Ken banged the accelerator the floor and gave GS Transport Truck #2,013 another blast of speed as he and Fennekin at last started their final approach into Pallet Town. After a brutal over the road throwdown all the way from the Viridian Forest onward with Team Rocket in pursuit the pair had escaped the villains but thrashed their big rig almost beyond repair in the process. Slamming through the grunts' last road block had kept them moving but at this point the trucker and his Pokémon were starting to wonder if anything was holding Truck #2,013 together at this point other than sheer force of will.

With troubling white smoke still pouring from the truck it sped past a sign on I-Route 1 reading "Pallet Town: Next Two Exits" and another labeled "Pokémon Laboratory: Next Left." With the sun now up morning was in full bloom for the southern Kanto community as flocks of Pidgey soared over the area's emerald-hued fields and hills dotted with leafy trees. As the truck crested a hill the little community at last came into sight with their destination, Professor Samuel Oak's laboratory standing proudly atop the hill. Its windmill spun silently as its red roof and yellow paint glistened in the daylight.

The serenity outside was a spectacular contrast to the chaos inside the badly damaged cabover truck as seemingly every alarm was sounding in the cab. Buzzers rang out and messages flashed on the dash reading dire statements like "Engine Overheating" and "Warning: Low Tire Pressure." Ken reached up and flipped a switch which silenced the alarms but the reality of the situation was still that even if it was rolling now Truck #2,013 certainly wouldn't be for much longer. All Ken and Fennekin could do now was hope that incoming final breakdown waited until after their cases of Master Balls and Capture Stylers were delivered.

"Hold it together baby," Ken said to his truck. "Just give me a few more minutes. We can make it!"

Ken turned off the pavement of I-Route 1 onto the dirt road of Laboratory Drive, the last road leading to its titular landmark. A cloud of dust began following the truck as it began to traverse the gravel path. He went for another gear only to have the clutch slip. He tried again and with all his might forced the shifter into position as Fennekin watched. That hard gear change was anything but a good sign. Ken jammed it into an even higher gear and slammed the gas pedal all the way to the firewall. They needed to get there fast or they might not get there at all.

"Get ready Fennekin," Ken said. "If she drops you grab that case and I'll grab this one and we'll make a run for it. Don't stop until your at the lab for any reason. Got it?"

"Fen," Fennekin responded. "Fennekin ne kin kin kin."

Ken almost thought that last part sounded something like "you and me til the end." His little fox had really proved himself on this run. Mack was right, Pokemon were a trucker's best friend for a run like this. If he didn't have Fennekin, or the currently knocked out Spearow, he almost certainly have made it this far.

BANG!

The smile that was starting to form on Ken's face instantly vanished as the whole truck shuddered then started pulling to the right badly. Ken glanced into the truck' damaged passenger's side mirror to see big chunks of something black starting to litter the road behind them. He didn't need to be told what that was, the truck's right front tire had gone flat and was now starting to self destruct quicker than a ticked off Electrode. The sound of the ripping rubber banging against the truck's cab as the tire started to shred away only got louder with each rotation of the wheel. No driver in their right mind would keep going in a situation like this but with everything the crew aboard Truck #2,013 had just gone through Ken didn't want to pull over before the truck had finally given out. He and Fennekin were both worried about some final Team Rocket trap and the truck at least gave them some level of protection. Fennekin looked at his trainer and the worried look on his face said it all.

"That's not good," Ken said. "That's just going to keep banging around until it takes something out. And there's nothing we can do to even attempt to fix it."

Ken held the wheel tight and focused on the road ahead, trying his best to compensate for tire issue as best he could. Perhaps because it was the worst possible time to do so the Celadon City driver decided to try and lighten the mood.

"If we make it there I could really go for a good Unova-style bagel for breakfast," Ken said. "You think Oak's lab has a food court or something?"

"Kin," Fennekin replied.

"Eh, worth a shot," Ken said.

The white smoke pouring out of the engine was starting to thicken as the truck at last rounded the last bend leading up to the laboratory. Ken and Fennekin's eyes both lit up at the sight and the dawning realization that they would likely make it. The last stretch of road was sandwiched between a wooded hill on the left and a small stream with a yellow footbridge on the right. A long staircase led from a gate at the front of the property up to the lab building.

SNAP!

Just as Ken began to decelerate and brake Truck #2,013 finally broke down. The banging rubber from the flat tire took out one of the truck's tie rods and without it the wheel jerked to right and locked in place, unable to be steered any longer. Ken yanked the wheel to the left as far as it would go to keep the truck from going in the river. It worked as he applied the brakes and the truck stopped right at the gate to the lab. The truck had gotten them right where it needed to go but not an inch further. Ken let out a breath of relief.

"Fen fen!" Fennekin barked happily.

Ken reached up and pulled the handle for the truck's horn to give it two blows to hopeful signal to the laboratory's staff that they had arrived. He then grabbed his case and went to open the all but unhinged at this point driver's door only to have it completely fall off the truck when he tried the handle. As he climbed out of the truck he reached over and grabbed Spearow's Poké Ball, with how many Pokémon were kept here they must have healing equipment to help his fainted bird. Ken signaled Fennekin to follow him and the yellow fire type grabbed the case in mouth before jumping out of the truck.

Ken and Fennekin both ran up the steps toward the lab with neither wanting to let their guard down until these cases were finally in Professor Oak's hands. The sound of the horn had attracted the attention of a young man in a teal shirt, likely the professor's aid, who opened the door as the GS Transport pair ran toward it. A little blue Marrill accompanied this trainer.

"Where's Oak?" Ken yelled as he darted up to the door. "I've got his cargo!"

"He's in here," the aid replied. "I'm his assistant Tracey Sketchit. Are you Ken Worth?"

"Yes I am," Ken said. "Did Peter tell you I was coming?"

"Yes, he called us and…"

At this point Tracey noted the smoking truck sitting in front of the lab.

"What happened to your truck?" Tracey asked. "Peter said he banged up the back but nothing like that."

"Oh, well you know how it is," Ken said. "The traffic on the road through Viridian City was just killer this morning."

Ken held tight to his case and looked down at Fennekin with his case in his mouth. The little fox wagged its tail. Tracey signaled someone just out of eyesight and it became apparent just who he had when Ken walked in the door and noticed an older-looking Scyther that had been lying in wait seemingly in case something went wrong. If Peter had called them to tell them what happened he'd clearly told them to be ready for anything too.

"Where is the professor?" Ken asked. "I want to get this cargo delivered ASAP and I've got a fainted Spearow that needs some help. Do you heal Pokémon here?"

"He's in the kitchen," Tracey replied. "And we don't normally but we've got some limited facilities to help the ones that live on site."

"Can you help my Spearow?" Ken asked.

"I should be able to," Tracey replied as Ken handed him the bird's Poké Ball. "Follow me."

The tired GS pair followed Tracey into the kitchen area of the lab's living quarters. There, sitting at the table with breakfast bowl of miso soup and a side of scrambled eggs, sat Professor Oak. He was already dressed in his lab coat for the day ahead and had begun reviewing a report from another professor on the recent research regarding the interactions of Numel herds with various breeders in the Hoenn region. He glanced up with a smile as Ken walked into the room, taking note of the driver's blue-and-yellow GS uniform. Fennekin, Tracey, and Marrill were close behind.

"Professor Oak, I presume?" Ken said. "I've got two cases for you."

"Ah, you made it," Professor Oak responded. "Peter told me about that stunt you pulled on I-Route 3. You're a very brave driver. I assume that loud bang up by the tunnel a few minutes ago was you?"

"Team Rocket blocked the road but Fennekin and I rammed through it," Ken said.

"Are you alright?" Professor Oak asked.

"We'll be fine, my truck not so much but it got us here," Ken said. "Now let's get you this cargo."

Ken put his case on the table near the professor then took the second case from Fennekin and did the same. Professor Oak starred down at the Fox Pokémon with a mild surprise. Fennekins were rather rare in Kanto and he rarely got to see them although Professor Sycamore spoke highly of the species.

"Fen fen," Fennekin yipped, just as glad as his trainer to finally deliver this load.

Ken pulled out the key to the cases and unlocked them. The cases had survived the chase intact but now he had to hope their cargoes had as well. He lifted the lid on his case first, revealing all five of the bright red Capture Stylers safe and without a scratch. He breathed a slight sigh of relief but now was the big moment as he opened the second case. A purple and pink glow shined into the room as all 20 Master Balls came into view, somehow still looking fresh from the factory. The armored cases had done their job to perfection. Ken gave Fennekin a thumbs up symbol, they'd pulled it off.

"Thank you for shipping with GS," Ken said with pride. "We always try our very best and trust me when I say that this run definitely required it."

Professor Oak reached into the Master Ball case and picked one up. Even with his vast experiences with Pokémon he'd rarely had access to balls as powerful as this one. He flipped it open and looked inside revealing all of the circuitry to be intact. The balls were ready to be used.

"What a remarkable piece of equipment these are," Professor Oak said. "They are perfect for the research project we'll be conducting with them during the next few months."

"I'll contact the trainers we recruited later today," Tracey said. "We'll get the proverbial ball rolling on it."

Ken looked puzzled as he thought about just what kind of research could require special Poké Balls like this and multiple trainers. Professor Oak picked up on his curiosity.

"You're wondering why we needed all these and shipped these two high value items together aren't you?" Professor Oak asked.

"Actually I was," Ken said.

"Fen Fennekin ne fen," Fennekin barked, equally curious.

"Well, you've probably earned an explanation," Professor Oak replied. "Come down to the lab to the lab and I'll show you."

"Would it be alright if I call my dispatchers first?" Ken asked. "My radio got taken out in the chase and I need to let them know we're alright."

"Certainly," Professor Oak said.

On the outskirts of Pallet Town the aftermath of the chase was already starting to be cleaned up. Emergency services had already responded to the sound of the explosion in the tunnel from Ken's big hit. Firefighters and paramedics were looking over the site, confirming no injuries, while the police collected evidence. The three wrecked cars on either side of the Pallet Road Tunnel were already being towed away to reopen the road.

With law enforcement now swarming the site the remaining members of Team Rocket had opted to beat a tactical retreat toward a safe house in the mountains. They'd wait it out there for the attention to die down before a company car from Viridian City would come and pick them up. The Pallet side grunts had already reached the safe house while Robert, Ellee, and Purrloin slowly walked up a quiet dirt hiking trail in its direction. Under normal circumstances the hike up this trail was actually very pretty but today the stench of defeat hung low over the trio. They'd heard Ken's truck smash the road block and the other grunts had already called in to report to both them and headquarters it had reached Pallet Town and likely delivered the cargo.

Orders had come down directly from Giovanni's secretary Matori herself that Team Rocket was to hold back on any further action to get the Master Balls for now. Given how many grunts had been busted in the earlier car chase it was likely the organization was looking to cut its losses for the day.

"You know, we know where that truck went," Ellee said. "The professor is old and he's only got like one assistant that works with him. Why not bust into the lab and grab the Master Balls there?"

"Sometimes the bravest play is to know when to fold," Robert said. "Several agents have tried attacking that before and it always ends badly, he's old but he's got half the most powerful Pokémon in Kanto backing him up. Call me crazy but I don't fell like getting flung far over the horizon for no real gain. We'll walk away, reload, and come back against the next truck or the next trainer at full power."

"GS Transport won this battle but they won't win the war," Ellee replied, now with a darker smile. "Perhaps we just need to think a little bigger next time."

"Purrloin!" added their feline companion.

The trio continued their hike into the distance. Those who fight and run away often live to battle another day.

Ken stood behind Professor Oak's laboratory with Fennekin at his side as he made a phone call back to GS Transport offices in Celadon City. As the clock dinged 9 a.m. he'd officially been a Pokémon trainer now for 24 hours and they were by far the wildest 24 hours of his life. Fennekin lay down to lap up a little sunshine while Ken held his cell phone up to his ear.

"Pick up, pick up," Ken said as the phone ring.

The call connected as one of the office's secretaries picked up.

"GS Transport Celadon Dispatch, can I help you," she answered.

"Yeah, this is Ken Worth, driver for Vulpix 3. I'm sorry for the radio silence. Team Rocket attacked my truck in the Viridian Forest with that certain little egg aboard."

"Vulpix 3 I'm going to transfer you to Mack," the secretary said. "Please hold for a moment."

"10-4," Ken said, gulping at now having to face his boss. "Thank you."

The phone rang again for a moment before Mack picked up.

"Hello, Ken?" he asked. "Did you make it?"

"Yes Mack," Ken said. "I'm at Oak's lab now and the egg is fine. He's got it."

Ken heard someone yelling something like "he made it" down the hall away from the receiver with some cheering in the background.

"That's great news," Mack said. "The Viridian City Police called me and told me you were in trouble. Was it Team Rocket?"

"Yeah," Ken said. "They got Peter's truck and attacked mine."

"Did you road battle them?" Mack asked.

"I didn't have much of a choice there," Ken said. "But Fennekin and Spearow held their own."

"I told you Pokemon were great for protection," Mack said with pride. "How's the rig? Peter already posted his dash video of you and Fennekin's emergency braking stunt up there on the Pikachu Trail online as a Pokévision clip and that's blowing up. I've also got the Viridian City DPW calling us saying one of our trucks deliberately rammed some of their barrels and some reports of a big wreck in the Pallet Road Tunnel."

"Yeah, it's all true Mack," Ken said. "Truck #2,013 is all torn up. I'm going to need a rescue rig down here as soon as possible."

"I'll get the Chansey 2 wrecker rolling out of the GS West Kanto garage at Terracotta Town immediately," Mack said. "They'll be there in a couple hours. If they can't get it back on the road no one can. You stay put in Pallet for now. I was coming out there later this morning anyway."

"10-4," Ken said. "See you then."

Mack hung up and Ken gulped. He walked around the side of the lab and looked down to the road where Truck #2,013 lay wrecked. The 550 Dittocruiser had stopped smoking but the damage was still serious. He hoped it could be repaired and his first day on the job hadn't just become his last. But before he faced the music he and Fennekin were at least going to find out why they had pushed themselves as hard as they had.

AUTHOR NOTES

Answering some of the comments, yeah, this flick was heavily inspired by "Smokey and the Bandit" and similar flicks but it's kind of fun to spin it because the normal tropes of those movies don't always work here. In most trucker films like "Bandit," "Convoy," or "White Line Fever" our hero is an independent driving for themselves but here Ken is specifically driving for a much larger company instead. The bad guys in trucker films are also usually cops or "the corrupt system trying to keep the working man down" but since neither would fit well with the lighthearted anime-flavored atmosphere here I specifically avoided that one in favor of some Team Rocket baddies. I do have a third Pokémon picked out for Ken but with this tale coming close to its end I don't know if it will be in this one or perhaps saved for another adventure.

I tried to make all the named original Rockets characters in this one named after famous Confederate generals from the American Civil War, following on from the historical bad guy theme they often go with. That's why we got Robert and Ellee (Robert E. Lee), Stonewall and Jackson, and George and Pickett (with "Pickett's Charge" during the chase naturally ending very badly).