I told Surge why I was there. It was a long and rather shaful handful of minutes admitting my own failures.
Surges grin only held for a few seconds.
Then it morphed into hard lines. It wasnt a scowl. It was sothing more calculating. There was an edge there that I wasnt used to seeing in my once ntor/now friend. He rubbed his chin.
So, Team rocket set up a base in my city He rolled the words around in his mouth as though tasting them. He eyed . How sure are you of this? The intel good?
I sighed. Yeah. Positive. You know Daniel?
Surge shook his head. Nah, he that one you thought would have been good down here with ? he said. Starting to pace back and forth.
This ti it was my turn to shake my head. No thats Dennis. Daniel he was a new recruit that I got from the Rangers. Hed been with them for years, so I figured he was a safe bet. He had lot of the skills I wanted and well he had so good reasons to hire him on. Surges pacing beca a little too distant to hold a conversation with so I started pacing with him.
He must have been agitated to force it into this sort of action. Turns out he was a plant for Team Rocket, and they saw a chance to slip him into my Gym. They even got him a fake wife.
Surge shot a look. Shit they really crafted him to hit your buttons just right didnt they?
I grimaced and nodded tightly. Surge shook his head in a faux consoling way. See this is why you have big shiny issues like being a playboy! The bad guys want to get information out of you, so they send hot chicks! He made a show of slapping his cheeks. Oh no! Whatever will I do with these won!
I rolled my eyes, not missing how we hadnt stopped pacing during the entire tirade. Surge sniffed.
Still this situation is fucked, I tell you. Theyre damned close enough to roll so damn Electrode down the hill at ! Damn City giving a gym located on the water! This is a terrible defensive position! Im a sitting duck! He scratched at his arm irritability.
He shot a look. Do they know that we know? Suspect anything at all?
I shook my head. Everything has been kept in house. We got Jenny to hold him in the gym while we got him moved.
Surge whistled. You must be treating her good. Jennys are hot for justice and not much else. Surprised you got one to break protocol like that. Usually, she would have marched him into the police station, which I rember having so staffing changes recently.
I grunted, having to stride to follow him through to a long hallway. Yeah. Thing is I was well within my rights to have him locked there. Just like I was within my rights to have Sabrina there.
Surge stopped dead and stared at for the first ti in the evening, stumped. You got Sabrina there as well? Shes Kind of not going to Surge tilted his head. No you wouldnt have done that and gotten away with it with Jenny there to bag him. You play the good honest man. The aww shucks family man to the public, but you can throw so sneaky punches when you need to. He eyed . What gives? Theres sothing more going on with this Daniel beyond him being a stinking Rocket. What did you learn?
I humd. He already qualified as breaking the Espionage Act." Surge tilted his head and opened his mouth, but I continued. Vermillion is rated as a central Gym. Pewter is still a border Gym, so different laws co into effect. Surge stared at before I shrugged. But we also found out hes a foreign plant.
Surge hissed. The fuck!? Who? Unova? Kalos? I tangled with those pricks during the start of the war, and theyre ssed up!
I blinked. You did?
Surge rely sniffed and nodded. His jaw working tightly. Didnt start out as a Lieutenant Brock. I started things as a Private. In a war? You can get a lot of promotions if you're in bad situations.
I blinked, nodding slowly. I didnt really get what he was saying. I dont really follow.
Surge opened and shut his mouth before shaking his head. Never mind He started walking again and led through another door. He marched into a room that had tesla coils and a number of pokemon lazing about.
Surge pursed his lips and trilled a whistle, and instantly, pokemon were up and moving about the room. So ford up into what I could only describe as ranks while others bolted outside. Surge watched them go before looking at a single line of pokemon.
A Raichu held pride of place, followed by a Jolteon, Electrode, Electabuzz, Magnezone, Ampharos, and then oddly enough a juvenile-looking Graveler. I stared at the Graveler. Surge huffed at it and clicked his fingers.
Straighten out that spine soldier! Damn private, I should bust you to cleaning latrines for a month looking that sloppy!
Graveler stood slightly taller, as much as a boulder could anyway. Surge sniffed and continued on.
I glanced at the other pokemon and noted that he also had a small pond with Lanturn and Chinchou present.
Surge turned to . Whod you bring with you?
Zephyr, Titan, Bertha, Knight, Shrek, Hypnotoad, Don, and Shin. Surge continued to stare at blankly while nodding as if he had any clue who I was talking about. I rolled my eyes at him. My Noctowl, Tyranitar, Rhyperior, Aggron, Swampert, Poliwrath, Aerodactyl, and Kabutops.
Surge nodded once. Oh yeah, of course! You, you, you, you, you and you. He said turning as he did so to point at his Raichu, Magnezone, Jolteon, Lanturn, Electrabuzz and Electrode.
I lingered on his Electrabuzz. That sort of pokemon needed a special, most likely man-made item to evolve. Perhaps I could experint with a voltage converter or socket set to create one? Id have to talk to soone at the powerplant in Pewter for where to start. It wouldnt be as simple as AC to DC would it?
Still I looked over to the other pokemon that was early in terms of its arrival if this were a re pokemon ga. Magnezone, which required a specialised magnetic field which in an electric gym probably wasn't that hard to fall into. I had no idea if anyone else had seen it before but no one had comnted on it in the past. Id need to review so of Surges matches to see if he ever used it.
That made pause.
Surge had walked into the seat of his power which wasnt sothing a lot of people typically would do. I was looser with letting people into the area at the back of the gym, but much more selective with who entered the cave system where I kept my elite team.
Surge hadnt even batted an eye when I followed him in.
Surge withdrew his chosen pokemon, and selected a number of other electrodes for his team. Then he nodded. Alright, so we have good intel about so punks that have set up in Vermillion next to the Pokemon Fanclub. That might make things a little tricky, but as long as we dont get too frisky with our area of effect attacks then theres going to not be all that much backlash.
It took a mont for to recall that there were a lot of very rich n and won that happened to sponsor such clubs. If we did sothing against their club, Id probably need to call Agatha for help.
Then again, this would probably be sothing shed gladly leave out to dry for just to ss with .
Still, I nodded. No damaging the next-door building, got it!
Surge grunted. Lets go kick their teeth in. He said as he cracked his neck by rolling it from side to side, then he broke into a jog out the back door.
I had to hurry to keep up with his frankly huge stride. I was going to have the police join us to have the place locked down properly?!
Nah, I got my scouts roaming the gym and so circling us. Ill have them lock the place down when we get there. We jogged up the hill and I could instantly tell which building was which. One building was done up with privacy hedges and dark shutters. The grounds happened to have a number of secluded alcoves that were roofed over from what I could see as well if patrons of the club wanted to go outside. The large gate on the front door with the sizeable security lock made it clear that you had to know soone to get in.
The burlesque house in Pewter had less features to keep people from seeing inside.
Not that Id been inside. Id rely patrolled past it.
Surge whistled again and broke into a faster jog. Around us, a pair of Raichu and a small pack of Manectric sprinted out and surrounded the building neighbouring the fan clubs manor.
"Alright, Im going in the front! You back up Brock! He then broke into a sprint. Gonna getcha! Gonna getcha! Gonna getcha!
Surge wait! I called as he bolted away from .
Surge wasnt listening. His pokemon shot forward in blurs. I cursed and hurled Zephyr and Dons pokeballs overhead. Aerial blockade! I ordered them.
Surge pounded up the entrance, and when he reached the door, he stomped one foot into the ground while rocketing the other into the door right at the side of the lock. The door splintered inwards and hung like a wreck on its fra.
Knock knock! roared Surge as he lood in the doorway.
A young woman hesitantly walked up. Uhm! Sir, were part of the pokemon club You You cant do this!
Surge stepped into the house. Im the Vermillion City Gym Leader I think youll find I can! Also!? I aint ever seen you at a club eting!
The woman blinked in surprise, and I skidded to a halt behind him.
Then I registered what hed said. Wait what?
The woman reacted by reaching for a pokeball on her belt. Surge proved faster on the draw though. However, instead of releasing his pokemon he hurled a pokeball of his straight into her gut, knocking her flat. Ha! Gottcha! Get good, ya baby!
Team! Out! And clear the house! he barked. A mont later, his pokemon were out of their balls and partnered up. They went through the room before two of them broke off to a door to the side. I stared at the coordination.
Damn, youd be the Champion if things were done with duo battles, I said, impressed with how he had trained his pokemon. I glanced down at the wheezing woman. Nice fake out with Pokemon fan club!
Surge tilted his head at . Huh? Fake out?
I stared at him a mont before deciding to let that lie. I didnt want to get into that conversation with him. Instead, I walked through the room that his Jolteon and Magnezone had cleared. At a window, I wrenched it open and tossed out Bertha and Knight to start roaming the grounds.
Also, dont touch the fence, I said seriously. Bertha glanced at the fence and sniffed at it. I knew her well enough to know she was calling it weak looking.
"Seriously, just dont. I then turned back and grimaced. I should have brought my Geodude line instead.
Your Kabutops and Poliwrath should work out for you, Surge said as he opened another door only for his Raichu to dart in while his Lanturn stayed on his shoulder.
What the hec said a voice before a zap and a thump announced that Raichu had found soone. Surge opened the door carefully all the way.
Clear, he said after inspecting the room. I followed him in to find the room to be rely a bedroom with a set of binoculars and what looked like a radio dish with an antenna sticking out of it.
Surge picked it up and growled. Damn listening devices! They musta known that I inspect my Gym for devices like this! Instead of putting sothing in the Gym, they had an external team monitoring .
I whistled. For a mont I was about to ask why they would do that before rembering that Surge was a veteran of the last war. It would have been more surprising if they didnt have people monitoring him.
I would be paying extra attention to, if Cinnabar-rated surveillance teams. Or Pallet Town, for that matter.
Shin, Hypnotoad, co on out, I said releasing them. They both appeared and took in the room. I waved them into the building which had an annoyingly twisted hallway with a number of doors. Were clearing rooms, I said.
Surge coughed pointedly. I glanced at him and he shifted. Uhm, listen Brock maybe have your team at the rear.
Huh? I said.
Surge grimaced. They trained to clear out rooms?
Ah, no. Theyre not, I said, now understanding where he was coming from.
A boom from outside had running to the window. There I found Knight pounding on an Arbok that was hissing furiously while Don had tackled a Fearow and rider out of the sky. Maybe I should go outside? I offered.
Surge shook his head after checking the window. Nah, youre good here, just let take point. Have them guard our six. he winked. Watch and learn. This guys got so tricks! he said while pointing at himself.
I snorted at his bravado but followed along. I had to admit that it was actually extrely interesting to watch Surge and his pokemon go room to room. When a room didnt receive a clear from one of the pokemon Surge had send in Shin to start stabbing walls.
Got a basent there! Surge said when I ordered Shin to flip up a rather suspicious-looking carpet.
Surge studied it before clicking his teeth. Urgh is it trapped or is it an escape tunnel he clicked his teeth and nodded to . Have him cut around it if theres a trip wire we should be able to avoid it.
I nodded, agreeing with his take. Shin tapped out the grove for the door before cutting around it. Hypnotoad stood next to him and lifted the entire door piece out of the ground. We were greeted by a smirking white and red pokemon rolling up the stairwell. The pokemon spotted us and then grinned wider as it began to flash white across its body.
Surge turned and leapt at . Trap! Buckle up! he said as he tackled out of the room. I had enough ti to call up my rock energy before I hit the ground. The Lanturn that had been on his shoulder fired off an electric wave back at the Electrode but I failed to see what it did to the other pokemon. Then the explosion detonated.
Surge lay over the top of as the explosion rocked the building. A concussive wave hit us and Surge was tossed a little but he clenched harder down ontop of .
A mont after it was done I was shaking my head and Surge was kneeling and looking into my eyes.
BROCK! CAN YOU HEAR !?
I nodded. I can hear you, I said before shaking my head to clear a slight ringing.
Surge nodded. THATS GOOD CAUSE I CANT HEAR SHIT! GLAD YOUR OKAY SOLDIER! DONT WORRY! WELL WALK IT OFF!
A door to the side, that Electabuzz and Electrode had been approaching to clear before the explosion went off, was kicked open. A Rocket Grunt stood behind it with a Raticate snarling. It leapt forward only for Surge to once more throw himself into the fight. He grappled with the Raticate only to be pushed back when the pokemon swatted him.
FULL AUTO! roared Surge as he hit the wall. His pokemon stilled for a second before leaping to attack both the pokemon and the trainer. The trainer gasped in shock as a sparking fist from Electrabuzz slamd into him. The Electrode blasted lightning at the Raticate and kept up electrocuting it even as the rat pokemon scread in pain.
I grabbed Surges arm and tugged on it. Surge! Cool it!
Surge snapped to look at , and his eyes were slightly unfocused. They were both different sizes. I relaxed my grip and waved my hand slowly. Surge? Hey! Calm down buddy, I said.
Sothing must have gotten through to him, as he blinked and his eyes returned to normal. SAFETY ON! shouted Surge. Instantly his Electrode stopped roasting the Raticate and the Elctabuzz paused. It gave us a glance before dropping the lightning from its fist.
The Grunt slumped in the Elecktrabuzzs grasp. Oh thank good Then it cold-cocked the Rocket grunt one more ti to knock him out. I shot it an unimpressed look but the pokemon rely dropped the Grunt and continued clearing the room.
Surge stood up shakily. Then he looked at . YOU ALRIGHT? he bellowed. Lanturn hopped up onto his shoulder and began forming up a small ring of water that lapped at Surges ears.
I nodded at him and he smiled. THAS GOOD! shouted the man.
I pat him on the shoulder. Thanks! But maybe next ti just focus on yourself; I can handle an explosion or two. His eyes watched my lips closely and there was a long delay as he worked through what Id said.
He snorted and pat on the head. LITTLE ROOKIE IN HIS FIRST BATTLE THINKS HES HOT SHIT! He rubbed harder and I grumbled.
I shook my head at him and checked quickly on Shin and Hypnotoad. I found them dusty but otherwise unbothered. The section of the floor theyd been holding up was in pieces but it apparently served as a barrier for them better than the wall had for .
Then the ringing in my ears cleared fully and I realised it wasnt ringing so much as it was sirens.
Then ca the sound of running feet. A mont later, police poured into the building, with Vermillions Officer Jenny leading the charge.
Vermillion Police! Freeze! she scread while holding out a pokeball in front of her. At her feet, a Growlithe snarled. Then Jenny blinked and sighed. Alright Surge what have you
Got a Team Rocket mber here! called one of the policen from another room.
Jenny lost her exasperated look and stiffened up. Her pokeball was released and revealed a Graveler. A normal rock-ground type. Surge sniffed pointedly.
HEY JENNY! WERE BUSTING UP THIS BASE! CAREFUL OF THE BASENT THERE WAS AN ELECTRODE TRAP!
Jennys eyes widened before she had her radio in hand relaying the news. All units be advised! Team Rocket base with potential booby traps! All units be advised!
Surge chuckled. Heh, booby! he said at what he assud was a whisper but carried clearly throughout the room. I sighed and shook my head.
Jenny nodded. Got the ssage from my cousin in Pewter. She said youd need us at the gym but we found that place locked up tight with pokemon blocking any entrance. Then we heard the explosion. Couldnt you wait?
I shrugged. Turns out I needed help holding back Surge.
Jenny gave a look before sighing. He started pacing and it seed innocent but he secretly was walking to an objective of his?
I tilted my head and recalled that, yes, Surge had done exactly that. Huh, I hadnt even realised what he was doing. Surge grinned widely and winked at .
Yeah, that, I said. Surge winked again.
I WASNT WAITING AROUND WHILE NO ROCKET PUNK WAS OPERATING IN MY HO TURF! Surge shouted.
Then Lanturn dropped the watery ring and Surge blinked. Oh, the sounds back!
Another explosion rocked the building and Surge stiffened. SHIT! He snapped his fingers and instantly Jolteon and Racihu tore down the room to the back room only for a Rocket grunt to step out with a smug grin. Surge pointed at her and before she could say anything Raichu was launching into her gut and she was convulsing.
Jenny marched up. Enough! Surge!
Surge whistled and the Raichu stopped zapping the woman. She lay on the ground gasping.
Jenny cuffed her and read the woman her rights. Surge sniffed. Sha I cant pull what you did with this being their base instead of them infiltrating my Gym Brock.
Jenny glanced up at that having heard what Surge said. Your Gym was infiltrated Brock? Is Jenny there?
Surge grimaced. Oh shit! Thought she knew! he said sheepishly. I shot him a look and rolled my eyes.
Keep that close to your chest. This is the first raid of many that are happening tonight, I said. Jenny and Surge stared at .
Surge whistled. You got other sites to raid? He grinned. Im down!
I snorted at him and then caught Jennys hopeful look. Ha, no sorry, other people are getting involved. Id say more but I flicked my eyes around the room, Ill wait until were out of the probably bugged house.
Surge gave the room a look over and clicked his tongue. Yeah good call, she must have fried all the equipnt to stop us, but that doesnt an they cant still be watching and listening to us.
A buzz on his wrist had him raising up his transceiver. Cant talk baby girl Im busy cleaning house with my favourite rat. Raichu whod been patting down his fur bristled at the na.
Surge winked at the pokemon before leaning in. Listen snookums I have to go. I can co around in a day or two. Theres a lot going on kay! Love you bu-bye!
He hung up and coughed. Nothing to see here. I shook my head and moved back into the building to poke around a little.
A number of policen were poking around downstairs and I trailed in after them to find a room with a few trays of pokeballs.
Onix, Geodude, Graveller, Rhydon, Nidoking. I whistled. Looks like this was a room with pokemon that were prepared to fight against Surge, I said aloud. The police grunted their agreent and continued to take photos of the scene.
One approached and coughed. Gym Leader Brock? Were going to need a statent.
I nodded. Yeah sure. No worries, best we do this outside though were worried the place is still bugged. That got a reaction as instantly the nearby police officer stopped taking photos and began inspecting the room much more thoroughly.
Got one! Got another! announced two people, one after the other.
The man that had approached nodded and gestured back out the door. I signalled for my pokemon to follow and soon we were outside on the lawn. The building had been sectioned off by a number of Machoke that stood behind two onix that had been painted in yellow and blue along their sides. The words "Police" were also prominent on their bodies.
Behind them, reporters were already dashing up with caran following after them. I could see a number of red lights glimring already. I suddenly wasnt sure if giving a statent out here would remain private. The policeman seed likewise as unsure.
Then the gates from next door opened, and a very dapper-looking gentleman with a magnificent white beard sauntered out of the manor. He gave the police a curious look and then made a beeline for the reporters.
The reporters looked at him in annoyance as he approached them one by one. Then their faces morphed into looks of worry. They each made a chopping gesture at their necks and the caran dropped their caras to their hips.
When one reporter tried to continue the man leaned into her space and whispered sothing while dropping a card into her hands. The female reporter turned white and ran for it, leaving her highly confused caraman, who the gentleman rely nodded to.
I stared at the suddenly empty space beyond the onix. The gentleman approached the onix and gave them both quick pats. He nodded at the policeman and then sauntered back to the manor hed co from.
The gates closed without a sound behind him. In the space of not even five minutes, hed cleared out the reporters.
I pointed at the gates. Who the hell was that? I said incredulously.
The policeman coughed. That was uhm well he is the Chairman of the Kanto Pokemon club. Big na. Very influential. He founded Silph co before he gave it over to his nephew Big mover. Reclusive gentleman that likes to not be bothered. The policeman glanced at the empty space where the reporters were.
Apparently he doesnt want trouble with people snooping around. The news will do a piece later, but theyll make sure not to ntion where it happened or whats next door like so of those houndoom reporters would have.
I scratched at my temple. Im not sure that answered my question or raised more Soooo Im just gonna leave it be.
The man nodded. Thats a good call. Now could you tell
I wrapped up the talk quickly and then sought out Surge. He was talking with Jenny and the woman seed highly unimpressed.
Cant go nuts like that! I know it must have set you off with the explosion but thats more of a reason for us to get involved instead of you haring off like you did! You dragged Brock into it as well! Did you think about him?!
Surge didnt et her gaze. Yeah, sorry, just I kept him close, alright?
I was tempted to step in and defend him, but held back. He certainly didnt need my support in this.
Jenny sighed. Urgh stop giving us heart attacks. Cant you just be like other Gym Leaders?
Which ones? Koga? Blaine? He leered. Or should I be like the Cerulean sisters? Dress in drag and do the hula? Want to shake what my momma gave ?!
Jenny groaned. Alright, so thats a bad example! Just don't fly off the handle and wreck a place!
This place warranted it! Surge said. Then he got a sly look. Say you doing anything now? Wanna get a beer?
Jenny shot him a highly unimpressed look. I literally, not ten minutes ago, heard you talking to your girlfriend.
Nah she was my side girl. I got a slot for a main girl!
Jenny groaned into her notepad. Surge glanced around, spotted , and waved.
I waved back only for a pokemon to call out. Jynx~!
I glanced behind and found a Jynx waving from the gates of the manor at us no actually at Surge. He coughed and waved at her before marching into the house. I marched up to him and gave him a look.
Hey! Dont give that look! he turned to the side to find Officer Jenny giving him the sa look. He walked faster. Damn punks judging ! he said.
I sighed and shook my head only to pause as my transceiver buzzed. Sabrina? I said.
Surge spun about and nudged Jenny sending the much smaller woman stumbling. Heh! Hes getting called by his girlfriend as well!
I shot a look at him But didnt deny it. It was true.
Sabrina looked at . Brock I see you have already raided your site. Well done. I am at the Plateau and we have begun interrogating Daniel. Were getting a number of facilities but are starting to get all that we can.
Thats good,. Are you feeling alright? I asked carefully.
Sabrina nodded her head. I am fine. I can do this with no issues. I small groan to the side made know Officer Jenny from Pewter was listening in. Sabrinas eyes flickered off screen for a second before she said, Thank you for asking after though. I appreciate it.
I snorted. Thats good to know. Surge and I took the Listening outpost with all the Rocket mbers but the last one destroyed so equipnt. The police are still combing through the building.
A huff announced Agatha entering the conversation. Gym Leader Brock, you and Gym Leader Surge should make your way to League headquarters to debrief. A teleporting pokemon will be sent your way.
A mont later a familiar Alakazam appeared.
Debrief and then et up with us, Agatha ordered. I nodded and hung up. I waved goodbye to Jenny from Vermillion as well as calling back my pokemon. Then I vanished in a teleport.
When I reappeared, I did so in a new clean building that just scread high-tech and rich. Clear strips of tal ran along the floors and walls. With a number of signs indicating what room was in what direction.
Gym Leader Brock we et again! said a voice from my nightmares.
I spun about my hand landing on my belt. Auditor Timothy! I said.
Next to , Surge jumped backwards. Oh, shit where!? He spun about and took a defensive position.
Timothy laughed. Its wonderful to see you again. Sadly, this isnt a social visit though. I have been asked to compile a report. Shall we?
Urgh, I groaned. Do we have to? I said as I felt my heart rebel about being questioned by this Gengar puppeting a human body.
The man laughed jovially. Hahaha! Oh, yes, yes we must. Then he smiled, evilly, and indicated a possibly booby-trapped couch. Lets begin shall we? Get this all sorted out and filed away quickly!
I sat down and sighed. This was not how I expected this night to go.
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