Yes, Lance is evil. I already know. *Bow*

Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows*

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics if a pokemon talks

Chapter 5

“So what did you need to go to the lab for?” Red asked, as he clung onto Lance’s waist, Charizard streaking across the sky like a red bullet.

“Hmm? Oh.” Lance smirked. “Well, he decided to loan me two pokémon. One, I believe you have seen before. The other… well, it’s to help us.”

“I see.”

“Mewtwo.”

That caught Red’s attention, and he almost let go. Lance laughed as Red took a tighter grip around his waist. “Yes, I know. Apparently Giovanni is too frightened to use Mewtwo in battle himself, and we’re relatively expendable, so it’s up to us to test it. The other pokemon is a Parasect.”

Red had caught Parasects in the Safari Zone, so he knew that they were dual bug/grass types. He frowned.

“They learn Spore, and Stun Spore, and Poisonpowder.” Lance grinned. “And this one knows False Swipe.”

“I’ve never heard of that move.”

“It was developed in Johto.” Lance explained. “I wonder how Giovanni got the data? Well, no matter. False Swipe leaves at least one hit point on the pokemon you are fighting.”

“Ohh…” That made sense. Red grinned. “So that’s how he expects us to capture pokémon... not just by straight battling, but also status.”

“Yes.” Lance agreed. “We’re to capture a male and a female of each new species if possible.”

“I understand.”

That way, Giovanni would be able to breed baby pokemon. Red shuddered. It did not bear thinking on. He could only imagine the methods that might be used.

Lance nudged Charizard to slow down a bit, and the fire type obeyed, beginning a slow, spiraling descent.

“We’re here already?”

“Yes. This one has rather good speed….” Lance stroked the Charizard’s snout for a moment before Red recalled it.

Red looked around. They were in a forest. Well, might as well start with the easy pokémon then. He readied a poke ball and glanced around.

There! A movement….

Lance’s Seadra spat a pressurized Water Gun attack into the grass, and what tumbled out was – Red held his breath – a Caterpie.

He deflated.

Lance laughed at Red’s expectant look. “Not all the pokemon in Johto are new, Red. It will be a gamble to see what we catch.”

“Where are we?” He asked curiously.

Lance shrugged. “We’re in Ilex Forest. There’s a shrine to Serebii here….”

“Serebii? I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s a legendary pokémon, supposedly capable of controlling time.” Lance smiled. “But I doubt we’ll see it.”

“How cool…”

Red would have said more, but then he frowned. He walked up to Lance, and hugged him. Lance frowned, before realizing that Red was tracing letters on his skin.

Were they bugged?

Oh, he was quite sure they were not. Well, Giovanni had the Viridian Power and he could read pokémon’s minds, but these brainwashed pokémon were different. Their minds were a clouded mess because of the loyalty process his scientists put them through.

It was a test.

“No.”

Red exhaled in relief, and Lance gently removed him. “Work now, play later.” He said with a wink.

Red laughed, as Seadra began attacking the bushes. A thoroughly drenched Weedle tumbled out, followed by something he did not recognize but Lance obviously did, judging from his smirk.

“Ah, now we’re getting somewhere…”

Red threw a poke ball at it, and was gratified when the light blinked to capture. “What is that?”

“A Sentret.” Lance said, with a half-smile. “Possibly the equivalent of Rattata in this place. Common, but if Giovanni wants it…”

“He’ll get it. Was that one male or female?”

“I’m not sure. We can always check in a moment.”

“Um… Lance?”

“What is it?”

“We still have not changed out of our rocket uniforms, you know… we probably should before anyone comes along.”

“Point taken.” Lance smiled. “Let’s see what the disguise kit has, shall we?”

It was rather surprising how they managed to fit so many pieces of cloth into such a small box. Lance privately mouthed ‘subspace’ to Red, who grinned as he sorted through the kit, vaguely disturbed at the large amount of female clothing within.

“All agents get the same kit, so they have both genders represented here.” Lance explained, though he was wearing a rather speculative look.
“You’re not thinking…” Red said slowly.

“Not for you, for me, though we could pull it off with you.”

Red blushed, but shook his head. “I’m not doing it.”

“Suit yourself.” Lance commented, as he grabbed a few things and vanished behind a bush. When Red finished dressing in shorts, sneakers, and a t-shirt – it was nice to wear normal clothes again, though the Team Rocket uniform had gotten pretty comfortable – he peeked over and blushed.

Lance had done up his hair in some sort of fancy loops, with gold clasps and everything, and wonder of wonders, was wearing a kimono – dark blue with snowdrop flowers sprinkled over the collar and trailing down to his skirts and geta. His face was painted and if Red didn’t know better, he would have sworn he was a girl.

“Holy… Lance, I don’t know whether to say you’re brilliant or to be very, very disturbed.” He said slowly.

Lance smirked. “Why not do both?” He purred. Red clamped his hands over his front and scowled.

“You’re the one who said we had to wait. Giovanni won’t be happy with just one Sentret. And how are you going to catch pokemon in that ridiculous outfit?”

“I have my ways.” Lance said calmly. He flicked his wrist, and released his Cloyster. It looked at him.

“Time to up the stakes. Use Icicle Spear.”

The Cloyster nodded, and started attacking the trees. Several sleeping pokemon fell out. Red bagged what looked like an owl, avoided an Ekans, and hastily grabbed the purple monkey that tried to run off with his backpack.

Hm. Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad?

He knocked it over the head with a poke ball, and was surprised to see it captured. Male, Lance said with a glance.

It was transferred, and they continued on.

End Chapter

Completed 6/25/06

Red is an eternal optimist, isn’t he?

Lance: *Snuggles Red*

Red: I like being molested? Phantomness!!!!

Phantomness: *Shrug* It just came out that way, love. Nothing to be done about it

Lance: I don’t mind

Shoyko: At least the initial darkness has passed… and Red’s reaction to Lance’s cross-dressing talents is always amusing to observe

Red: *Blush*