"You'd think they would use a quiet solution," Tim remarked, ridding on the back of Blaster as the pair of soldiers decided it was best to jump ship and ride the Blastoise to shore. Rocky, Slasher, and Klik were getting reacquainting, though there was still tension in the air.

"The original idea was that they lead you out to a safe area then knock you out and throw you overboard," Des responded, his sniper rifle slung over his shoulder. "Of course, you made that rather difficult with your miniature Earthquake, however you did that…"

"It's a long story," Tim replied, sitting down as Blaster paddled slowly towards shore. "And I'm not even sure of all the details." Des gave his companion an odd look, wondering how Tim could not know about those origins.

"I have to admit, I was surprised they were hunting you," Des spoke softly, kneeling down. "Ryna told me you died, sort of, but, 'disappeared'. I kind of lost hope without any contact. Then, all of a sudden, your name reappears and we're out to get you…"

"Well, I did kind of die…" Tim answered softly, glancing down at his hand. "I died, I came back, Burner died…I had powers to produce Earthquakes, it's so strange…" Tim spoke, glancing towards the Olivine beach in the distance. They decided in a different course from their original destination. "Sam…revived, with the power of Fire behind her."

"There was an order to kill Sam too," Des butted in, feeling it prudent to tell. Tim quickly looked towards his companion, eyes wide. Des only nodded to confirm, and there was very little they could do right now. "Concentrate on Ryna, we've got to rescue her. I'm sure Sam will be fine."

"Yeah…I guess you're right…" Tim agreed sullenly, curious at how well Sam was doing considering. He took his wallet out and flipped it open, gazing into the picture of himself and Ryna. "Where are you…?"

"Probably in the Trilands, I heard that's where they're taking her, though I don't know where," Des answered, taking apart his sniper rifle now and placing the parts into the pack he carried.

"The Trilands, I've heard of that place," Tim remarked, trying to rake his memory for the right idea. "A trio of islands west of Johto, though not really a trio of islands, just a large continent that is mostly submerged, so there are no land routes over to the other points of the continent."

"Yeah, that's it," Des told Tim, seeing his companion was still pretty informed. "There are four Team Rocket facilities at the Trilands, all for Chimera research - one on each island, and a cruise ship that I recently visited before taking on the mission to kill you."

"And Ryna may be in any of those facilities," Tim analyzed, sighing. Des silently agreed. "It's like finding a needle in a haystack, without a metal detector." The Chimera sighed, closing his wallet and replacing it into his pocket. "Without help, it'll be impossible to find and infiltrate them…"

"Who says we'd be without help?" Des asked, his rifle packed up and the pack slung over his shoulder. Tim glanced over. "There's a 'rebel' group that opposes the Team Rocket stuff on the Trilands. Good opportunity to get some help, state our demands, make a deal, and we got ourselves a lot of help."

"Assuming they listen to our demands," Tim muttered, pessimistic about their chances of success with that group.

"We have to try something," Des reiterated, trying to be optimistic with it, though he knew the odds as well: not very high. Nevertheless, the ex-Cinnabar Special Forces operative was pretty sure they could still work it out. "I'm sure they could use a few people and Pokémon of our skill, hired mercenaries, or something along those lines." Tim only nodded, seeing the beach just before them now. "We're landing soon, better hide that Shotgun of yours."

"Give me your jacket," Tim replied.

The group entered the room in the Pokémon Centre, Des' jacket over Tim's shoulder as a cover for the shotgun holster. When Des closed the door, Tim idly threw the jacket onto the bed. The room was for two, two beds being the obvious hint for that idea.

"Rest and relax team, we got a long day ahead for us tomorrow," Des told his companions, Human and Pokémon alike. The Pokémon nodded, though Tim only stared out the window. Silence came, aside from the small whispers of the Pokémon - Tim and Des didn't exchange many words at this point.

"I need some air," Tim finally spoke after a few minutes, unable to stand being cooped up in the Centre. He took Des' jacket and wrapped it around his shotgun before heading out. Des started blankly for a moment.

"I need some air too," he told the Pokémon, before going to give chase with his former unit colleague. The Pokémon didn't seem to hear, too busy in their own conversations to notice. They were in a heated discussion about something, though the trainers paid no heed.

"I hope you aren't out to kill us again…" Rocky muttered, grossing his arms. Slasher silently agreed, though he was more sympathetic for the Flareon.

"I told you, we put that behind us, especially since we met Carter again…" Klik answered, shaking his head. "I wish I didn't hurt Flare like that back then…" he commented remorsefully, closing his eyes.

"The past is the past," Slasher muttered softly, closing his eyes and crossing his arms. The Ground type sat down, trying to meditate. "We can't change the past, no matter how long we reminisce about it. We move on, and hope we can rectify our past misgivings." Klik turned his gaze to the Sandslash, who now seemed to have just zoned out, inattentive to the surrounding. The Flareon turned his gaze towards the Graveler, who only muttered something inaudible before marching off.

"I wonder if he'll ever forgive me," Klik wondered, lowering his head momentarily before glancing at the meditating Sandslash. "He seems to be alright with me…" the Flareon analysed, before leaping onto one of the two beds, circling then lying down, resting and contemplating.

Cold air blew in from the water as Tim and Des stood side by side, gazing towards the distance. Tim made sure his shotgun was well hidden and Des' jacket tied on tightly. There was uncomfortable silence between the two, though neither seemed phased, or so it seemed.

"I wish I could've helped Ryna," Des spoke without provocation, looking down towards the sand. Tim didn't reply, nor did he glance towards his companion. "I wished I could have been there, to help you, to help her, just…something, to redeem myself…" He gasped softly when Tim placed his hand on his shoulder, silencing him.

"You saved me, we're going to save Ryna, I think your debt has been paid…" Tim spoke softly, patting Des' shoulder. The ex-Rocket sighed softly, taking a Pokéball from his belt and holding it up to eye level.

"Blaster and I, we almost killed Burner that time…" Des reminisced, closing his eyes as he held the Blastoise's Pokéball. "Klik and I, we almost raped Flare, we did so much wrong…" he spoke softly, opening his eyes. "So much…so much to be forgiven from…to atone for…" Silence overcame them again.

"Ryna forgave you, as did Carter," Tim tried to consolidate, trying to cheer up his companion, get him out of his depression.

"I can not accept it, not yet…" Des retorted, sighing softly. "I know you think I should, but I can't, not yet…not until I prove myself worthy of it…" Tim sighed now, knowing he couldn't change Des' mind, not yet. He would have to wait, and take the ex-Rocket's help graciously, and wait for his acceptance.

"Well get Ryna back, together," Tim told his partner, trying to cheer him up. Des only nodded slowly, glancing towards Tim. In the next instant, he tackled Tim over, a bullet sailing past where Tim's head was previous. The pair rolled then recovered, like they trained so long ago. In the distance, they saw the sniper, mounted on a bike, trying to follow their movement on the beach. They took cover behind the lifeguard shelter, quickly climbing up the ramp, much to the protest of the watcher.

"Get out of here, it's going to get really hot really fast," Tim ordered the guard, quickly untying Des' jacket and throwing it back towards the sniper, who had his pack on the ground. He donned the jacket as Tim revealed his 'Heartbeat', scaring the guard off now. He was picked off as he ran, so the sniper had a specific target in mind: them. "Did you see what he was using?" Tim asked Des, who was quickly assembling his rifle.

"A 'Zombie', just like me," Des replied, recognizing a sniper rifle like that anywhere. He snapped the stock onto the main section, adjusting the scope quickly before nodding his readiness. Both had a corner of the guardhouse.

"Think you could get him from this range?" Tim asked, leaning his back to the guardhouse and preparing the .50 calibre 'Heartbeat' pistol.

"Depends if he relocates or not…we don't have that option," Des answered, risking a glance only to retreat as a shot was fired off, throwing splinters everywhere. "He relocated, I didn't see him by the bike." Tim nodded, turning rounds his corner and slowly advancing towards the bike, wondering if he could detect the sniper. The sniper couldn't have gone far, and definitely couldn't find a position to cover both sides and still be protected - he would have to be over looking Des, giving Tim some breathing room.

More bikes appeared, with more people, and they seemed to be with that one sniper who found them. Tim can only assume on thing: Rockets. He quickly backed behind his corner, glancing towards Des.

"Reinforcements…" Tim told his sniper companion, who nodded in acknowledgement. The sniper concentrated for a bit, then glanced to his partner.

"I need a distraction," he told Tim. "Once you get my signal, make a mad dash for the bikes and let's see if we can hijack a pair." Tim nodded, glancing around the corner. He saw six to seven bikes in the distance. "I wish I had a 'Seraphim'," Des muttered softly, closing his eyes.

"You hate the 'Seraphim', too heavy," Tim recited, recalling previous memories from the days on Cinnabar. Des grunted, then chuckled, nodding his agreement. "I'm going in three…two…one…"

The soldier dashed towards the railing of the guardhouse and leaped over it, swinging his legs over while taking aim with his 'Heartbeat'. He fired three rounds that surely caught the attention of the Rockets. He landed onto the soft sand with a thud, the Rocket's drawing their weapons. Des struck before they could use them, turning the corner and aiming, firing two quick rounds with the rifle.

One of the motorcycles exploded, forcing all the Rockets to drop to the ground temporarily. A few caught on fire, running around trying to get it out. Tim saw it as the signal, and bolted right for the bikes, as did Des, quickly slinging the rifle over his shoulder and leaping over the banister as well, running parallel to Tim as they headed for the bikes.

"I got point!" Tim yelled out, leaping over the barrier that separated grass and road from the beach and basically landing on top of one of the Rocket's, who cried in surprise. It was cut short as the soldier put a .50 cal round through his head then leaped off, getting onto the bike. He revved the engine, gave a two finger salute, then blasted off before any of the Rocket's could react. They were so distracted by Tim's escape they were only thinking about pursuing, each of the remaining six Rockets quickly mounting a bike and starting those engines as well, before giving chase. The last biker was the sniper, who slung the 'Zombie' over his shoulder and kicked the foot pedal off, preparing to go.

"I don't think so," Des muttered, revealing himself from the location behind the barrier and taking two quick snap shoots into the opposing sniper's chest. The bike fell, as did the sniper, dead or dying. Des shouldered his own rifle, then stole the sniper's one as well, before pulling the bike back up to its two wheels and starting the engine. Leaping on, he blasted off, knowing he had a lot of ground to be cover now.

Tim glanced back, the wind howling past him as he speed down the open roads, weaving in and out of the lanes. The occasional car whizzed by, but the fact Tim was still within city limits prevented him to fire, not wanting to cause any civilian casualties.

"You better catch up soon Des, I need the help," Tim muttered, weaving left in the next fork on the road, leading out of the town. He heard 'Gangster' fire trailing behind him, and Tim thanked silently for the low accuracy of that submachine gun compounded by the high speeds they were travelling at. He holstered the 'Heartbeat' into its shoulder holster, accelerating his bike to get out quicker. The pursuer's followed suit, forgoing safety.

"Oh, by the way, die," Tim whispered, taking his right arm and grabbing the handle of his shotgun. He drew it and leaned back, left hand still on the controls. He took aim at the closest Rocket and fired. The wide spread element made sure the pellets hit the mark as the Rocket was thrown off his bike, the bike itself wheeling back before crashing, the other Rocket's weaving around. Satisfied, Tim holstered the shotgun, unable to pump it in the current situation. The 'Gangster' fire started up again as the SMG shots bounced all around Tim. He ducked anyway, pushing the bike even faster.

"Hurry up Des…" he muttered, letting his flail in the wind and drawing on of his 'Striker's, leaning back again and firing.

Des weaved past the bike that fell, not taking a look at the condition of the driver, he was surely dead at such high speeds. The fact he was driving at a higher speed then them stated a risk, but the fact he took the stolen 'Zombie' into his hand and took aim. It was hard to do, driving with one hand and aiming with the other, especially at high speeds. He barely saw the last in the line of bikers, and even then, he was dot in the scope, bouncing all around the damaged road. The first shot went wide, as did the second. Cursing, Des aimed more towards the right and fired.

The bullet hit home, right into the back of the rear guard Rocket, who fell over, bike and all. Des had no trouble evading the bike as it came crashing back, preparing his next series of shots. He pulled the trigger.

Nothing came out, causing Des to curse to loudly. He didn't believe that sniper didn't fully load the gun. Sighing, he flipped the gun around, taking hold of it by the barrel and gunning the gas pedal, pressing the bike to the limit. The sniper was fast approaching the trio that was left. He gently tapped the read Rocket on the shoulder with the butt of the rifle, who turned around.

"Hi!" he yelled out, grinning, before giving a face full of sniper rifle to the Rocket, clubbing him across the face and knocking him out. Des' grin was cut short when the bike fell, knocking his own bike out with him. He cried in pain, rolling forward and cashing onto his back, though he didn't intend to stay down yet. Quickly, he was on his knees, aiming at the speeding bikes with his own rifle, and taking one clean shot that punched a hole through the head of the rear rocket. The bike fell, as did the rider. Des grinned glancing back at the tangled mess of metal clubbing the previous Rocket caused. Groaning, he shouldered the rifle, limping towards the Rocket he just shot. Des was sure Tim could handle the last one, though he still wanted to be there just in case.

Tim glanced back again, this time only seeing one, though Des was no where in the read anymore. The soldier smiled, before pointing backwards, indicating something for the Rocket. The Rocket then glanced back, gasping in surprise as he was flanked by no one anymore. Grinning, Tim drew his remaining pistol and slammed the breaks, the Rocket zooming past him as he was looking back. He was surprised again when he saw Tim, pointing the pistol at him. A brief wave, then a gun shot. The Rocket's vision went all red as he collapsed, the bike flying out from under him.

Tim was reloading all his guns by the time Des caught up with him. The pistol user gave a nod to the sniper, who nodded in return, kicking the foot pedal down and limping towards Tim.

"You all right?" Tim asked, holster his shotgun and heading towards the sniper. Des nodded, refusing the help, though clutching his ribs.

"Just a really nasty fall…" he muttered, forcing a smile. "I'll be fine, just caught up to see you were alright." The other soldier nodded, holstering the shotgun.

"Good job, Des," Tim congratulated, placing an arm under Des' armour, despite his refusal. After a moment, the sniper gave up as Tim helped him back to the commandeered bike, getting him on and starting the engine. "Back to the Centre, I'm sure out companions our worried." Once more, the sniper nodded, turning the bike around and waiting for Tim to steal a bike as well and join him. In a moment, the pair were heading back towards the main of Olivine City.

Author's Note: I'll say this now, this really resembles Mission Impossible: 2 to a lot…I wonder if that's good or bad…I should really lay off on the firefights. Heh.