-22: When you only means of survival seems to be teaming up with your worst enemy, just how far will you go?

Pokemon and all related trademarks belong to Nintendo. The story, its original contents and ideas, and any original characters belong to the author and cannot be used or reprinted without the author's permission.

The Chimera Saga and the Legendary Dragons belong to Theo 'Blitz' Leung and are used with permission.

(http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=23675)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Darkest Knight

By Gregory Stephen nightdragon0@hotmail.com

Kris

[How could it be?] I asked.

[There were so many secrets that even you couldn't have known.] The Skarmory called Scantrix replied. [But they revolve around the lab of your birth.]

[Explain.] I demanded.

[After your father's death in 1983, another man, named Zarius carried on his work. However, he had his own funding and broke off from Giovanni's control. He brought your father's research to new heights, attempting the perfect fusion of human and Pokemon. He was part of neither Team Rocket's of Sliph's Chimera Projects.]

[Chimera Project?]

[The Chimera Project was an experiment to blend human and Pokemon DNA. Both Team Rocket and Sliph were rivals in this. But that doesn't relate to us right here. What matters are Professor Zarius and his research.]

[Just how do you know all this anyway?]

[Why?! I'll tell you why! Because I was his partner! He betrayed me and did this!] Scantrix hissed furiously, jabbing the tip of his wings at himself. [Sorry, thinking about that just burns me up.]

I just nodded and let him continue.

[Anyway, it was me who helped to provide his funding. Zarius apparently still had links to Team Rocket, and he got me to help do his financial transactions with them. Namely, collecting the funds. I used my own accounts for this.]

[And you were played out.] I muttered.

[Yes. He suddenly broke up everything, making it look as if I owed TR a huge amount of money. I tried to get back at him, but Zarius' connections had me shot and ... and ... bought me as one of their research subjects!]

I could only stare in shock. Just when I thought I'd seen the worst of the human race, I get something completely off my scale.

[That was 6 years ago. Zarius recently went mad, randomly murdering is own staff and finally killing himself, blowing up his entire lab and his research in the process. And you can guess where that left me...]

[Permanently stuck as you are.] I finished. Inwardly, that was a stab at my own heart too. I'd been hoping that there was someway I could be human again.

[Well, it's no point lamenting over things already done. Now, that brings us to your other queries. Do you want to hear the good one or the bad one first?]

[The bad.] I muttered, gritting my teeth.

[It's about that band on your arm.] Scantrix pointed. [It means you've been breed.]

[BREED?!] I screamed. [You mean...]

[Mated. Yes. I don't think you were conscious through. That one was Team Rocket's doing, entirely out of our control. The egg's gone too, already taken away. You were out for more than 2 weeks, so they had plenty of time to do their dirty deeds.]

[I...I...] I was trying to think of something violent to say, but I just couldn't get it out.

[I'm sorry. I know your human side must be outraged. But there's the good news. You seriously don't think I'm here by chance, do you?]

[You said something about a 'we'?] I asked.

[Well, Gastly and Hypnosis work great on the weak minded. I'm a spy of sorts and my leader's planning a 'jailbreak', so to say. And we'd like you to join in.]

[Just what's in your group? More ... experimental subjects like yourself?]

[No.] Scantrix chuckled. [I believe I'm the only one of Zarius' subjects that actually survived. The rest are normal Pokemon. But my leader is someone you should already know. He's the one that pointed me to you in the first place.]

[What kind of Pokemon could do that?] I queried, hoping for the best. Could Firestorm or Nightslice have actually found me after all?

[A Pokemon, whose name is Alugard.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightslice

I felt a cool, refreshing feeling coming over me.

"You have now received the water elemental Forbidden Skill, Disintegration." Issui spoke to me. "As water brings life, it can also snatch it away. This move combines Faint Attack and Hydro Pump, allowing you to get in and strike quickly at an opponent's vital points."

"These techniques, how is it you possess some while others were sealed with stone tablets?" I asked.

"Well, those techniques you got from the stones once belonged to those dragons that were killed in the war." Issui replied. "There were 16 of us in total, to represent each of the elements you now have today. The 'Dragon element', of course, belonged to our masters. Other Pokemon, like Euphoria for instance, attainted their status because they were called up to replace the dragons who'd fallen."

"I see." I nodded.

Our groups had recovered from the earlier battle and had gathered in a circle where Issui had passed on her Forbidden Technique to me.

"Ow ... " Kioi was still moaning, very sore from where Hazuki had hit him in the fight. "Stupid girl. I think she's made me impotent."

"Will you shut up?!" Issui yelled, whacking him in the shin. "It doesn't mater because we're sterile anyway!"

The rest of us gave them odd stares.

[I don't want to know.] Kyle sighed.

"Anyway, you have what you came for." Issui continued, pointing. "The exit's up along that path."

"What? I don't get any tips?" I asked.

"Hey, I did my part. Now you go do yours. What goes on after that is none of my business."

"Yeah, she's right." Kioi said.

"And you," The water dragon turned towards her fighting counterpart. "certainly made a fine show of yourself. You've been getting fat since you started eating again. Grrrr ... I'm gonna take you back, string you upside down and use you as a punching bag, and maybe that'll slim you down a little!"

"Issui there no need to resort to such drastic ... yark!" Kioi was yanked by the scruff of his neck and dragged into the water.

Issui was swimming off, but kept both their heads above water.

"Can we at least try to act civilized in front of the next group we meet?" Kioi moaned.

"As long as you don't start embarrassing yourself in front of them." Issui snapped back.

"Just watch me."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"Anyway," He winked. "you considered my offer on making o--"

SLAP!

The rest of us cringed.

"There you go again Kioi! You're doing a 1000 laps round the Whirl Islands too!"

"NO, not that too--urgh!"

Their voices faded, disappearing off into the dark waters of the underground cavern.

[Is he going to be all right?] Wondered Riptide. [I almost feel sorry for him.]

[Must be tough when your girlfriend's that tough.] Luminair added in.

"I'd say that he's pretty much a hopeless lover." I commented.

"Issui is pretty cool through." Hazuki smiled.

Everyone stared at her.

"What?! I just happen to think so. But say, are we headed off or something?"

"Yes. We'll have to find out where we are before we can start making plans." I agreed. I crossed my claws in front of my face and shifted back to human form.

It took only a flash of green light and a few seconds of rapid switching; much like someone was using computer graphics to 'morph' my image.

[Make sure you don't do that in a public place, cause it'll probably freak everybody out.] Kyle advised.

"I'll take note of that." I replied. "Oh, Hazuki, I want you to have this." I took off my fox-shaped pendant and handed it to her.

"Really?" She gasped. "But I thought you ... "

"Take it as my assurance that I'll look after you." I smiled. "Just remember to tell me if it starts to act up, OK?"

"OK!" She gave a thumbs-up.

"Kyle, you're going to have to go into the Pokeball, if you don't mind." I said to the human-turned-Lapras.

[I'm fine. Just let me out once in a while.] He said, disappearing in a flash of light. Hazuki carefully clipped his Pokeball onto her belt.

"Come on." I gestured. "It's time to go."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kris

I sprang onto Scantrix, knocking him over and holding my bladed claws at his throat.

[You expect me to believe that that murderer would have anything good to do with me?!] I roared. [I've been through hell, but I haven't forgotten what he's tried to do in the past!]

[Times change.] Scantrix calmly replied, staring me in the eye. [And we must change with them. He desires only to have a chat with you. I'd think that taking up his offer would certainly be better than staying here to die. Besides, I'm sure you know he has no love for Team Rocket either. Still, it is your choice.]

I considered my options. Scantrix had a reasonable deal.

[All right. I accept.] I growled, letting him up. [When's the raid?]

[0400 hours. That's about two hours away. We'd do best to get some rest.] He suggested. [I hope you're ready for some high action.]

[Action is what I live for.] I winked.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hazuki

The long sloping path led us up, out of the cavern and into a grassy field. It was still dark, around 4 am, and we glanced around, trying to get our bearings. We seemed to be on an isolated patch of land with a large river nearby. Surrounding us was a low mountain range.

"Look there." Nightslice pointed. "See that building on the other side of the lake? I believe it's the Ruins of Alpha Research Center that we read about."

"I think you're right." I nodded. "Let's go take a look. Maybe they can help us."

I was leading the group across the field when Nightslice suddenly tackled me, slamming me to the ground.

"Down! Everyone!" He hissed.

"What's going on?" I asked.

He showed me something he'd caught in his hand: a dart.

"A tranquilizer." He noted, turning it over and examining its markings. "Team Rocket's. They're here. Shhhh ... be quiet."

Everyone did as he requested. Nightslice put a hand on his sword and begun glancing around. We were hidden amongst the long grass, beside a tree near to the slope, against the mountainside. I waited, heart pounding, for several uneasy moments.

All of a sudden, two figures in black combat suits leapt down from the slope. Nightslice sprang up, sword in hand and dispatched one almost immediately. The second one managed to throw a punch on his direction, which caused him to stumble. Ahsura lashed out with his vines and knocked the attacker's gun out of his hands, momentarily stunning him. It was enough was Nightslice to spring back up and promptly decapitate the soldier.

Nightslice quickly gestured for us to move. We got us and ran, dropping to the ground as a bunch of lights were shone down on our previous location.

"Damn, how'd they find us?" He cursed. "Wait there."

He crawled back and managed to get his hands on one of the dead soldier's Glock pistols. However, the Rockets also spotted him and begun firing. Nightslice rolled for cover behind the tree and returned fire.

The lights scattered and the soldiers ducked for cover.

"Your fight is admirable, but you can't win!" A voice called out. "We know you have the girl. Just give her to us and you can leave without harm."

What?! Team Rocket was after me?

Nightslice held his hand up to his lips, indicating for me to be quiet.

"What do scumbags like you want with a kid?" He asked. "She's pretty harmless if you ask me."

"She may seem that way." The Rocket commander replied. "But what she is really is a freak of both science and nature. A Chimera."

WHAT?!

Ahsura had to wrap his vines around my mouth to prevent me from screaming that out.

"A cross of both Pokemon and human. Her parents were part of the research team. They reported her embryo as dead and replaced it with a decoy, her mother implanting the real one into herself and thus, bringing her up."

I clenched my fists in anger.

"And what will you do once you have her?" Nightslice pushed.

"That is none of your concern." The voice replied. "You can give her up now and leave, or we will take her by force. What is your decision?"

"You want to know what my decision is?!" Nightslice yelled back. "F*** OFF AND GO TO HELL!!!"

He sprang out from behind the tree and begun firing. I couldn't see what he was shooting at, but considering the cries of pain, he was hitting someone.

"You'll pay for that! Kill him!"

Nightslice emptied the Glock and tossed it aside, morphing into his Scyther form. His clothes seemed to meld into the transformation, but his backpack and sword remained strapped to his back, now between his wings.

"Now!" He hissed. "Shadow Image!"

Multiple images of him appeared, similar to a Double Team, and rushed towards the approaching Rockets, who were running and jumping down the slope. The soldiers opened fire, but they couldn't hit the illusions of course.

The thing was, the illusions could hit them, as they quickly found out. The soldiers that were still standing jumped back and released their Pokemon instead.

Riptide leapt out and launched his Psychic against a pair of Victreebel. Ahsura fired his Razor Leafs at an Onix. Luminair leapt up and electrocuted a Slowbro. Unfortunately, that Thunderbolt lit up the dark area, giving away his position. Two Magneton took the opportunity to attack.

The Jolteon was stunned and sent flying.

"Luminair!" I cried. My hand clutched the fox-shaped pendant around my neck. "THUNDER SHIELD!"

The attack had suddenly come to my mind. Everyone hesitated except for Luminair as he righted himself in mid-air and created a barrier of electrical energy around himself. The Thunderbolt attacks were absorbed into his shield.

"LIGHTNING REVERSAL!" I commanded.

[Feel my fury!] He growled, sending off a huge blast of rolling thunder. That made short work on not only the Megnaton, but several other Rockets as well.

"Hazuki, what was that?!" Nightslice gasped.

[How ... how did you make me do it?] Luminair gasped, equally stunned.

"I don't know!" I cried, clutching the pendant.

"A Chimera technique?" I heard one of the remaining Rockets say. "Wait, that pendant!"

"Could it be? A Pokément metal? Or at least an alloy?"

"We have to get it! We'll get a huge rewards for this!"

"GO AWAY YOU BASTARDS!" I screamed, pulling the pendant off and holding it up. "FROZEN ORB!"

This attack, however, was my own. I threw off a spiked ball of ice from my free hand into the closest of our attackers. As it struck the Rocket, it broke up into many more sharp blades of ice, impaling several others around.

"What the?!" I gasped, dropping to my knees. "How?!"

"Look out!" Nightslice jumped and knocked me to the ground and someone fired his gun.

I lost the pendant somewhere in the tall grass.

"Run!" He ordered.

"But the pendant!"

"Never mind!"

He grabbed me in his arms, being careful not to accidentally cut me with his sword-like claws, and ran as bullets sprayed around us.

"Stop firing!" Someone commanded. "We need the girl alive!"

Nightslice raced towards the river, with the Pokemon in tow. I'd failed to notice it before, but it was a raging, fast moving river. And we plunged right into it.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kris

As hard as I tried, I couldn't get any sleep. So instead, I decided to 'press' Scantrix for more information.

Scantrix told me about he too had been thrown into a cell and forced to fight battle after battle. He'd been trying to communicate the whole time, but he was never understood by anyone. He'd lived through 4 years of that suffering until one day, he was approached by a Scyther in a neighboring cage.

That Scyther was Alugard, who told him about forming a 'secret Pokemon organization'. He'd found it hard to believe, but Alugard had promised that he would be busted out the next day while being transported on a truck.

All happened as Alugard had said and he'd joined up with Stormwind, Firefly and a bunch of his other 'recruits'. They'd needed a Pokemon with his knowledge of human technology to help build up their organization and he'd been too happy to help.

As I pushed him for more things, he began to talk more about Alugard, the Legendary Dragons and the Chimera projects of TR and Sliph. (Note: these have all been explained earlier in the series, so I'm not going to repeat it.)

The last of the three especially made me feel sick about the human race. Those made me want, even more, to go out and kill a bunch of Rockets.

But the dragons part was interesting. At a previous encounter with our nemesis, Alugard had mentioned the 'Knights of Kaiser'. I now found out that it referred to the 8 dragons that'd once been on Kaiser's side. Formerly being one of them, Alugard had sensed their awakening.

I let Scantrix rest his voice as I told him my story. Only thing was I didn't know how I'd suddenly become a Pokemon. And so, the hour of judgment drew nearer.

[It should be about now.] Scantrix said.

Right on cue, an explosion rocked the area. Screams were heard and alarms blared.

[What the?!] I gasped.

The cell's door was promptly blown open. In it stood a Scizor clad in a silver Kevlar Vest and wearing a helmet with a red visor. One that had been our greatest enemy in the past was turning out to be my rescuer.

"Well Kris, what do you think of our jailbreak?" He grinned.

[Cut the crap.] I snarled at him. [You know I still don't trust you Alugard.]

"But of course. I expected that of you." Alugard replied. "However, we should discuss this in a more secured location. Come on!"

I followed Alugard and Scantrix out into the corridor to witness an astonishing sight. All around, various Pokemon were attacking the Rockets. From the ferocious Houndoom to tiny Rattata and a gigantic Steelix.

It was chaos, in a way I never could've imagined.

"Not bad for a first time raid of this scale." Alugard laughed. "Anyway Kris, this happens to be a Rocket base up at the mountains around Blackthorn City."

[The Blackthorn City base?!] I gasped. I should've guessed it earlier from the design of the cells. [I know this place! I've worked here before in the past!]

"How convenient." Alugard remarked. "I assume you know the layout fairly well."

[Hell yes. It's hard to forget considering the time I spent here.] I nodded. [Both as a human and as a Scyther.]

"Unfortunately, the Rocket boss left weeks ago. Even so, how would you like to give Team Rocket a little payback?"

[What do you mean?]

"See this?" An Alakazam appeared next to him and dropped a large brown bag. It was filled with C4s.

[I don't believe this.] I gasped, staring at the collection of plastic explosives.

"You should believe it my dear. There's enough firepower in here to blow this place to kingdom come." Alugard said proudly. "We did hack into their files, but not enough of them. We couldn't risk being traced, after all. So if you could get us into the generator room..."

I didn't even need him to finish his sentence. I knew exactly what he wanted to do. It was something I wanted too.

[Let's sent these mother f***ers to hell!] I growled.

Alugard's helmet left his lower jaw exposed, allowing me to see the wide grin that crept across his face.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jade

I roared, pulling on the rope, in turn throwing the human that held onto it off the cliff. Battling atop this high mountain was to my advantage.

His comrades cried out at yet another of their losses.

You will rue the day you dared mess with me!

Three humans remained. And now, that my mouth was free, I unleashed my flames upon them. Two of them went down, burning to the bone. The last man turned to flee, but I wasn't done yet.

None shall escape my wrath!

I flew after him and caught him in my jaws. He was screaming all the way until I crunched down. I then sliced him horizontally with my claws, taking great pride in seeing his blood flow.

All around lay the charred, bleeding or headless bodies of my enemies, both human and Pokemon. These fools had tried to attack me, the most powerful of the Charizard, and had paid the price for their foolishness.

Like all warriors, I was not immune to damage, having taken multiple cuts and bruises, but I had emerged triumphant. Nothing would deter me from reaching my destination.

However, I now head a huge meat feast ready for my personal enjoyment.

And so to the victor, go the spoils of war ...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kris

[This way!] I yelled, leading the group.

I was constantly amazed at how the Pokemon grouped up and took out the supposedly superior humans. There were casualties of course, but that was quite unavoidable with all the guns blazing.

With Alugard and Scantrix behind me, and the Alakazam doing short distance teleports, we flew through the maze of winding corridors. It was rather exhilarating to be using my wings for the first time, but I didn't have time to enjoy that either. I was trying to recall what I knew of the base's layout.

It's amazing what you can remember when you really need to. We soon found ourselves at a huge, electronic door.

[Damn, it's locked by a pass code!] Scantrix muttered, glaring at the numerical key panel.

"Can you break it?" Alugard asked the Alakazam.

[Don't bother.] I told them.

I fired a Hyper Beam into the left wall, blowing a hole in it. Not so much because of the beam, but rather the machinery and circuitry exploding on the other side of the wall. The door gave an electronic crackle and slid open.

[Those idiots built the control panel on the other side of the wall.] I laughed.

[Man, I like you already girl!] Scantrix gasped.

"Hurry up, we're got a job to do." Alugard reminded us.

We entered the room, true to its name, that was filled from wall to wall with all sorts of machinery and power generators.

"Start setting the charges." Alugard ordered like a general. "Move! Move! Move!"

Both him and the Alakazam went about this immediately.

Scantrix had to use his mouth to pick up the C4's and stick them onto the various machines. I mimicked his action with my own jaws, seeing my bladed claws were unable to pick up anything. When there was just one C4 left in the bag, Scantrix and I both reached for it.

We ended up bumping heads and giving each other odd stares. Alugard then stepped between us and grabbed the last explosive.

"You two had better not loiter around. This place'll be going up in five." He said. "Scantrix, you take Kris out of here. I'll be setting the last charge, then passing out the evac alarm."

He nodded towards the Alakazam, who teleported away to carry out his orders.

[Come on.] Scantrix told me. [I'll show you the shortest way!]

I followed the Skarmory back into the hallways. I forced myself to ignore the stanch of blood all around, the moans of the wounded and dying, the dead bodies of all types that lay scattered around. It had been a bloodbath, but this victory had certainly gone to the Pokemon.

They'd had the advantage in the sense that the Rockets weren't entirely prepared for an all-out attack from Pokemon without trainers. Alugard had claimed that their communications system had been knocked out, thus further throwing them into a panicked fray.

I was dashing as fast as I could when I spotted something that made me stop.

[Wait!] I yelled.

[What is it?!]

I flew down and landed beside one of the 'bodies'. It was that of a teenage girl with long, shoulder length black hair, lying facedown on the floor. Unlike the others, she didn't have her uniform on. I put my snout to her neck, found she was still breathing and turned her over.

[Nala!] I gasped. I remembered this was the girl that had spoken to me, way back on the ship.

[You ... you know my d... this girl?] Scantrix asked. His voice had broken slightly when he'd asked me that, but I didn't have time to ask him why.

[She's not like the rest of these bastards. Unlike them, she isn't here by choice.] I said softly. [I have to save her! Help me!]

[Erm ... yes, of course!] Scantrix had something on his mind, but decided not to say anything else as he helped place the girl over my shoulder.

It was much harder flying with a passenger, but I forced my aching muscles to work. Scantrix blew open an elevator door and we flew up the shaft. The elevator was above and rapidly falling towards us.

[This is gonna be a close one!] Scantrix warned.

He suddenly swerved and blew open the door of a higher level, flying through it. Like a fighter plane in formation, I followed, barely avoiding being crushed by the falling elevator.

After that it was just a straight flight out, via shattering some windows, and down into the forest below. As Scantrix and I finally landed, exhausted, we looked up just in time to see the Rocket Base erupt into a huge ball of flames.

For a while, neither of us could speak. We just sat there and smiled at each other. It was the satisfaction of having survived this breath-taking encounter.

But then Nala began to stir. It must've been quite a shock for her, waking up to stare into the faces of two very fierce-looking Pokemon.

Gasping, she crawled back up against a tree.

[Relax it's OK.] I tried to comfort her. I almost hit myself when I realized she wouldn't be able to understand me.

"She says that it's all right now." I glanced towards Scantrix in surprise as he spoke human speech. "You're safe now Nala, and free of Team Rocket."

"I..." The confused girl looked up towards the burning base, higher up the mountain. "I'm really free ... at last. But who are you? How to you talk?"

"You may think of us as your guardian angles." Scantrix said. "But you must leave now, before anyone else comes. Go out, and live the life that's been taken from you."

Nala nodded, scrambling to her feet. She then looked towards me.

"Are you ... the Scyther ... I...?"

I let her reach over my hand and touch the scars along my back. The ones she herself had inflicted. She then threw her arms around me and gave me a hug.

"Thank you." She said, tears coming to her eyes.

There was no need for words as I returned her embrace. She then went over to Scantrix and gave him a hug too. The Skarmory looked a little shocked, but he folded his wings around her as best as he could.

"Better go Nala." He whispered.

Nala gave a firm nod, wiped the tears from her eyes, than ran off into the forest. Blackthorn City wasn't very far away and I felt she'd be able to reach it.

Scantrix turned away from me. He was crying, and I really mean shaking with tears pouring down. As much as I wanted to know why, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

[I'll show you to the base.] Scantrix said. [It's not far away.]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grix

"Jade!" Firestorm yelled swinging his fist. "Watch out!"

"Ow!"

Firestorm shook himself out of his vision, realizing he'd just punched Dracia in the face.

"Oh no! I'm sorry Dracia!" He gasped, helping the fallen Dragonite up.

"Damn! Even as a human you hit hard." She groaned, rubbing her sore nose.

"But I saw Jade! There was a fight, but he won! I know where he's going now!"

He'd spent two weeks now, training at my lair to strengthen both his psychic powers and hold his Charizard form. I'd put him through several of my training exercises in his best interest, but he ended up referring to it as 'mental torture.'

Maybe it was because he felt uneasy staying in a safe place while his friend was out in the world and facing unknown dangers. I'd tried my best to get him to focus, but that thought had just kept on coming to his mind.

It wasn't that I didn't sympathize with his situation. I wasn't heartless, after all. But how could he help anyone if he couldn't help himself first? Firestorm had considerable talents, which his companions clearly respected, but he was still brash and impulsive. Something I felt, in the long run, would put him and his friends through a lot of excessive trouble.

While the pair was standing in the passageway outside my chamber, they were speaking loudly enough for me to hear. Obviously, they'd never considered the echo effect of the cave.

"A valley of Charizard?" Dracia was asking.

"Yes. It's approximately past Violet City in Johto, around the mountain ranges west of there." Firestorm said excitedly. "A 'Charisific Valley', where the strongest of all Charizard go. We'll search around that area and ask the locals if we have to. Someone will definitely know!"

"But what about your training?" She asked.

"I know I promised Grix, but this may be the once chance I have to find Jade." Firestorm insisted. "If we leave now, we should be able to catch up with him as he reaches the valley."

"Even if we find him, you may not be able to perform the restoration process properly." Dracia warned. "Grix hasn't even started teaching you about that yet."

"I don't care! It's his fault to wasting so much time telling me to run here, run there and hold those damned weights. I'll drag Jade all the way down here and make Grix perform the restoration if I have to."

"I have a bad feeling about this." The Dragonite sighed.

"Dracia, please." Firestorm pleaded. "Don't you want Jade back too?"

"Yes, but I'm concerned about the rest of us as well. And yourself for that matter." She replied.

"I know. But I have to do this." He insisted.

"Oh, all right." Dracia finally gave in.

"Thank you. Tell the others that we're moving out."

I heard the beating of wings as the Dragonite took off. Firestorm peered back my chamber to see me with my head down and eyes closed. It looked to him like I was either asleep or in meditation.

"I'm sorry Grix." He said softly. "I know I haven been the best student. I do respect what you were trying to do to help us, but ... I have to do this. I'll see you around, I hope."

His footsteps then faded down the passageway.

I sighed.

<Looks like you've got problems Grix. > Zian's telepathic voice spoke into my mind.

"Indeed." I replied. "Better get someone to watch him, just in case."

<Don't worry, I'm on the job. And, try to relax a little. They'll work it out, somehow or other, no matter whether he has to walk through hell and back. > He assured. <I can feel it. >

"I know. Give him my regards."

<Will do Grix. Will do. >

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kris

[Wow, this is...] I gasped, staring at the sight in front of me.

[Pretty cool, huh?] Scantrix grinned.

Secret was certainly a fitting description for this base, considering the maze of caverns and tunnels of Mount Silver that we'd flown through to get here. But what truly amazed me was the place itself.

It was like one of those 'James Bond' style secret headquarters, but run entirely by Pokemon of all sorts. What I was looking at now was a communications room with Alakazam operators.

[The Alakazam generally have a high intelligence level, so they're ideal for this purpose.] Scantrix explained. [Slowbro can serve this purpose too, but that's like comparing a 56k to a cable modem, if you get what I mean.]

Turned out that this was an abandoned army base that ran on solar and hydropower. They'd simply moved in and made use of the facilities.

They'd created an entire Pokemon military society down here, hidden form the eyes of the world. Like any military base, there was the barracks, medical areas, training grounds and communications areas. There were some computers around, used for hacking purposes and getting online if need be. Of course, that was by tapping into a space-bound satellite using their own satellite dish, which the military had conveniently left behind.

Other than by word of mouth, they relayed messages via a radio earpiece designed for their various field agents. This enabled them to more easily communicate with their home base. Stolen Team Rocket technology put to good use.

"I assume this would be considered impressive by your standards." Alugard appeared in the doorway.

[It is, but what's the point of showing me all this?] I asked.

"To put it directly and simple Kris, I'm offering you a place here, with us."

[WHAT!?] I yelled. [Do you know what you're asking?! I haven't forgotten our 'incidents' in the past.]

"That may be true, but ... " He tapped a claw against his chest. "I've had quite a bit of time to think about everything. Let me explain everything from the beginning. You already know I fought under the dragon Kaiser in the ancient wars."

[Yes.] I nodded.

"I was a dragon of bug element then, but now I've been reborn into a new body, a new life. Seeing myself as the one time second-in-command, I felt it was my solemn duty to fulfill the prophecy of the resurrection. Which was the reason for our conflicts, because I needed Nightslice to accomplish this. I admit that I was rather rash then."

[And what makes you different now?]

"I recently felt the awakening of my brethren who'd survived the war. Each one is following the path they choose for themselves now. And if they willingly did that, why couldn't I? What stopped me? My own insistence of living up to my name?"

[And your point being?]

"I now realize that a priority should be taken in eliminating those who threaten Pokemon and it so happens they are a threat to humanity as well."

[Namely Team Rocket and Sliph.]

"Indeed. And that's what I'm asking of you to form this alliance, to help in the battle against these fractions."

[And once you succeed?] I queried.

"I will not lie on this point. We may very likely go back to being enemies, but the odds of either of our sides winning would be much greater, as opposed to fighting several rival groups. I'll hope you consider this. However, I will not force you into this. Should you disagree with my argument, I'll let you walk out of here and that would be the end of our business."

I considered it for a long while. I was a Scyther now, however it had happened, with no clear way of being able to get back my human body. No way to contact my former comrades too. Yet, I was being offered a place from which I could strike back at Team Rocket, who'd played a major part in the torment of my life, and at their enemies, Sliph.

[If you have any queries, we'll answer them.] Scantrix assured.

[Do you have a certain game plan?] I asked.

"Actually, we do." Alugard spoke, showing us a fox shaped pendant in his pincers. "Stormwind and Firefly got this from a Rocket near the Ruins of Alpha. It's a metal known as Pokément. Basically Pokément alloy makes Pokemon stronger. They allow hidden abilities in Pokemon to surface such as unique attacks."

[And we're hoping this will give us the edge in the battle.] Scantrix added in.

[So, you raid their facilities.] I muttered.

[Will you join us Kris?] Scantrix asked, holding out a wing as if to shake my 'hand'. [I... we would really appreciate your abilities.]

A thousand things went through my mind.

[Swordia ... My name is Swordia. And I agree.] I gave Scantrix a claw to wing high-five. [Just as long as you can teach me to speak human language again.]

"It'll be my pleasure." Scantrix winked.

It was all a really huge game of chance, but I thought I could bend it in my advantage. God, I was so naive ...