This part was written by me (Utah) Part 8: Rocket's Revelation Brock woke up in extreme pain. The last thing he remembered saying to the Rockets was " I SURRENDER!!!", and thinking over and over in his mind Why? He fell unconcious through the last half of the torture. He moaned and moved his head to the side but stopped when mind-shattering pain shot through his neck and head. He very carefully moved his hand, and felt something attatched to it. And I.V. . He also realized it was just now beginning to pump in a mixture of life-giving fluids to rehydrate his parched body, and of morphine to numb the pain. He laid still for several minutes, allowing the morphine to dull the pain before he could move. He sighed in relief once the pain was gone, and examined his room: white-washed walls, life-support screens and systems, and all sorts of them were hooked up to him. He was in an infirmary. He thought he was in Viridian City Hospital, but that hope disintigrated when the Rocket Nurse Joy stepped into the room. Brock shuddered when she approached him, but soon found her demeanor was a lot nicer than it was during the torture. " How are you feeling today? I'm sorry you had to go through that, but it was necessary." Joy explained in a cheerful voice. Brock refrained from snapping at her and said instead, " I'm better now. I can see how it was necessary, and am sorry I put up a fight before." Joy nodded. She buzzed around Brock's room like a mother Pidgeot, making him comfortable, checking and adjusting the machines to moniter his life signs more closely, etc (Why would she want the newest member of Team Rocket to remain bed-ridden?) During all this, Brock's affections (mostly) for the Joys returned, but he was still a bit wary. Nurse Joy turned to him. " You'll be out of here in 1 week." She smiled, then left the room. ~*~*~ Professor Oak watched passively as Delia Ketchum paced relentlessly in the living room of his lab. Tracey walked in, a Nidoran male in his arms. He blinked at Delia, then looked over at Prof. Oak questioningly. Apparently he hadn't heard what had happened. Delia broke the silence. " I can't believe he did this... How dare he take our - my son from me!" Oak raised an eyebrow at her. " Ash wasn't the only one taken. What about Misty? How do you think her sisters are taking this? And Brock's father and siblings." He recieved a dangerous glare from her. " But they're not related to him!" she growled angrily, and continued her pacing. Tracey went over to the professor and pulled him aside. " What happened?" he asked. The professor sighed. " You didn't see the news?" Tracey shook his head. Oak sighed again, then began to explain to Tracey. " Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu are missing - Have been missing for 2 weeks now; Delia knows it's the work of Ash's father," Tracey stared at him in confusion. " His father? But, wouldn't that be good...?" " No," the professor said tersely. " His father is Giovanni, leader of Team Rocket." At that, Tracey's eyes widened, and he gulped. Oak noted his reaction and continued, his voice lower. " And he's probably corrupted them all into joining him." Tracey looked panicked. " Is there any way to rescue them?" he asked. Oak shook his head. " No. Not even the police know where Rocket HQ are, and there's no hope of us finding it." Delia had stopped her pacing to listen to what they were saying, a far-off look in her eyes. They looked over in alarm as the door opened. At first they thought it was a Rocket, but then recognized the figure as Gary, Prof. Oak's arrogant grandson, and his Umbreon. Gary walked over to them and stopped, looking to Delia first. " I heard what happened. I'm sorry." He glanced around the room. " Who would've thought the Twerp would ever join Team Rocket?" Oak and Tracey shrugged. This was as much as Delia could take, and she broke down into a fit of sobs. Oak went over to try and comfort her, leaving Gary, his Umbreon, and Tracey to try and come up with a plan to figure this out, to at least talk with Ash, Misty, and Brock. ~*~*~ Ash stood side-by-side with Giovanni as they watched the completion of Mecha- Mewtwo. An aide walked up to them. " Mi'lords, the new recruit is now recovering," He looked at Ash, who had turned around. The aide continued. " You may see him if you like." Ash nodded and dismissed the aide, then looked to his father, who nodded his permission before Ash could ask for it. Ash managed a small grin and hurried away. Giovanni watched his son go. He knew he'd come back, and also hoped that his son could talk some sense into his friend so he doesn't end up doing something he would regret. He looked back to the recently finished Mecha-Mewtwo. You will be passed down from generation to generation, he thought. This Mecha-Mewtwo, the guardian of his line as well as being the keeper of order in his new-world-order. He only hoped that the makers were true to their word that this thing would be unstoppable, or heads would roll. This mechanical marvel would also obey only Giovanni and his kin (bondmates included), a sure-fire way to make sure it can't be turned on him in the hands of, let's say, a terrorist. He sweatdropped as he realized something: it listens to bondmates? Oh boy...He only hoped Delia wouldn't figure that out if she ever managed to face him again. He waved the thought away and went back to his musings. He'd have the thing programmed to ingnore her. ~*~*~ Ash walked to the infirmary, and stopped just outside the door. He self-conciously adjusted his black uniform when other Rockets passed by, then stepped inside. He looked to where Brock was laying, and walked over to him. " So, feeling any better?" he asked. Brock glanced up at him a little sleepily and asked, " But why, Ash? Why did you and Misty and Pikachu turn?" Ash looked reluctant to say anything. Brock kept on asking why. " Well, it's because of Father..." Ash started, eyeing Brock suspiciously. " Your father?" Brock echoed incredulously. Ash nodded. Ash lowered his voice and continued. " My father, Giovanni, head of Team Rocket. He has plans - glorious plans for us all, but I'm not entitled to reveal any of it to you, and neither is Misty. But, I can tell you this: I am to take his place at the head once he retires... There will always be a Team Rocket, and always a descendant of Father and myself at the head. I am his heir; it's in my blood..." Ash finished, watching Brock's surprised look. " But don't tell anyone I told you this, Brock. It will all be revealed to the others in the not-so-far future. Oh, and by the way: don't do anything foolish now that you're one of us, such as going traitor, because that can lead to torture worse than what you already endured." With that, Ash stood up, nodded curtly, and marched out of the infirmary. Brock's gaze followed him till he was out the door. Oh man, he's changed, Brock thought. What did they do to him? And how am I gonna get out of this one? Once I'm in, I guess I'm in . Better heed Ash's warning.s He fell asleep, weary from all that has transpired.