Disclaimer/Notes: See an earlier chapter

^-^ I always wanted to do another ‘Lance as Giovanni’s child’ fic! And now there’s evidence in Fire Red/Leaf Green that Giovanni’s child has red hair! That cuts down the trainer pool by a bit…

RECAP: Ash defeated Erika and got the Rainbow Badge

Started 9/21/04

Chapter 8

 

Rocket HQ, Celadon City Game Corner Basement

 

            “Father.”

            Giovanni studied his son. Was the boy ready?

            The fourteen-year old Rocket met his eyes unflinchingly. His dark red hair came from his mother’s side, it was such a pity she had died in childbirth. Maria had been such a rare woman…

            Lance adjusted his Blackglasses and waited patiently. He was a true Rocket, heart and soul. He had been brought up in the organization since birth, had committed his first theft at age six, murder at age nine, and now, his eyes were solid chips of golden ice. Nothing would move him.

            This was a perfect example of the influence of environment.

            “Lance, I assure you this is no simple mission.” The boy hadn’t been doing those for two years in any case, but… “There is someone I would like very much for my organization.”

            “You want me to capture him?”

            “Not quite. If I brainwashed him, he might lose his empathic bonds, and that is what I really want.”

            “Then…” A slightly puzzled look descended.

            “Here.” Giovanni handed over a thick, black book. “You are to memorize this and apply the techniques within to bring him to our side.”

            “Yes, Father.”

            “Dismissed.”

 

            Back in his room, Lance opened the first page. It seemed like something out of a biology textbook. Shrugging, he began reading…

            It was time he learned other means besides pain.

 

Celadon City Pokemon Center

 

            “You three were absolutely terrific.” Ash said. He had splurged and bought each of his pokemon a box of poketreats. They were all currently enjoying their reward plentifully. Positive conditioning worked so much better than negative.

            Venonat beamed.

            I have to learn to avoid Stun Spore. Beedrill nodded, as he took another bite of crunchy brown goodness.

            I have to make my Gust attack stronger. Butterfree said to herself. Maybe I can combine it with the force of Whirlwind…

            I feel great! Venonat declared.

            Ash took another bite of his chocolate ice cream and beamed. This was more like it! If being a Pokemon Master meant being closer to his pokemon, he’d do it!

            Yes, that was nice…

            Koga’s gym might be hard, poison was… strong to bug, right? But then, he had two pokemon that knew psychic moves…

            Bug was strong against Sabrina.

            Blaine… _that_ would be a problem. Maybe Giovanni also, bug vs. rock put him at a disadvantage.

            Hmm… well, he’d find a way around that! Butterfree could learn the useful attack Mega Drain… to help against Giovanni…

            If he got the Toxic TM, he could use that to slowly whittle down his attacker’s HP, stalling long enough…

            Yes. Sleep could win a few turns time…

            The boy’s mind began spinning with ideas as he absentmindedly consumed the rest of his chocolate cone.

            He wouldn’t lose; he had already come this far! Their efforts would _not_ be in vain! That he vowed…

 

            Otherwise, he’d just be another lying trainer. He _would_ become Pokemon Master to prove to all that bugs were valuable too!

 

Team Rocket HQ – 4 days later

 

            Lance finished reading the book and frowned. Well, he’d try…

            “Are you finished?”

            “Hai, Father.”

            “You can leave tomorrow.”

            “Hai.”

            He didn’t want to, but he had no choice. He couldn’t exactly walk around in black with the Team Rocket sigil on his chest.

            He buckled on his poke belt, it held his dragons… yes, his precious dragons. Aerodactyl, Dragonite, twin Dragonair, and Gyarados…

            He wouldn’t lose easily.

            Even if this task were different, he would not fail. Pulling out the hair coloring wands and contacts, Lance streaked his red hair with silver and gold, for dazzle, and put in contacts, turning his abnormally colored eyes to a standard brown.

            There, that should work…

            Lance finally decided on a black bodysuit _without_ the R. He kept his Blackglasses on, just in case.

            Clipped a red lined black cape on, fastened it with a gold dragon clasp. Picked up his ‘Pokédex’, and smirked.

            “Hello. I am Devlin, registered to Lance Dragyn of Blackthorn City.” Amazing what simple hacking skills could do.

 

Fuschia City – Koga’s gym

 

            “Golbat, use Wing Attack!”

            “Venonat, use Psychic!” The attack blasted Golbat backwards. Was it down? Ash looked anxious. No, it didn’t get back up.

            Venonat sighed in relief, before he began to glow… Venonat evolved into Venomoth! Finally!
            “One last one.” Koga murmured. “Wheezing! Sludge!”

            Venomoth was still in shock from evolution, so he fainted. Ash swapped for Butterfree, who was raring to go.

            Don’t’ worry, I’ll win!

            “Wheezing, Smokescreen!”

            “Butterfree, use Supersonic!” The waves bounced off Wheezing’s body, giving Butterfree the gas pokemon’s position, while also confusing Wheezing. “Good work! Now, use Sleep Powder!”

            A thunk sounded as the snoring Wheezing landed on the ground.

            “Finish it off with a Psybeam attack!”

            Butterfree wiggled her antennae in the ‘V’ for Victory. And we win!

            Koga smiled, handing over his badge. “A bug team is rare to see. Good luck, child.”

            “Thank you!”

 

End Chapter

Completed 9/21/04