No way!" Davis said as he doesn't want any of that at all. "We can't just stand around and do nothing!"

"This isn't some pokemon battle!" Chase said with a raised voice. "These people can be dangerous! They will hurt you if they have to! I can't have you risk yourselves! It's understandable that you want to help, but I'm afraid you can't. Davis, you said so yourself that these people are different than the ones you've faced before. I just can't allow it."

"I'm not afraid of them." Davis said.

"My answer is still no. You all need to leave this area now." Chase said as he turned around and wasn't going to debate this anymore. Chase climbed on Hydregion and took off with him leaving and left all of them stunned.

"I just can't believe it." Tetsu said as he was a little shaken. "I've never heard of organizations that treat pokemon like that."

"I never knew ones like that existed." Cletus said.

"All the more reason we've got to do something." Davis said as the thought of just standing around and doing nothing knowing all of this just made him furious. "Forget just leaving. There's no way that's happening."

"You can say that again." Imperialdramon said.

"You're not seriously considering defying Chase himself, are you?" Tetsu questioned.

"Of course I am. We've got to try and do something. You guys go wait in a nearby town if you want, but I've got to try and do something." Davis said as he wasn't afraid to stand against guys like this. "Let's go, Imperialdramon."

"Yeah. Actually, I missed giving those losers a good pummeling." Imperialdramon claimed. The two of them ran on ahead to try and do anything they could to save that Steelix. Cletsu and Tetsu weren't sure what to think of the situation, but they knew they couldn't leave Davis like this.

"Hold on! We'll come with you!" Cletus called as he and Tetsu hurried after them.

...

Team Rocket's Lab

Team Rocket set up shop in a building that was placed in the middle of the woods. They already managed to get Steelix back there and were concocting their experiments on that poor pokemon. Steelix was placed in another room while others were monitoring it.

"How's it looking?" Boomer questioned as he wanted a status report. "How soon can we use Steelix's power?"

"It will take some time." One of the scientists said. "The experiment has affected the part of the brain that stimulates rage."

"So what? Rage can add to power." Boomer said.

"Be that as it may, Steelix has sustained some physical strain with some mental distress."

"I'm not asking for it's health! I'm asking how far it's progressed with the experiment!" Boomer said. "Can Steelix unleash all of it's great power or not? You said science geeks said that this pokemon is capable of unleashing that power. Where does it stand now?"

"Right now, it's potential rate is at about eighty-nine percent."

"Get it to one-hundred." Boomer said.

"We're trying, but Steelix is suffering."

"I don't care. I only care for results." Boomer said. "Get them or I will get you." He said with him giving off a feeling that gave them all a good scare. He clearly doesn't care what happens here as long as he gets what he's looking for. As Butch was clearing out, he looked to a security monitor and spotted something.

...

Davis' Group

Davis and the others ignored what Chase said and decided to confront Team Rocket about what they're doing. They were able to find the lab they were using and were trying to keep themselves hidden.

"That must be the place. Before we do this, do we even have a plan?" Tetsu questioned.

"Take the place by storm." Davis said.

"That's too reckless." Cletus said. "Davis, there's a lot on the line here. We've got to think this through."

"Right now, all that matters is getting Steelix out of there any way we can." Davis said. "After that, I say we give the guys a good pounding. I don't care who they are."

"Let's just focus on getting Steelix, and any other pokemon we can, out of there." Tetsu suggested, but there was no time to act. The ground underneath him broke and Aggron came straight out with it grabbing a hold of Tetsu. Davis and Cletus acted fast as they were getting ready to fight.

"Don't even think about it." They looked around and saw Boomer and some other grunts came out of hiding.

"We know what you people have been doing and it stops now!" Davis called out. "You can't do this to Steelix or any other pokemon!"

"Bold words from a little man, but I wouldn't try anything unless you want your friend to pay for your mistakes." Davis said with Aggron threating to hurt Tetsu if any of them try anything. Davis and the others hated this, but there wasn't much they could do without Tetsu getting hurt. They had to stay down.

"You coward." Davis claimed.

"You think I'm a coward? A coward is someone who is afraid. I'm not afraid." Boomer said as he walked right over to Davis. Then, before anyone knew it, he hit Davis right in the gut and got him to drop down. "I just don't like it when people don't mind their own business." This wasn't looking good for any of them and maybe they should have listened to Chase. Speaking of Chase, he was hiding behind some trees and saw what was happening.

"Those fools. I told them to stay out of this." Chase said. He wanted to help, but there's not much he can do without getting caught himself.

...

The Lab

Davis and the others were taken to a cell where they won't get in Team Rocket's way. They've also been separated from their pokemon so they can't try to escape. Imperialdramon has also been placed in a special cage that prevents him from getting out.

"What a fascinating pokemon." Boomer said as he observed Imperialdramon.

"Take a picture. It will last longer." Imperialdramon said.

"And your able to speak like a human. You'll make a fantastic addition to Team Rocket's forces." Boomer said.

"You're out of your mind if you think I will ever help people like you." Imperialdramon said.

"I think we'll change that soon enough." Boomer said as he so loved his job. Then, he turned to Davis and the others. "I should thank you for bringing all those pokemon for us."

"They're not yours. You can't just take other people's pokemon." Tetsu said.

"That's right. Your organization sounds...horrible." Cletus said.

"And you certainly can't do what you're doing to Steelix or any other pokemon. Just what kind of people are you?" Davis said. Boomer could see that Davis was staring at him like he really wasn't afraid of him, and Boomer intended to fix that. He grabbed Davis through the bars and pulled him in so Davis was being pulled against them, staring down at him like he needs to know his place being beneath Boomer.

"The kind that want to rule this world and will use pokemon to do that." Boomer claimed. "You must be insane to have this kind of disposal and not use to get whatever you want. It doesn't matter to us if the pokemon already belongs to a trainer or not, and this experiment will allow us to create a powerful army." He gave Davis a good shove to throw him down with his friends trying to help him. "Keep an eye on them until I get back." He ordered two men as he walked away.

"Hey! What do you plan to do to us?!" Davis called.

"Your pokemon could be most useful for us, but I'm afraid you're little journeys will soon end." Boomer claimed as he laughed like a fiend. That didn't sound good to any of them. They are now in the belly of the beast and could be in real trouble.

It looks like our heroes have found themselves in some deep trouble. Having been taken prisoner by Team Rocket, they need to figure out how they're going to get out of this. On top of that, Team Rocket continues on with their experiment on Steelix to bring out it's full power, which could lead to serious harm for Steelix. How can they get out of this? Stay tuned to find out.

To Be Continued...