Disclaimer: I do not own "Pokemon" or its characters. They are all properties of the Pokemon Company and Kids WB entertainment.

Plot: On December 21st, 1988, 25 students and teachers from the prestigious Pokemon League Academy in Tel Aviv, Israel are returning home for the holidays when they are killed when Pan Am Flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland. Now, the school's administration must come to terms with the tragedy and restore faith that their students and staff can be protected against Team Rocket

Cast:

Robert Downey Jr. as Headmaster Anthony "Tony" Stark

Jennifer Hale as Deputy Headmaster Julia "Chuckles" Carpenter

Don Cheadle as Deputy Headmaster James "Jim" Rhodes

"Pokemon: The Students of Lockerbie"

Written by Jeff Snyder (GoDistance3562)

Chapter 1

"The Night Before"

December 21st, 1988…

Most people don't often see this as a day of significance in terms of terrorism. Nowadays, they look towards September 11th when they mention the darkest day in American History where 3,000 lives were lost. However, at our school, the Pokemon League Training Academy in Tel Aviv, Israel, December 21st is a dark day that over 35 years later, we must continue to remember.

Naturally, in the years since the bombing, the Pokemon League Academy has held not just ceremonies every December 21st to honor those who were murdered by Team Rocket, but also to honor rising students with scholarships in memory of the deceased. For nearly 40 years, I have run this school to the best of my ability and in the years since that dark cold night in 1988, I have managed to restore faith in the fact that the Pokemon League Academy was the safest Pokemon training school on the globe. But the scars never went away and will never go away for as long as the memories remained 40 years later, they still remain. I can remember 1988 like it was only yesterday.

It all started on December 20th, the night before 25 of our American students and their chaperones were preparing to make the long trek home back to the United States. No fears were made amongst the student populations and we were grateful for that. In fact, one of their chaperones escorting them back was one of our best, Machiko Natsukawa, herself a Japanese American living in New York City.

In the three years since she had been teaching with us, Machiko had made quite the impression at the academy, becoming popular with students and teachers alike. She took her job seriously and had always reflected that in her appearance.

The night before on December 20th, myself and my two deputy headmasters, Julia Carpenter and James Rhodes had summoned Machiko into my office to go over some last minute preparations.

"So this is the final headcount, Headmaster," she said, handing me a list of the students she would be accompanying. "Shall I add anyone else?"

"No, I think we are good to go, Machiko," I replied, handing her back the list. "Everyone else will be going back to their respective countries."

However, I noticed that Machiko looked uncomfortable and there was a good reason why she was uncomfortable.

"Tony, I…I know what you are probably thinking about the arrangements. I just feel like maybe we should wait another day until El Al has some seats open."

"El Al didn't have any openings, Machiko. If there were some seats, believe me, we would put you on them. You'll just have to make the best of what is available."

Of course, Machiko had her reasons for being worried as back in July, an Iranian Airliner was shot down over the Persian Gulf by a US Warship and the country was vowing revenge against the United States as a result.

"Julia," asked Machiko, looking over to my deputy headmistress. "What do you say?"

"Machiko," she sighed, the gold pearl necklace she was wearing around her neck clacking. "We've been through this already. You know very well that Pan American has beefed up security on all it's airplanes. Jim and I made sure of it, didn't we?"

"Trust me, Machiko," remarked Jim. "If we didn't trust Pan Am, we wouldn't have been using them. But we do trust them. Just focus on the fact that it's Christmas and Santa will be bringing you something on Christmas Eve."

Taking a nervous gulp, Machiko had no choice but to comply with our suggestions. As far as we were concerned, the students under her care would be safe and sound all the way to the United States.

"Well, the good news is that you will only be flying Pan Am from Frankfurt to New York so you should be home by dinner. Just be thankful you have just one flight connection."

Still, Machiko wished that she and our students would be flying El Al direct from Tel Aviv to New York, considering the threat that was produced by Team Rocket.

"And don't worry," reassured Julia, placing a hand on Machiko's shoulder. "I'll be there in the morning to see you all off."

Those words apparently did little to calm Machiko's mind and with a nervous smile, she turned and left the office, leaving myself and my closest colleagues and friends alone.

"Maybe she's overreacting," remarked Jim. "Pan Am has stepped up it's security since ALERT was introduced. We're partners with them for a reason, aren't we?"

"Perhaps we should have waited until there were seats open for the El Al, Tony," added Julia. "I mean, we'll be flying back on El Al on Thursday…"

"Maybe we're all just a little excited to get home for Christmas, yeah," said Tony, rising from his chair. "Besides, if Team Rocket would attack a Pan Am plane carrying any of our students, they would pay the consequences. They've tried to attack this school before and they have failed time after time. So, what would make this be any different?"

What would make this be any different? Anyone would think that poaching or stealing Pokemon of all kinds would be punishable by death or life imprisonment. Team Rocket and it's leader Madam Boss have never touched this school no matter how hard they tried. The confidence was there that our students would return home safe and sound.

Of course, that would not be the case when all was said and done…