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Chap. 62: Group Tactics

"So… how're we gonna do this?" Elle asked her as the group settled on one of the training areas toward the outside of the section of the park devoted to working with Pokémon. It looked like nothing so much as two dozen miniature battle circles, arranged almost haphazardly. Streams and ponds meandered through the lot, some were rougher with both artificial-looking and real stone formations, and both trees and brush along with patches of tall grass amid the more trimmed main areas provided cover and different terrain types for Pokémon to practice within.

Like most of what they had seen of Cerulean City, it was a masterwork in displaying man's ability to use nature for their benefit, but at the same time allowing it to be wild and free. Or at least, to look like it.

Robin could only hope that the people of her home world, or dimension even, could learn to do that. There had been efforts for years, of course, with environmentalists and conservationists decrying the loss of every inch or habitat for three centuries, weeping over every species lost. Humanity, at least their humanity, still didn't seem to care very much. The Mega-Cities were the result of too much complacency, too much contentment and not enough drive to improve. Too much… distraction.

This world had more going for it in many, many ways, but she also knew that the humans here were much the same. Healthier, saner in many ways, but still just as prone to doing what was 'convenient' and 'fun' for the group, rather than taking care of things that needed to be taken care of. In Cerulean City, that was more visible and prevalent than in many others. The nightlife was, after all, world-famous… and a distraction for the ills that plagued the city. Crime rates were at new, horrific all-time highs. Primary among them, drug use, sexual assault, and even human- and Pokémon-trafficking.

And Rocket was behind almost all of it. Despite being this world's largest and most successful (and oldest extant) crime syndicate, they operated largely above-board whenever they could, which helped protect the actual illegal parts of their enterprises behind a wall of paperwork that was nigh-impenetrable.

Game Freak knew most of Rocket's income came from, for example, Cerulean City's clubs and sex-trade, which was heavily regulated but entirely legal. Legal because Rocket wanted it that way, and they were the ones who regulated it. Follow their rules, give them their cut, and you could do pretty much anything. Join them, and you really could. But if you didn't… you'd best pray you didn't get caught. The examples learned the hard way, usually by being filmed in 'consensual' scenes involving many very large, very well-endowed Pokémon… and then not seeing the outside of one of Rocket's brothels for years.

Robin shuddered. She liked sex. Loved it, even if technically her body was still a virgin one (for real, even if she could just regrow herself). She'd not yet fully mated with anything, only used her Magikarp's mouth over and over. Half of her teasing was hoping that Alex would just… take her up on it, and take her. The rest, well… it was just fun, wasn't it? But being effectively an indentured servant in a brothel did not sound like her idea of a good time. She wanted to choose, damn it!

Still, that didn't have much to do with the more immediate question or need. "I don't know," Robin shrugged, "I've only ever trained in either formal groups, or one-on-one."

"But- didn't you say you had all the best training and schooling, especially about Pokémon, from Gam- from where you're from?" Alex asked innocently.

Robin felt herself grin, "Sure… again, in formal groups or one-on-one. I know how to double- or triple-battle, of course, but we didn't have a lot of practical experience with Pokémon. I never had a Pokémon at all until I came here. Actual training? Eh… you guys kind of already know how. I've watched some of your vids. Even Megumi and Kinta know how."

"Hey!" the younger boy grumped.

Robin just smirked, "You got a Badge, but like I had to tell these two the other day, that doesn't really mean anything. Wasn't kidding before when we talked about this Executive Ariana, or any Gym Leader, being able to level a whole city. That kind of power takes time, training, and most importantly, experience. I know the older games used to go on and on about how Rocket mistreated their Pokémon, yada yada. They don't. Mistreated Pokémon turn on their masters and eat them. They train differently, maybe a bit more brutally, but they still take care of them… or they wouldn't exist. But as for actually training? I kind of just wing it."

She smiled as Alex's expression turned into an annoyed frown as he realized he hadn't actually caught her in the lie he had hoped. One day, he would trust her, but it seemed that for now that day was still a fair bit off. But that was alright. The prize was worth the wait. It wasn't like the chase, the hunt, wasn't thrilling in its own right.

"Well, I- I kind of did like doing group battles more in the older games when I was a kid," Megumi added quietly, "so… if that helps. I don't know. I'm not the best Trainer, or Battler. Our dad was pretty good, the best out of us, but… well, he never- never got a Badge, either."

"He'd been playing for a long time," Megumi tried to say with a brave face, but even Robin could tell she was hurting.

"Oh… Sugimoto. He was one of the players who died. Your dad, then."

Kinta nodded, his expression suddenly furious, and Megumi… well, beautiful as she was, Robin felt it entirely inappropriate to see her so sad. Still, she had a hard time sympathizing. Or at least, empathizing. The former she could probably pull off better. "I never knew my parents," she said quietly, "So I can't say I understand how you feel. In fact, I don't. So if I say something rude, I apologize, that's not something I generally try to do. I like to have fun, not be a bitch. So… look, I'm sorry about your dad. Game Freak didn't… you should know I work for them. I mean, we all do, but I work for them in a little different capacity. I'm… in R&D, I guess you could say, or research. I know about your Dad, and several other people that died that day. It… it wasn't something GF could control. They'd have stopped it if they could. They aren't Saints, and I'm not saying they are… but they try not to be monsters, too, if they can help it. It was…"

Robin sighed, then forced herself to press on despite Alex's and now Kinta's increasingly stormy expressions, while Megumi just listened, horrified. "It was something on this side, I think. Something in this world. We aren't sure what. But the- this is hard to explain. Something about the link between this place and where we're from broke, or was severed, by something here. It came back on inexplicably, when GF was doing everything they could just to figure out what happened. We- they- didn't send anyone back in until the next day because they wanted to see if the connection would stay on."

"So we're all at risk, even now?" Megumi asked quietly.

"No, not really," Robin shrugged. "Your Dad was one of the people with the lowest Sync Rates in the whole program. It's more common with older people in general, because a lot of what controls the Sync Rate is neural elasticity. Older people tend not to adapt and learn as quickly, so… lower Sync. We- well, me, Robin, and Alex- are among the very highest in the whole program. You two aren't bad, but just a bit above average. We're all fine, though. GF's safeguards are more than fast enough to cut us off and, uh, log us out in time if the connection closes again."

"So… what," Alex asked, "You and Maline and the others have mentioned that a few times, this Sync Rate. What does it even mean?"

Robin shrugged, "Simply, it's how well your brain and neural network connects through the MMI into the SoNinten System, which allows you to experience this world and drive these bodies. Anything above a fifty- it goes to a hundred- is more than adequate. Thirty's the minimum that can run with the current system. GF didn't take anyone below a forty-five, just to be safe."

"What was Dad?" Kinta asked quietly, grinding his teeth audibly.

"I don't know," Robin lied, shrugging again, "I have access to some information, but not a lot of hard data. Mostly, I just have personal files on these two. I only knew your names because you've met with them a few times and GF thought it was significant. Which it is, I guess, if you're friends."

Sometimes, it was hard being in her position, she decided. She might lack empathy, but she still felt bad for the kid who'd lost his last parent due to something beyond anyone's control. At least the lying came easily. It even felt nice to do it for once, since she's had to work very hard not to lie to Alex and Elle. She needed them to trust her too much for that. "Look, my point is, I'm sorry. But if we're going to do something about it instead of mope, we need to train. If you know how team battles work, Megumi, then by all means, let us know."

So she explained, shyly at first, but with increasing confidence as several of their questions were answered. Only once did Robin have to fill in something, but at the same time, Robin herself was surprised at the depth of the dark-haired woman's knowledge on the subject. After the impromptu lecture had finished with Megumi waving a hand through the air, "That's pretty much it, I guess. If I think of something else I'll let you know, but the important things to remember are that you can- in fact you have to- still issue commands to all your Pokémon at once every round, which is really hard in a free battle but not that hard in a League battle, and that different moves attack… well, more than just the opposing Pokémon. It's pretty easy to figure out what does what, though. Like, Flamethrower will hit everything in its cone, and Swift can hit anything, but Tackle just hits the one the Pokémon hits."

"Alright," Robin nodded, then looked around the group, "There's five of us, so… we should probably do a round-robin style? Everyone battles everyone else two on two, I guess, with the other three acting as judges?"

"Sure," Megumi agreed.

Kinta was the first out of the gate, speaking almost before his sister's single-word answer finished, "I want to battle Alex."

"You sure?" Alex grinned, his hand moving to his belt, "I won't go easy on you just 'cause we're bros."

"I wouldn't want you to," Kinta growled, turning and stalking toward the far end of the circle.

"Sorry," Megumi said quietly, "He's still not… not taking things well. And with everything we just talked about… I'm not sure whether I should ask you to go easy on him, or… or to beat some sense into him. I'm not ready to raise my kid brother…"

"We'll help if we can," Elle offered, "but I don't know how much help we can be. My mother was a Glow addict, and my dad's a drunk. She died last year, and he got a lot more… well, worse. But I know what not to do, I guess?"

"Better than nothing, I suppose," Megumi sighed. "You'd better get going, Alex. His temper's been… short."

"Alright, alright," Alex sighed, the slouched toward the nearer end of the circle in a way that was very unlike him based on Robin's limited knowledge.

What followed was… not pleasant to watch. Not even for Robin, who loved Pokémon. She had been born and bred and raised and conditioned and trained to be good at it… and the travesty was, Alex could have made it fair.

Kinta released not his starter, but his Fire-type first, a Growlithe a little smaller than Elle's, and male, she thought. Along with it, a Rattata that, at least, was rather highly ranked, nearly as high as Alex's own chosen Pokémon.

Her hopeful (no, not hopeful, her definite) future companion seemed almost apathetic as he called out Shooter, his Horsea. She supposed it could have been worse, he could've gone for his own Fire-type. But with a type advantage and a Battle Rank six higher than Kinta's own Pokémon, it would've been unfair to begin with. But his next call just made everything worse. "Fistina, beat the shit out of that Rattata."

Alex didn't hold back, not at all. Kinta might have requested it, asked for it, even demanded it. But Robin still didn't think he knew what he was saying. Alex really was very good. Kinta's first command had been Ember. Reasonable… if it wasn't fire against water. The Rattata was ordered to use Sand Attack against, well, this time at least both of Alex's own Pokémon. It should have been an easy demonstration of the multi-target, area-of-effect attacks Megumi had described transferring from the wild, free battles to League rules.

It wasn't. Barely phased by the improper attack, the Remoraid dived under the water for a moment, then jumped into the air to rain down a Bubblebeam that sent the poor Fire-type rolling across the field for several feet with its force. It stood up gamely, shook it off, and then Kinta did something even more stupid. "Attack it again! Jump on it with a Takedown!"

Megumi slapped her hand over her face in a very Nipponese way, but Elle groaned right along with Robin as Alex snorted, "Stupid. Shooter, just Bubblebeam again. Fistina, just keep punching it."

Then they were down, and Megumi cried, "Stop! Stop it!"

At once, Alex stood up and recalled his Pokémon at the same time, murmuring quiet words to both of them as he turned and walked a few steps off the field. Kinta snarled, "I can still fight! I have two more Pokémon!"

Robin shook her head, "No, she's right. Alex… that was fucking harsh, man. I'm not saying I don't get it, but…"

"He's gotta learn we aren't messing around," the man muttered. "I'll be back. I gotta take a piss."

As he walked off toward the nearest public restroom, which near the center of the park, Robin sighed. She knew full well he, like the girls, had relieved himself just before they left the PMC. No… he was going to sulk. Or think, one of the two. For him, it was probably both.

The angry boy pointed at Elle next as soon as he reached the women, "You, then."

"No," Elle shook her head, "I'm not… not battling you yet. Fight Megumi."

"I don't-"

"I don't want her!" Kinta shouted, "I want to fight the best! I have to get stronger! For Dad! Because he-"

Robin did something she truly didn't expect, especially from herself, and slapped the kid across the cheek. "Shut the fuck up," she said as he reeled, looking torn between punching her back, and wide-eyed in fear. She only realized then that she'd been subconsciously growing, and was now a few inches taller than Megumi, nearly as tall as Alex himself. Maybe she was preparing for this subconsciously?

The Combinant didn't know. What she did know was that she, emotionally stunted or not, knew his shouting was going to attract attention, and that it wasn't helping. "Alex beat the snot out of your Pokémon to teach you something, dumbass. You aren't ready. You wanted to fight the best, and that's what happens when you fight the best just of us. None of us are ready to take on two-Badge Gym Leader team. We're sure as fuck not ready to take on their real teams. You need to learn, kid: the world's a shitty place."

"I know it is!" he screamed, "My Dad's dead!"

"Kinta-" Megumi tried.

Elle seemed lost.

Robin felt it, too. But… well, she remembered some things from when she still had friends. Before they died. When she was a child, in the simulation, and she had been in pain, lonely, missing the vague memories of her family, before she grew out of that. Her arms circled the younger boy, pulling him close. "It's gonna be alright," she said quietly, "It's gonna hurt for a while. A long while, probably, maybe the rest of your life. But it gets easier to deal with. And I guess Alex- even if he was a dick about it- made the right call in the end. Look, kid… You really do need to learn. Baby steps, alright? Jumping straight into a real fight is just gonna get you killed. You want revenge? You want to take your pain out on these Rocket assholes you kidnapped you two?"

"Yes," he whispered, quietly enough Robin was sure the other girls hadn't heard it. Even she could feel the pain in his voice, though.

"Then start small. Work your way up to the big leagues. We'll be beside you, fighting too. Alex and Elle, maybe even me, have the potential to go all the way. And I mean all the way: to the League Championship. It might take a couple of years, but they at least have the stuff. If you want to be there, fighting alongside them, making a difference? Start small. You aren't bad, but you aren't ready for the big leagues. Not yet."

He sniffled. Then nodded against her chest.

Robin let him dry his eyes on her tits, rolling her own at Megumi and Elle with a knowing look. When she released him, Kinta seemed, somehow, much calmer.

She wished she knew what she'd done besides tell him a hard lesson, but being honest with herself, Robin really had no idea. Unless it was boob therapy? That was a proven, scientific fact, after all, and he was definitely at that age. "Alright, let's, uh… I don't know, Megumi, would you rather go against me or Elle first?"

"Y- You, I think," the girl replied, glancing nervously at her brother.

Still, he waved her on, and before long, Robin was standing some distance away. "Alright, Bliss… and let's go with you, Nibbler. This should be mostly fair. Good luck, Megumi! May the best battler outlast the other!"

"Hah, not my style," the woman tried to say nonchalantly, but she was still sending worried glances at her brother.

Robin couldn't blame her. Still, they had training to do. Megumi had things to teach her about group battles, for sure. But Robin was also pretty sure she had things to teach her, and all the rest of them, about battling in general. What better way to start than showing them why they should fear her defensive team?