In a blink, everything was normal once again. The terrible nightmare and the spy's death soon became a distant memory — even to Yellow, who woke up screaming and crying every night. But it was hard to keep track of all the trauma, especially when Rocket made sure to keep her overburdened and preoccupied.
However, things came together… even though a bit of cheating was involved.
"How are you getting this?" Prima's third accusation sliced cleanly through another aced math assignment. "You couldn't even read the number five a month ago, much less use it in an equation!"
Yellow shrugged. "I had to get the hang of it."
The older woman's glare dug sharp daggers into the child's skull. "You are getting help. Who is it? Lancelot? Fooling him with promises of love and friendship so he would do it for you? Giovanni's kid? Another agent? Lixue, perhaps — you have been spending a lot of time with her."
"Are you jealous that Lixue likes me better?" Yellow asked, knowing it would further salt Prima's wounds. "Or that she thinks I have more potential than you?"
"I'm not stupid, Amarillo. Six months ago, you came here and couldn't wipe your own nose. Now you're a prodigy. Yet I doubt you even understand what you're scribbling down. So you're going to tell me," Prima snapped, refusing to bend an inch towards the child. "Or I'll find out and make you swallow every damn assignment you cheated on."
Yellow knew she was right. Truth was, the little spirit or gremlin that agreed to help her still hid within her assignments. While some questions started clicking, Yellow was far from complete and total comprehension. If Prima knew, she would certainly beat her within an inch of her life and derail her good work.
But Prima just had suspicions. Yellow had the completed assignments as proof.
"I suppose you're just a better teacher than you thought, Miss Prima," Yellow laid her tone on a little thick. "Madame Ariana is happy. Aren't you?"
Prima said nothing, but Yellow could practically hear the 'little shit' response in her head.
X
"I have something for you," Lixue said to Yellow right before evening training. "Follow."
Yellow would do anything she asked. Her nod was all Lixue needed before they headed to the Pokemon storage unit. When the lights came on, part of Yellow's mind suddenly stirred, as if something was awake. She glanced over at Lixue, seeing her mentor open a small locked box. Inside was a circular ball cushioned by thick velvet.
"Am I…?" Yellow's heart leaped into her chest.
"Yes, you've graduated from holograms to a full and proper training," Lixue said as her hand went over a tiny Pokeball. "You are not yet ten years old, so they do not consider you a trainer by the law. However, Madame Ariana has given you permission to train with a proper Pokemon. There are —"
A familiar feeling hit Yellow. Something of an old friendship, a connection from…
… The forest! It couldn't be! Yellow didn't even want to dream something like this could happen, not in a million years! She hastily snatched the Pokeball from Lixue before clicking the button.
One flash of light and there she was: ChuChu! The small Pikachu was curled up in a deep sleep and appeared to be free of wounds. Her ears tucked behind her head as her cheeks slightly puffed from a dream. Yellow could hardly contain her squeal as Lixue hummed in quiet appreciation.
"ChuChu! Wake up! ChuChu!" Yellow exclaimed, grabbing her small friend in a tight hug. "I thought… I thought…"
The Pokemon awoke, suddenly aware of their surroundings. ChuChu's fur stiffened before realizing who it was. In a second, the two reconnected after so many months apart, as if nothing ever happened. No trauma, no nightmares, and no loss.
"Yellow!" ChuChu squealed, "You're alive!"
"You're alive!" Yellow wept in pure glee. "Oh, ChuChu, everything is going to be okay now! I thought…"
"I thought you were gone forever!" ChuChu said, nuzzling her hard. "You never responded to my calls and…"
"It doesn't matter," Yellow said, "I'm so happy you're here. I…"
"... Where are we?"
Reality came crashing back. She knew a tearful and joyous reunion would take ChuChu away again. Maybe even forever. Yellow stepped back and swallowed, trying to maintain her composure. Everything overwhelmed her once again; Rocket would surely punish ChuChu if Yellow acted out of line…
… and that was why they gave ChuChu back to her. Part of Yellow now wished the Pikachu floated away like a lifeboat in a terrible ocean storm. She would have been better off thinking that she could no longer hurt the small friend she once had.
"We're in Team Rocket," Yellow said, eyeing Lixue and Ariana, "And we — both of us — belong here."
ChuChu blinked, confused as she looked at the observant Lixue. Yellow couldn't help but notice the Pikachu's innocent look right down the little nose wiggle. She must have looked like that as well when Archer told her the same thing. In fact, she was certain it was identical.
How long ago was that? When Archer told Yellow that she was in Team Rocket and belonged to the Masters forever and ever? She was a different Yellow back then — full of life and naïve thoughts of home.
For a moment, Yellow wanted to slap the innocent sparkle out of ChuChu's eyes. It was dangerous and it would put Yellow behind if someone spotted it. But she resisted her dark impulses and focused on making ChuChu understand.
"But I live…" ChuChu tried to say.
"You live here," Yellow firmly corrected ChuChu, hearing Archer's words echo in her mind and spill out of her small mouth. "You will accept the truth that Team Rocket gives you—no more, no less. Anything else, like those silly little delusions, has no place here."
The girl looked towards Lixue for validation, but the agent's face showed no change. Archer's verbiage didn't sit well with her either, but even Lixue knew it was the right thing to say. Nothing else really mattered except the result.
ChuChu didn't understand. She just scrunched up her nose and shook her head.
"But I don't live here!" A protest. The last thing Yellow wanted. "Let's go home! To Mother Forest!"
And this was why Ariana allowed Lixue to give Yellow ChuChu. To test her faith, to see if Yellow would undo all of her lessons… to see if Yellow was true to her loyalty. Yellow eyed the ceiling as a shiver went down her spine, knowing that her master must be watching for any mistake.
Lancelot was probably there, translating everything ChuChu was saying. That would be a smart move, wouldn't it? Archer could also be behind him in case Lancelot decided to not hear something valuable. Maybe even Giovanni could translate quietly as he schemed behind the mirrored lens.
Everything turned in her stomach. ChuChu must be taught how to act. She would get herself hurt or… worse yet, punish Yellow again. Oh, why was Yellow given such rotten fruit? She wished she had kept thinking ChuChu was dead.
"Stop saying that," Yellow snapped, frustrated and afraid. "Just stop. Pokemon are silent."
"Yellow…?"
Smack ChuChu. Choke her. Make her quiet. Threaten her with Archer's dogs. She'll get everyone in trouble. It was for the best that she followed orders and not questioned. Yellow raised her hand as if she was outside of her own body, unable to think properly.
It was for the best. Obedience was…
NO!
Yellow pulled her hand back as if it suddenly snapped her back into reality. Memories flashed across her mind — hurtful, dark memories of every smack and strike by Rockets. Her skin trembled from the terrible ghost pains as vomit curled in the back of her throat.
The only strike she could truly remember was the one that didn't happen: Lancelot's when he refused to hit her in the hallway.
"I won't ever hit you."
Although Lancelot didn't hit anyone, everyone hit him the most and hardest. If anyone had a reason to lash out, it would be him.
Yellow could not lose herself to this organization. No matter how hard they tried to kill her willpower and spirit. Even if they presented the danger so clearly to her, she could not lose herself.. It meant the world to keep that promise.
She swallowed, staring hard at ChuChu's face. Then what should Yellow do if she could not use physical violence?
Lie. And hope that Team Rocket takes care of the rest.
"ChuChu, we can't live there anymore. Because… it wasn't good for us," Yellow started, trying to think of her next move, "We have to stay here. For our good. If we're good, we can be together. If we're bad, we have to be apart again. And we'll never leave."
ChuChu's face fell. "Be good?"
"Yes. For our Masters. We have to do everything they say. That's how we can be good."
"But Mother Forest…"
"... She said it was for the best that we listen and be good. Because she wants us to be happy."
ChuChu brightened at the thought of a selfless deity wanting what was best for her children, like Yellow once believed. It almost made Yellow resent the Pikachu, but she pushed it down and smiled when the Pikachu nodded.
"Okay. For Mother Forest."
Lixue seemed satisfied with the conversation before taking Yellow by the shoulder. Something deep inside Yellow wondered if Lixue knew what went down, or if she was simply ignoring it for the betterment of her own needs. Knowledge was both dangerous and useful in Team Rocket.
"ChuChu must remain here when you are not training. You cannot have this Pokemon outside of the training facilities." Lixue instructed. "Do you understand?"
Yellow nodded, "Yes, Lixue."
"Good. Do not disappoint Madame Ariana, Yellow. The stakes only get higher from here. Don't fall from their graces."
Wise words.
x
… Yellow couldn't help asking Lixue. The question bugged her since she put ChuChu back in the ball. Since Lixue seemed uncomfortable with Yellow repeating what Archer told her.
"Why are you in Team Rocket, Elite Captain?" Yellow asked right as Lixue pressed the Pokeball back into the secure locker. "When did you join?"
"When I was fourteen," Lixue said, her voice calm and robotic.
"But…?"
Yellow could see Lixue stare into the locker as if it held some dark secret. Lixue didn't appear that old — not like the other Masters at least — but surely that was another lifetime ago. Was she also recruited? Joined out of desperation? For violence?
Lixue opened her mouth to say something, but only a hard exhale came out. Her thumbs pushed the drawer shut as her posture stiffened. Yellow knew she struck a chord and Lixue was weighing her options on whether to answer.
"I'm… so-sorry," Yellow immediately apologized. "I won't ask…"
"Giovanni recruited me," Lixue interrupted her with a sharp edge of professionalism, "And nobody says no to Giovanni. Not when he's beaten you to the ground.
Yellow swallowed. The memory of the Earth Badge sitting on Giovanni's desk floated in her mind. He was a Gym Leader who won Pokemon battles. It didn't take long to connect Lixue to the coveted green reward and her position in Rocket.
Lixue was good enough to battle Giovanni. But not good enough to win, apparently. Yellow could only imagine how a young girl faced down against Giovanni and watched as all of her Pokemon helplessly went down before…
Getting shoved into a cell. Archer says she belongs to Team Rocket now. They'll all break down the spirit until there's nothing left. Wasn't that some bullshit to find out that Archer was the most common welcome wagon or that this was a clockwork system for all rebellious recruits.
"I shouldn't have asked," Yellow mumbled.
Lixue sighed, as if she expected that. "It's alright. You should know how some people get to this place. There are other ways. I was a less-common case. Most join on their own accord because they like Team Rocket and everything it stands for."
"You don't?" Yellow blurted out before she widened her eyes. Bad thing. Bad thing to say out loud.
The older woman glanced towards the door as if she expected some eavesdropper to hop in. "I'm content with my life. I have made the right decision."
Yellow was sure to keep her mouth shut, even when the two somehow bumped into Archer outside the training room. This time, he was smiling — Code Red. Code Red for all women. This was a real deal.
"Elite Captain Lixue," Archer gently greeted, as if he was coaxing a small animal near him, "Let's talk somewhere private."
He even bent a finger at Lixue and beckoned. Yellow froze in horror as Lixue hid her disgust to follow him.
x
Yellow saw Lixue right after dinner. The woman didn't so much as glance at her and turned straight into the agent dormitories.
But by that time, every Rocket agent started whispering about how Archer scared the shit out of her. Some said he just used his words. Others said he used his Houndooms. Proton rolled his eyes and claimed he probably spanked her.
Only Lancelot really knew.
"He scolded her," Lancelot mumbled, clearly upset, "And I think he kissed her on the cheek."
No wonder Lixue was hiding.
x
Sird could walk now, albeit with a subtle limp. She tried her best to stand still instead of wandering, but it was difficult to resist the temptation of tracking the aromatic scent of prey. Luckily, most of the Rocket agents avoided her like the plague, something she was grateful for at this moment.
Of course, except for one tiny, annoying little thing
"What are you doing there?" Silver, the prince of Rocket, scoffed at her presence as he was skulking around. "Why aren't you working? Lazy."
Sird could only stretch a smile. Pathetic child. Nothing particularly special about him. Just a doll, really — a shell of Rocket's importance. He was smart for a baby, but not anything to write home about. Sird would rather shoot herself in the foot than deal with Silver in any capacity.
But she had to suck it up. Giovanni may not see him that way, but he certainly would take issue with anyone tormenting his child. The last one who did found themselves locked in a box deep within Mt. Silver with only a few hours of oxygen.
How could a man who was so powerful, so special, make something so… unimportant?
"Young Master Silver," Sird's slithery reply almost betrayed her genuine emotions. "Tell me what I should be doing instead."
"Working," Silver flatly said, "Duh."
Sird was so hungry that she forgot herself for a moment. She zeroed in on his judgemental stare, ready to bleed him dry. Careful, careful, just to leave him with enough to end up in a medical ward…
"I am," she said, putting her hand to her chin as if in thought, "My extensive work is long enough to discuss at length—"
"What work?" Silver interrupted.
"Work in the Sevii Islands. The is–"
"I know about those. What work?"
"Things your father wouldn't want you to know."
"I know all about my father's work! I know about the Amazon rainforest, the Sevii Islands, the —"
And in seconds, Silver was off. Sird was taken aback by the sudden floodgates of bragging and knowledge from the kid. Seemed that Silver didn't turn off when he was on a roll and, boy, it was draining her for once.
Children were fussy prey. They were already inquisitive and questioning little buggers, demanding to know more and more. When they weren't asking a million questions about the stupidest thing possible, they talked on and on. Most adults simply wanted an answer and to be done with it, but not children.
Sird didn't have the strength to deal with this, and she wasn't getting any energy from him. But she knew she couldn't just leave mid-sentence or Giovanni would send her away again.
And so she listened. And listened.
Kid never once stopped talking about how smart and special he was.
Sird should have shot herself.
x
It took Giovanni three hours just to dress himself properly, so he wasn't wasting that by going back to sleep. The late hours were just as good as any to work. Albeit, he was going to have to hide his smoking from Ariana — she detested the smell of cigars and tobacco — if he was going to get a hold of his nerves.
After a puff, he was feeling slightly better, but not enough to stop mulling over what had happened?
How could he be so foolish? So caught off-guard? The first attack was already an insult to him. Another one was a plain middle finger to his face. The psychic vampire might as well have paraded Giovanni's balls for the world to see.
If Lancelot had not called for Mother Forest, those children would have died. Even worse, Mother Forest knew Lancelot was alive — something she had scorned Giovanni about for ten years.
And the two fought, much like a child arguing with their mother. Mother Forest was seething and refused to speak to him. Giovanni was used to the silent treatment, but this time felt icy.
He'd needed to make it up to Mother Forest again. Archer burning down the trees and taking Yellow was already a massive wedge between the two. Not to mention the fact Giovanni wouldn't bend to Mother Forest's demands.
Resentment boiled in Giovanni. Why did he have to apologize to Mother Forest? She should apologize to him. He always had to run after Mother Forest and beg for forgiveness, even as a small child. Mother Forest was always right, and he was always wrong — except this time, he was the right one.
Best to mend now.
Giovanni closed his eyes and exhaled a puff of tobacco, letting the smoke fill up the room. Already, he could feel the icy movements against his brain from one angry presence. This was going to be a rough talk.
"Mother Forest."
. . . .
"I think it's best we discuss what happened."
. . . . . . .
"Mother Forest. I had to save those children. You were going to hurt them."
How dare you.
"You should not have these children, Mother Forest. You know that the girl was unwell. You know that Lancelot belongs here."
I AM YOUR MOTHER! YOU DO NOT SPEAK TO ME LIKE I AM A CHILD! I MADE YOU! I MADE YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME!? YOU STEAL FROM ME, YOU BURN ME, YOU HURT ME, AND YOU NOW SAY I AM UNFIT! AN UNFIT MOTHER!
Giovanni felt nauseated hearing that. Overdramatic as always. Mother Forest could not go on one conversation without a guilt trip.
"Mother Forest, Yellow was severely malnourished and sick. You know she would have died with you. You would not give her up, so we had to get her out. We've discussed this."
Terrible boy! Terrible, terrible boy! You hurt your mother! You hurt me like this! Just burn me to ashes next time! How could you?! You were my special boy, my special child, and you do this to me!? You say these horrible things to me!?
"This won't work, Mother Forest. You know I am doing what is best for you and for the future. I am not trying to hurt you. You are making this difficult, Mother Forest, not me."
Horrible, terrible, wretched boy! I loved you! I made you; I loved you! Give me back my children. Come back to the forest. All of you.
"No, Mother Forest. Nobody is going back to the forest. You cannot keep us there. You cannot trap us inside forever."
Do not tell me what I can and cannot do!
I AM YOUR MOTHER! I only care and love you. Did I not teach you? Raise you? You came to me with tears in your eyes and you left with smiles. I was your mother. The outside world never loved you like I loved you! I LOVED YOU!
And all I ever asked was that you loved me…
"That is not true, Mother Forest. If it were, then I would not have to put very strict boundaries between us. Between Yellow and Lancelot. You have a tendency to nest inside our minds, after all."
Power poisoned you. Corrupted you from my sweet little boy to this horrible and evil man.
A small headache began forming. This always happened. The power was sometimes so great that it drowned Giovanni in Mother Forest's presence. When he was small, it would knock him out for days. Now that he was more experienced in his powers, he could withstand the awesome force of Mother Forest's aura.
"That's very telling you're against that now because you did everything you could to make me powerful, Mother Forest. Something that I am grateful for."
The outside world poisoned you. Made you hate your own mother…
"No, Mother Forest. I never said I hated you. I said I could not do what you wanted. I cannot live with you forever. Neither can the children."
Come back to the forest. Come live with me. We can be together. You can be with me forever. You can be my son again. All of you can live here forever.
Sometimes Giovanni felt the pangs of longing deep within his heart. He knew those words were cursed, toxic, and dangerous. But Mother Forest's voice spoke of a wonderful and free life with her in her beautiful forest. As a child, he kept coming to her beck and call. And Mother Forest always kept him a little longer, a little more…
Until he woke up and realized what was going on. What Mother Forest's world really meant. What Mother Forest's paradise truly meant.
It baffled Giovanni. Yellow not being lost within Mother Forest was fascinating to Giovanni. Mother Forest must have been grooming the child. Readying her. In a second, it occurred to him that Mother Forest already knew Yellow's sickly state.
"Mother Forest, do not make this so hard. Please. Do not argue with me. I will ensure their safety here."
You steal my children and then assure me they will be fine! Ha! You allow some interloper to come there and hurt them! My children would have died if the boy did not call for me! Cracks are within your walls, my sweet, naive child. The ground may be your servant, but it is MY roots that dwell deep within it.
Giovanni could feel his headache swelling. Now it was intense pressure against his head. He controlled his breathing to focus on the conversation as the pain pulled him in deeper.
"I will handle that, Mother Forest. I want to make peace with us. We were not ourselves that night. There was a madness that took control."
It is that interloper! A weak one, but comes from a maddening source. I have known the source all too well… the Betrayer, the Distortion God… the One from the Depths, The Eyes From Afar… You have attracted more than even you can handle, boy…
Giovanni allowed himself to blink. In his now-fuzzy thoughts, he could not recall the last time Mother Forest spoke of others. He knew of the Legendary Birds and how they served the world. He also knew of the Twin Sisters of Hoenn and the mysterious goddess of time that resided in Ilex Forest.
It made sense that Mother Forest knew them all and held against her own. But Mother Forest never spoke of them at length or gave it much room for conversation. To Giovanni, Mother Forest acted as if there were no others that meddled with mortals.
The last time Mother Forest did, it was regarding the one called the Maiden of the Land. Maiden of the Land was one of the Twin Sisters of Hoenn, with the other half being Maiden of the Water. Giovanni couldn't understand what happened, but the Maiden of the Land was involved in the events that led to Lancelot's birth.
Mother Forest scorned the Maiden of the Land, and there was some violent altercation right after Team Rocket took Lancelot. Giovanni didn't know why they fought or why the Maiden of the Land was there. But whatever it was, Mother Forest had won and beaten back the other deity through a show of incredible force.
Now there was this new one: "The One From the Depths." "The Betrayer." "The Eyes From Afar."
"I'm assuming, Mother Forest, you don't wish to tell me about them."
For you to do what? You are a child. An ungrateful little child, but you are one.
"I can protect us."
Silly boy. I can protect my own children. Give yourself and them to me and nothing will happen.
"Mother Forest, I will not allow that to happen."
You are being ridiculous to me! Your own mother! I know more than you! Do not speak down to me! The interloper wants to consume you — consume my children! The One from the Depths is greedy. Followers of such will be ravenous as well. If they get even one of you, they will not stop. They will eat and eat until there's nothing left. Just emptiness.
Surely my love cannot be a worse fate than that.
"Your love is dangerous as well, Mother Forest. Hence why we're here."
You are playing a game you do not understand! Listen to your mother! These are games of petty gods and scheming witches! You will take on all of this alone!? Come to the forest and you will be safe with me forever. I cannot bear the idea of my children being devoured by beasts!
"Mother Forest… we have to speak later."
GIOVANNI YOU WILL COME HOME THIS INSTA
… and Giovanni felt his body slump as his mind slipped away into unconsciousness.
x
It pissed Ariana off when she approached Archer about Lixue.
"What gives you the right to speak to her?" she snapped as she jabbed her finger at Archer's chest. "I am done with your little games, Executive. Is it so important to take care of business or your lingering erection?"
"You should keep your agents more in line," Archer said to Ariana, rather satisfied. "There is a weakness in their devotion."
"You must be mistaking your libido for tattling," Ariana fired back with half a mind to punch him in the throat for his actions. "I am to handle my agents, Archer. Not you. And I will decide what is weakness, not —"
"Please don't worry," Archer smoothly cut her off, "I simply reminded her of what she pledged to Giovanni. I did nothing more than that."
Lies. These men were always liars. Even Giovanni. Ariana could see red as she stared a hole into Archer's skull. Was it not enough that Yellow was keeping in line now? Must he continue after Lixue, even after she's told him to stay off? Even after letting Giovanni know of Archer's intense distraction?
"I'm not running off to Giovanni about this again, Archer," Ariana warned, her tone heavy with malice. "I don't give a damn about your puppy love. Haven't your hard-ons for troublesome women fucked Team Rocket enough already?"
Archer's eyebrows twitched at that before he tutted. "Amarillo is an asset. I cannot let Elite Captain Lixue dissuade her or create doubt. That brief confession was enough to fester in her mind."
"She is my responsibility. Both of them are. I will handle it when I am available to do so."
"If it is too much for you, Ariana, I can take Elite Captain Lixue to my team. Allow you to focus on Amarillo's growth."
The damn audacity of him. Archer wouldn't let this die. He had been asking for years to have Lixue switched to his team. Even going as far as asking Giovanni outright. His incessant requests exhausted Ariana — for a moment, she considered doing it just so she wouldn't deal with this bullshit anymore. But Lixue was too valuable to lose.
"There is a reason I assigned Lixue to Yellow's training," Ariana snarled. "Not to tease you. Am I the only one who works around here? Consider Giovanni's legacy?"
Archer frowned. "My dear, calm down. I simply believe Lixue is more valuable to my team. I desperately need a lieutenant who can keep up. She will never be your shoo-in Executive. Promoting her to a position that makes sense is more considerate of Master Giovanni's legacy."
Ariana couldn't stand it. Perhaps it was stress or smelling the tobacco smoke when she walked by Giovanni's office earlier. But the Executive glared at before giving her final warning.
"My dear, why don't you get back to work? The gambling corners won't wiggle out of their own lawsuits, will they?"
Archer took it as graciously as he could.
x
Lixue wrapped a cold towel around her head, attempting to stop her tears from falling. All she could do was clench her jaw and dig deep into her soul for that apathetic feeling that rusted over her body.
Archer can rot in hell.
"Elite Captain Lixue. Your conversation with Amarillo concerned me. Perhaps you feel you lack purpose?" Archer's charming question echoed across her mind. "If so, I believe I can help you. Team Rocket needs all of their members to be committed to Master Giovanni's vision."
One tear escaped from the corner of her eye.
"I misspoke."
"Let's not do that around the children then, Elite Captain. They're impressionable. Amarillo looks up to you. We wouldn't want her to believe our own agents can undermine Master Giovanni, yes?"
A long time ago, she would have done anything to undermine Team Rocket. She even fooled herself into thinking that she could work within the system and bring it all down. Until she realized Team Rocket counted on that for all their new recruits and worked relentlessly to correct that behavior.
And when they beat it out of her, Lixue surrendered her life to them. Promotion after promotion. Then she grew into adulthood and Archer couldn't stop staring. It was bad when the men cackled and cracked comments about her body within earshot, but it was so much worse when Archer only had eyes for her.
"My apologies, Executive Archer. It won't happen again."
"I'll be making sure of that. These children are important, Elite Captain. You are as well. Mental wellbeing and psychological health are a priority for the Executives. A faulty link in our team makes it difficult to accomplish our goals… and you appear a little unwell. Let me check you."
"That's quite alright, Executive, as you're very busy and I —"
"It'll only take a minute. You know how to check a pulse, right, Elite Captain?"
"Executive Archer, this is —"
"Stay still. Executive order."
Archer didn't mean it. He couldn't have carelessly tossed around the phrase Executive Order to make her stand there and take his medical care. That was beneath him. Lixue figured that he meant it as a joke, but in her panicked mind, it didn't feel that way.
So she let him take her pulse. Let him smile, then examine her face for signs of exhaustion. Let him ask common medical questions. Even let the sick bastard ask about her last menstrual cycle — stupid, stupid Lixue. And when it was all fine, he simply touched her cheek.
"I see. All seems to be fine then, from what I can tell. Some rest and attention will do you well. Don't let this slip again, Elite Captain Lixue."
Archer then gave her a peck on the cheek. Lixue was stunned, as he had never been so brazen before this. His kiss burned her cheek as if it was acid tearing through her skin.
Lixue tried to rub it off again. Nothing. Still seared.
Sick bastard. They warned her about Archer when she first came here. He wasn't a perpetual horn dog like most of the other agents, but he had horrible rumors swirling around him. That he enjoyed taking traitorous women down to his anatomy table to cut them open and see what made them tick. They even whispered about how he enjoyed hurting and medically torturing women behind closed doors — but nobody knew for sure. The only one who would know for sure would be Lancelot.
So why the hell was he gunning for Lixue? She wiped away her eyes as she re-wrapped the cold towel again. He was the one who greeted Lixue in this world when she was first brought here. A defenseless, aggressive, and afraid young trainer who just saw her team get wiped by Giovanni and begging to not go through with the stupid, stupid deal!
"You were made for Team Rocket. That's all that matters. That's all you need to focus on."
Even then, Archer was terrifying. She knew right away that he was dangerous. That she could not be alone with him. But now that's what Lixue was trying to avoid every single day.
There was an agent a long time ago — long ago by Rocket's definition — that told her something about Archer. She was an older woman and someone who had been around for over a decade at that point already.
"Archer used to play doctor with some lady in Johto when he wasn't here. She wound up getting gutted open and left to die in the woods. Hell if I know why he snapped like that. As far as I know, never did that before. But ever since then, Archer gets a kick out of doing that to other women. I can't tell if he enjoys being the doctor or the mortician."
Lixue blinked as she tossed the now-warm towel on the sink. That agent was dead now, she was sure. Got captured and killed herself before being put on trial and having to expose Team Rocket. Something that she was sure the Executives orchestrated.
If Archer was ready and looking for love again, he was looking in all the wrong places. Lixue would make sure of that.
x
Lancelot rarely went to someone to discuss his feelings. It always came back to Archer's ear if he spoke out of turn — in an hour, the Executive would show up and admonish him for acting so silly.
But when he had to, he went to the one person who had tighter lips than a mute. When he saw Yellow with her Pikachu and Archer forced him to translate everything, Lancelot could feel his heart breaking all over again.
"Master Petrel, it's not fair!" Lancelot fought his tears as Petrel gave him a glass of milk. "I want a Pokemon too! I'm ten years old now! I'm mature! I can handle a Pokemon! I can even have one by law!"
"Aw, kid, I'm sorry," Petrel said as he sat across from him. "Archer isn't gonna budge and I can't tell Ariana to take it back just because you're feeling left out. You know Rocket's rules. I can't override their decisions. Only Giovanni can."
"Can you convince Master Giovanni to tell Master Archer to give me one?" Lancelot asked, trying his best to not choke on his milk. "It's not fair. I do everything right. I do everything I'm told…"
Petrel sighed, extending his arm out to comfort the boy. "You're a good boy, Lancelot. The best Rocket ever saw. You'll get your turn soon enough. Soon, you'll be done with school and become a full-fledged agent with your own team. Then Archer can take his rules somewhere else."
"That's not gonna happen," Lancelot mumbled. "Everyone hates me."
"They hate Archer, not you."
"Proton hates me."
"He hates everyone. Hell, he hated me when I put him on overnight guard duty. Made that very clear."
Lancelot blew part of his unkempt hair out of his face in response. "Maybe if I blow my brains out, he'll be nice to me for once."
Petrel forced a smile. "You know, joking like that gets you into trouble. Save it for when you're older and have a bigger reason to be jaded. You'll have plenty of chances to use it."
It wasn't fair. When Silver cried for something, they handed it over within minutes. When Lancelot asked for something, he got Archer beating the crap out of him. Lancelot wiped away his snot and tears to hide his crying.
The Executive quickly snatched up a tissue and handed it to Lancelot. "Here. You can stay here for a bit and fix your face before going out there again."
"Thank you, Master Petrel," Lancelot mumbled into the thin tissue as he blew his nose. "I'm sorry I cried like a baby."
"Well, you are a baby in my book. You're just a kid acting like a kid. You got a right to it," Petrel corrected him, "And what did I say about that Master stuff? Not when we're alone."
"I'm supposed to be an Ex…Executive…"
"You're not one right now. Ain't nobody gonna ask you to step into the position tomorrow."
Lancelot sighed as he wadded up the used tissue. That did not matter to Archer in the slightest. They made everything with ten years in mind and Archer was going to make the boy into Rocket's greatest asset, come hell or high water.
Even though Archer wished he could do anything else. The only reason he took in Lancelot was to make the child suffer.
"Why does Master Archer hate me?" Lancelot muttered as he tossed the snotty tissue away. "He's always hated me. He can't stand me."
Petrel poured another glass of milk as he hummed, "He doesn't."
"He does. That's why he's meanest to me. He loves hurting me," Lancelot insisted. "He hates me for taking away Silver's birthright."
Petrel glanced up warily at that accusation. The talk of Silver's birthright was a touchy subject. But it was true, and he knew it — he stole Silver's birthright from the damn forest and everyone blamed him for it. It wasn't fair. Lancelot would have never been born if he had known better.
"I gotta say, Lancelot, I think you're looking at it wrong," Petrel started. "Out of everyone in Team Rocket, Archer has the highest aspirations for you. Giovanni let him raise you — he does not get ordered to do so like with Ariana and Yellow. He accepted that burden day one and —"
"Yes, yes," Lancelot interrupted him, "And he saved me when I was born in the forest. He told me that already. My birth-giver abandoned me beneath a tree root and he rescued me from hypothermia. He mentions it every time I make any sort of fuss."
"Well, it could be worse. Could be living inside a mountain with Team Magma right now," Petrel idly remarked, as he was simply going along with Lancelot's story. "Worse places to be than here."
Lancelot only heard of Team Magma through Archer's acidic comments. They had been Team Rocket's competition, but were driven out of the region. Apparently, per Archer's words, they were sick and twisted sex cultists with a deranged drug addict as their leader. All they did was shoot up, screw each other, blow things up, squabble with their rivals in Team Aqua, and kill themselves for attention.
"Rancid little cretins," Archer would say, "Insane and riddled with disease. Disgusting to even look at."
"I guess, Master Petrel," Lancelot said, slouching in his seat, "I guess I should be thankful for Master Archer…"
"Well, don't go that far," Petrel chuckled. "Archer can save lives, but he's not a saint."
Lancelot knew that all too well. He slumped down as he twisted his glove finger. He was a mess and Archer would get onto him about having a raggedy appearance. It just wasn't fair. Lancelot had to keep being the good boy while everyone else got what they wanted.
Petrel was his peek into the outside world. Sometimes, Petrel would bring candy to him — real candy! Or he'd let Lancelot listen to music with blaring guitars and screaming lyrics that had all kinds of passion and adult language. Once, the Executive even showed him pictures of the outside world that he took while on a mission.
But then Lancelot had to go back to his own little world. Filled with strict rules, lessons, and harsh maturation.
"Tell you what," Petrel smiled, slapping the boy's back, "How about I bring you back something? Like that chocolate you liked so much?"
Lancelot sighed. "I guess, Master Petrel."
"C'mon. Life ain't so bad! You got me, kiddo."
The boy swung his feet a little. Without thinking, he said another half-hearted comment: "Maybe if I can get past the dogs, Archer will let me leave."
Petrel paused, as if that was a deal-breaker. "Lancelot. Don't you say that again."
Lancelot jolted back into reality, realizing that he was letting too much of his guard down. "I'm sorry, Master Petrel! I didn't… I didn't mean it… I promise, I learned my lesson! I will stay here, in Team Rocket, where I belong!"
The Executive's face was no longer jolly, but stern and direct. Lancelot's boots would shake right off if he hadn't been sitting down. When Petrel was serious, the entire world had to listen to it or suffer the consequences.
"Lancelot," Petrel said, "I don't want to hear this again. That's an Executive order. You belong here with us. I know Archer is a pill, but he's right to keep you safe here. If you take one step out of this door, it's not just gonna be Archer that hunts you down. The Executives will take you back and there is no goddamned way you can beat all of us. And when you're brought back before Giovanni, he will make sure you never think of doing any such thing ever again."
Lancelot swallowed, slowly nodding his head.
"No more talking or thinking about this, kid. I mean it. Executive order." Petrel pushed again. "This is for your own good. I want to work with you, not against you."
"Yes, Master Petrel." Lancelot softly said.
Petrel suddenly smiled and perked up, ruffling Lancelot's hair. "Hey, let's think about what kind of chocolate I can bring you! You know, they make a white chocolate now…"
x
The next day, Giovanni called for the children before morning training.
"It's time for our first lesson."