The door to the elevator slowly hissed open, revealing the figure of a trainer flanked by her two Pokémon, one a water type, the other a fire type. The two stepped out of the elevator, silently, unlike their usual standard of chatter between Chimera and Pokémon alike.

Trainers waved at the Gym Leader as she passed by, but she only gave a silent nod over her usual cheerful aspect of 'hi's and 'hello's towards them. The same barrier surrounded her partners in battle.

Samantha and her dynamic duel of Pokémon, Spark and Hydra left the Pokémon Centre that was stationed at the base of the tower that housed the Star City Gym on its roof. The orange glow of setting sun met their bodies when the stepped out of the centre, after another days work of defending their badge. However, mood was hardly happy because of a certain homicide attempt on the gym leader only a day beforehand.

Samantha's hand instinctively curled into a fist, heat from her now unlocked fire ability glowing faintly within the confines. She sighed, letting the energy fade from her hand as not to attract attention.

"I'm a Chimera…as Ryna and Carter have explained…yet…I have become more like Sarpal after my passing…" Samantha thought, zoning out. "Just who am I? No…WHAT am I? I'm Human…I'm Pokémon…I am a half-breed? No…I'm a mutant…my genetic structure was altered for this purpose…"

"Purpose? What purpose? I was a guinea pig for science, a test subject, like a lab rat. I'm nothing more…I'm worthless…only worthless…"

"No…I have worth now…I must…if I get the attention of some assassin towards me…or they just want to kill me because I'm a freak of nature? I'm not natural…I'm a freak…"

The confused Samantha was too busy thinking about herself to realise her surroundings, let alone anyone else within her vicinity. She crashed head long into another trainer who just exited the Pokémart after. Both cried out as they crashed onto the paved ground.

"Oww…" Samantha whimpered, looking up at the boy before her, about her age, with a bag of dropped supplies by his feet. He shook the dizziness from his head.

"Sorry…" both trainers spoke at once, their gaze finally meeting each other. The boy gasped in surprise, crawling back a step, not trying to recollect his supplies.

"Sheesh, you look like you saw a ghost," Spark commented, picking up the bag of supplies with his jaw and trotting over to the fallen boy. In response, the boy regained his composure, taking the bag from Spark.

"Thanks…" he whispered, standing up slowly. He outstretched a hand for Sam, who still sat on her butt on the sidewalk, watching the boy as he recoiled.

"He knows, doesn't he?" she thought, slowly taking his hand and getting back to her feet. He nodded, shaking her hand afterwards.

"Vyren," he introduced in a single word, releasing his grip, as did Samantha. She nodded in acknowledgement, introducing herself as well.

"Samantha…Star City Gym Leader…" she spoke, nodding and then glancing at her two Pokémon. "These are my partners, Spark…" she introduced, pointing towards the Growlithe. "And Hydra…" she concluded with the Squirtle. Vyren gazed at the two Pokémon, wondering what the reaction of the trio may be if they knew who he actually was.

A loud caw from above got the attention of the four, plus other bystanders, that quickly dismissed it and continued on their business. A Fearow circled over head, slowly descending to the ground. Eventually, the Fearow landed by Vyren, nodding his head.

"And this is my Fearow, Kystel," Vyren introduced, patting the larger bird on the back. The avian Pokémon purred with the touch, trying to act as tame as possible before their prey. Even so, he enjoyed the company of his companion, they took care of each other, like family.

Samantha gazed into the eyes of the Pokémon, Kystel staring back in return. The two continued to scan each other in silence, getting confused looks at the other three who watched.

"Your Fearow is very loyal to you…I can feel it…" Samantha spoke softly, finally breaking their gaze and kneeling down to her Pokémon. "Just like my own…a strong bond that can be hard to find in trainers…but there's something about you…you and I…we are similar…"

The cryptic remark sent a shiver down Vyren's spine, wondering what she could be alluding towards. He decided to ignore his own train of thought for now, though, leaping onto the back of his companion.

"It was nice meeting you, Star City Gym Leader," Vyren commented, not wanting to mention her name. "Maybe we will meet again…" he continued, though adding silently 'not likely…'. With those words, Kystel took off, taking his trainer and partner with him into the sky.

Samantha watched the boy fly into the sky quickly, as though he were trying to run her presence, not like Samantha minded. She was a freak of nature after all…they should all run from her…Yet, something nagged at the back of her neck.

"You and I…we are similar…" she repeated silently, watching the Fearow only become a spec in the sky. "…are we both…Chimeras…? Or am I just hallucinating?"

"You and I….we are similar…" Vyren recalled in his mind, listening to words of his target again and again play through his mind. The pair quickly sailed through the air, the Fearow gliding to save some of his energy.

"I see you got acquainted with our target," Kystel commented, not looking back towards his companion.

"She isn't our target anymore," the ex-Rocket sniper responded bitterly, closing his eyes and recalling those six words yet again. "You and I…we are similar…"

"Can she understand Pokémon too?" Vyren thought, trying to decipher the message played before him once more. "I know it is not natural…yet…I am able…so is she able too?"

"You're thinking too much again," Kystel spoke aloud, breaking Vyren's thoughts. The trainer stared at the back of the bird Pokémon he rode on.

"Yes, but I do thinking a lot…especially when I wait for my prey," Vyren retorted, never answering like that before. "I guess a sniper has a lot of time to think."

"All the time in the world…" the Fearow added quickly, diving down towards the ground towards the camp they set up at the outskirts of the city. The trip was short and brief, the Fearow landing quickly and perching himself on the grass. Vyren, in turn, slid down the back and onto the ground. The tent was still up, and the coals of the fire were still present, not burning, the smoke from it faded long into the night before. The sniper walked past the burnt out fire and headed into his tent.

Inside lay his backpack, with his sleeping bag and mat, along with the case he carried his rifle in. Vyren headed directly for the case, opening it to make sure all its contents were still within. Satisfied, he closed it and carried it out of the tent, dropping it carefully by the tent.

Looking back up, the trainer noted his Fearow lying down on the grass, resting his tired wings without much care in the world. Vyren smiled at the peaceful look on his Pokémon's face, before turning his attention back towards the tent and beginning the tedious process of packing all his travel belongings back into the small backpack he used to carry it all. Sighing softly, he got to work. The sun was going down, and he wanted to finish before all light diminished.

The Pidgeot remained perched on the roof of the building, watching the Humans and Pokémon alike down below. The vigilant eye kept glancing around, expecting a commotion at any moment. The Pokémon understood there was one less threat towards the life of Samantha, but also knew there would be more…a Chimera such as Samantha would be a great threat for Team Rocket, and they knew about her existence…they knew all to well after her participation in Pokémon Stadium.

The Pidgeot flapped its wings, taking flight into the sky while keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.

Samantha glanced outside, the sun barely over the horizon now as it began to set below. She held a cup of tea between her hands. Her two partners were playing with each other underneath and around the table like a pair of children, but the trainer didn't mind. She knew for a fact, when they needed to get serious, they would, very much so…

"The Arc duel…" Samantha thought, smiling at the idea. Both Pokémon had their own 'Arc' attacks, each more powerful then anything known to this date. It was their little secret, along with a select few, Hellfire, Nova Barrage, just to name a few of the many that belonged with certain other Pokémon she travelled with in her past. The Gym Leader missed their company, but decided she had enough traveling for now, especially after her close scrapes and encounters with various groups and Pokémon alike.

Too bad they wouldn't give this one female trainer rest for all the hardships and pains she suffered throughout her training career.

"Samantha," a voice asked, more of a statement however, then a question. She looked up, seeing the reflection of a man wearing sunglasses beside the table by the window.

"Yes, that's me," Samantha answered, not bothering to look back towards the man. Both Pokémon finally stopped leaping around each other, looking up at the man who confronted them. "What do you want?" Silence over came the group, before the man slowly raised his right hand, with apparently nothing in it. The trainer gazed in wonderment, turning to face the man with glasses.

"I want your life…" he whispered, before hell broke lose before the trio. Strong winds picked up in the tiny shop that housed one of the many Pokémon trainers of the city on a daily basis. Samantha's eyes went wide as she was picked up by the wind, crying out in surprise and catching the gaze of more then one of the many trainers within. In the next moment, she was thrown out the same window she stared at before, slamming into the light post outside.

"Samantha!!" both Pokémon exclaimed, leaping onto the table before they two were thrown out by the torrent of wind caused by what seemed to be only a man with glasses. The two hit pavement as cars outside halted quickly with the sudden emergence of two Pokémon on the street. Screeching of breaks echoed through the sky as panic shouts and cries of fearful patrons and bystanders started in awe or fear.

"Ow…" Samantha whimpered, looking up at the man who still stood inside the café, a smirk on his face, right hand still raised. Wind began to pick up again, before a small tornado headed towards Samantha. Eyes wide, she regained enough energy to leap out of the way of the small wind burst. The attack hit the lamp post, knocking it down in a single blow and onto one of the stopped cars on the street. The driver barely escaped death from the falling metal.

"Chimera!" Samantha shouted out unintentionally, quickly leaping to her feet with renewed vigor. Hydra was by her side, only his shell scratched. Spark, on the other hand, still was recovering, gravel and stone scraping his skin on contact at high velocities with the ground. It didn't matter, Samantha didn't intend to back down, not yet.

"Ah yes, you do know of us…as well as yourself…" the man responded, stepping out of the shattered window, glass cracking and breaking beneath his boots. "But we are not your regular Chimera…no…we are more then that…"

"Yes…you are like me now…" Samantha thought, only seeing the ability to use Pokémon attacks in those who took their 'second life', such as herself and Tim…but it still baffled her why this man wanted her dead. "Are you the same who tried to kill me before, back at my gym?" Her mental questioning was cut short when the man lifted his right hand again, this time, the glass below him being picked up by the wind, circling around beside the assailant. Once more, Samantha's eyes went wide, watching the glass with intent. Once more, the man smirked, before throwing the glass at Samantha with his wind power.

"No way, not this time!" Samantha replied with her own energy. Fire power charged into her hand, contained by only her self control that was almost drowned by her anger and hatred. The glass continued to approach her body, before she open fired, burning through the flying transparent material with her own fire, something adopted after she was revived from the Stadium incident.

Burnt glass, then burnt flesh hit the air, Samantha imagining the eyes of her assailant widening in surprise with her 'talent'. It didn't last long as the overwhelming heat cut through the flesh, leaving only ashes on the ground. Any crowd that was there before quickly split, not wanting to be around the murder who may turn her attention to them next. It didn't bother the trainer at all, she understood she was a freak, and that associating with her would probably be a bad idea.

"Spark, are you alright?" Samantha asked, quickly heading over to her injured Pokémon once the crowd dispersed. The Growlithe tried to get to his feet, but to no avail, the blow cutting deep in his hind leg.

"I'm sorry, Sam…" Spark apologized, lowering his head. "I guess I wasn't much help."

"Don't worry about it…" the trainer whispered, lifting the Growlithe in her arms and holding him close to her chest. She glanced down at Hydra, who stood at watch with diligence. His eye's narrowed as four Pokémon approached them, slowly, and with an aura of malice around them.

"She killed our trainer," the Venusaur commented, his heavy body and strong vines knocking cars out of the way as they approached the trio.

"Well, our trainer was dumb to think he could take her by himself," another remarked, an Ampharos that trailed beside the grass type. The electric type was flanked by another two, an Electabuzz and a Raichu. All seemed to share the same goal as their trainer, who apparently was the one Samantha just cremated.

"Um…this isn't good…" Sam commented softly so that only Spark and Hydra would hear. She took a step back, Hydra remaining firm in between the group of Pokémon and his own partner.

"Sam…run…I'll hold them here…" Hydra told his partner, planting his feet firmly onto the ground. He knew he wouldn't stand a chance against that group with a type advantage over himself, but he didn't intend to let his trainer die either, not after what happened before.

"I…I…I won't leave you," the Gym Leader protested, holding Spark close, the Growlithe not having a say at all in the argument. The vocal fight would have continued on if only the others didn't decide to interfere.

"AAAAAH!" Hydra screamed out, getting hit by multiple Razor Leaf and Thunder attacks from the four who opposed him. The attacks came completely by surprise, Samantha screaming out the name of her Squirtle as he took the blow. The turtle fell to the ground, on his knees, before slowly getting back up.

"Hydra…don't…" Spark protested softly, watching the event transpire. The fire type was powerless. If he would help, he knew the pair could even the odds quickly with an Arc each.

"Heh…don't worry about me…I'll be alright…" Hydra told his partners weekly, back up to his feet once more. The result only landed him another barrage of attacks, causing another cry of pain.

"Stop it!" Samantha demanded in anger and sorrow, the tone of her voice temporally made them stop. She huffed slightly, kneeling down beside her Pokémon, still carrying the wounded fire type.

Her pleas were only words to be heard to continue. More bolts and grass flew, directed towards the trio now, with the targets within close range of each other. Hydra slowly saw the attacks approaching, and with his instincts, knocked Samantha and Spark away alike. The trainer carrying the Pokémon was knocked over, leaving Hydra alone to absorb the whole barrage of attacks. Once more, he cried in pain, slumping over.

"Hydra!!!!" Samantha screamed out, nearly dropping Spark in the process. She crawled forward slowly, wondering if her Squirtle was even still alive…

The answer came when the shell of the 'withdrawn' Pokémon twitched. Blue aura surrounded the shell, something unnoticed before. The trainer blinked in surprise, nearly falling over backwards. She watched as the shell slowly levitated by unseen powers. In response, another barrage of electricity and grass smashed into the Squirtle, but any registry of pain was impossible to tell. Instead, the shell began to turn, slowly at first, before increasing the pace. A geyser of water blasted out from the ground, lifting the twirling shell even higher up.

In the next instant, the geyser became a wall, water pouring outwards, making a complete wall of water between the attacking Pokémon and the trainer. In the next instant, that wall surged forward, flooding the streets and crushing all those in its path. The massive wave flattened all the Pokémon before it, somehow leaving all the buildings, cars, and such unscathed. Needless to say, the damage was quite done before hand with the attack of the unknown trainer. And also needless to say, the three electric types and one grass type was flattened under the wave of water, unable to withstand the pressure of such a blow. Once they were destroyed, the wave subsided, leaving only the shell of a Squirtle spinning around, slowing down ever so slightly. Hydra emerged from his shell, lying on his back, eyes closed.

"H-Hydra…?" Samantha whispered, poking the shell of her Pokémon lightly. The water type groaned, slowly opening his eyes.

"Tsunami…" he responded meekly, telling the name of the attack he just performed. The small water type then grinned, before closing his eyes once more and falling silent.

"Hydra?!" the trainer exclaimed, letting Spark onto the ground softly. She crawled forward again, taking the water type in her arms. "Hydra? No…Hydra…" she whimpered, glancing to the wounded Spark. Quickly, she recalled both Pokémon to a Pokéball each, clipping them to her belt before sprinting back towards the Pokémon Centre. All the meanwhile, the Gym Leader crying the name of her Squirtle, fearing the worst.