Chapter 1: Pass the Scizor Please!

"Kata, try to dodge his Rage with Quick Attack!"

The Pokemon spread his wings again and started to use Quick Attack, but the bull managed to slam it just as it was getting out of the way. He fell to the ground, but stood itself back up.

"It's ok, Kata, we've weakened him a lot. Now, let's finish this off with a Bullet Punch!"

The Scizor's claws began to glow, hardening, and sharpening themselves so that they could practically cut through diamond, and at the speed of light, he sped off at the Tauros.

"SCIZ!"

"Kata, brace yourself!" he shouted, seeing the Tauros charge into a Take Down attack and knowing there was no way the Scizor could avoid it in time. The Pokemon raised his pincers in front of him and took the attack, flying back onto the ground.

"Kata, are you ok?" he asked, concerned. The Pokemon stood back up, beatings his wings forcefully to shake itself off.

"ZOR!" he stated fiercely. He was panting and a little tired, but clearly still wanted to fight.

"Alright, that's the spirit! Now, use your Quick Attack again to circle him!"

The Pokemon continued to buzz his wings as he then sped clockwise around the bull, stopping 180 degrees and around, and then dashed towards the Tauros.

"Good job! Now, use your Cut attack!"

"SCIZ!" the Pokemon crowed, its claw glowing as it lashed out again at the Tauros.

(Sorry for the lateness of the post!)

Kusandei blinked in mild surprise--the Tauros was using a Quick Attack! He had never heard of one doing that before, and nothing he had ever read had indicated that a Pokemon of that size could use that move unless learned from a pre-evolution, and as far as he knew, Tauros neither evolved from nor into anything else. He shrugged off the surprise, knowing that he should learn to expect these kinds of challenges on his journey ahead.

"You alright, Kata?" Kusandei asked, seeing the Stomp attack land on his steel framed body. The attack wasn't very effective, but you could never play it too safe. The bug Pokemon stood and put it's pincers up in a guarding position.

"Alright, Tachikata, watch out," he said, "he's using Quick Attack. Jump into the air and dodge it!"

"Sciz!" The Pokemon waiting until the bull was about to strike, then he leaped into the air above it.

"Alright, now hit it with a Razor Wind!"

The Pokemon began beating it's wings, allowing it to stay suspended in the air long enough to create two giant gusts of wind and sent them flying at his opponent.

"ZOR!"

"Nice, Kata," he complimented his Pokemon as it tossed the attacking Tauros back a few feet. The Tauros charged again, coming in with its Stomp attack.

"Dodge it with your Quick Attack," he instructed.

The Tauros tried landing again and again, but the Scizor was too fast. It simply dodged the attacks that came flying at it with tremendous speed.

"Good. Now, let's strike back with a Cut attack!"

The Pokemon stopped its dodging for a split second, as it's pincers glowed and he charged in at the Tauros, slashing at it across it's side.

Kusandei pedaled to a stop as he eyed the Tauros critically. "Not everyday you see a Tauros right outside of Pallet Town," he said quietly to Tachikata. "It must be a descendant of one of the one's Satoshi caught and left with Professor Oak...which means it'll be strong."

The Tauros growled and them, stomping its feet on the ground. A split second later, it was speeding at Tachikata, preparing to tackle it. But he wasn't worried.

"He can't hurt you too badly, Kata," he said seriously. "So just wait for it...wait for it...NOW! Catch it's horns!"

Just as the Tauros was about to make contact, the Scizor's pincers flew forward and grabbed the Tauros. He slid back a little bit, embracing the impact, his feet digging into the dirt.

"Great job, Kata! Now, toss it into the air!"

"SCIZ!" he shouted, picking up the bull and throwing it into the air. "ZOR!"

Kusandei nearly leaped up to the front desk, startling the other trainers in the Pokemon center with both his unexpected movement and his speed.

"Miss, is my Scizor going to be alright?" he asked earnestly. However, no reply was needed, as Tachikata came out from behind her a small smile on his face that told Kusandei everything. In a flash, he used his Quick Attack to move from behind the nurse to behind his owner, trainer, and friend, wings beating slowly but happily.

"All right!" he cheered, hugging his friend in a rare sign of overly demonstrative affection. "Thanks you, miss, I really appreciate it. Come on, Tachikata, let's go."

The two of them exited Professor Oak's lab, passing by a couple of other new trainers trying to get their first Pokemon. Although he knew those Pokemon were known to become very strong, he was perfectly happy with his Scizor and wouldn't trade him for any other Pokemon in the world.

"Well, I got this silly 'starter' kit like I was supposed to..." he muttered, rummaging through the kit.

He looked over the various healing items and Pokeballs with a small smile. He'd learned for years to fight and protect himself and his Pokemon for years without the help of those items, and he certainly wasn't going to rely on them now. Not if he could help it, at least. He reached his bike and, after unchaining it, hopped on and started pedaling out of Pallet Town towards Viridian City to find the base of the Silver Spark that Professor Oak told him about.

"Keep your eyes open, Kata," he said as they began to leave the town. "This area is known for having an abundance of wild Pokemon, as well as trainers hoping to practice. Remember, we don't back down from any challenge, but let's not expose ourselves or our mission. Never forget why we're here."

"Sciz..." Tachikata replied.

"Good," he replied, allowing a hint of a smile, before biking in silence.

Kusandei nodded his thanks to the nurse, though he watched Tachikata like a hawk until he was out of sight. He wandered over to the waiting area, running his fingers over a few books and magazines, browsing their titles. Many of the books the Professor had authored, while in others he was the editor along with others, such as Elm, Rowan, Ivy, and Serena, each a specialty in a different area of the study of Pokemon. Picking one up by Professor Oak on personality types, he flipped through it, eyes flickering through the essay titles. It was a smaller book, but it held great detail on the known effects of personalities and natures in a Pokemon's development, waiting patiently for his Pokemon to return to him.

((Whoops! I think I just missed when you responded to this...heh heh sorry!))

Kusandei nodded to the duo as they left the Professor's lab. "Take care, and I hope we meet again!"

He guided the Scizor over to the assistant. "Alright, Tachikata...easy does it..." he murmured as he let the Pokemon stand weakly on it's own two feet.

"I don't know why he doesn't like Pokeballs," he said truthfully. "It'd make my life a lot easier sometimes...but I guess that's just his personality...It won't be a problem will it?" he asked anxiously.

Kusandei shook the other trainer's hand sincerely.

"It was quite the fight," he complemented her, "though I think in the future you will surely win. The more training your Pokemon gets, the more its type advantage over mine will improve."

He smiled encouragingly, accepting the prize money. "Good luck in your future adventures!" he said, as the sibling pair walked off. Glancing at Tachikata, he walked over and put his arm over its shoulder, supporting it.

"You did good, my friend," he said gently, as he started walking the injured Pokemon back to Professor Oak's laboratory. "You fought hard and well. That was perhaps our toughest battle yet, but you did it..."

He sighed, looking down at the ground. It hurt him every time he let Tachikata battle, forcing his friend time after time again to get hurt, protecting him. He wished that the world of Pokemon didn't involved so much pain, battling friends as if they were nothing more than weapons, tools for entertainment, fighting for nothing but power and ego. Yet, he knew that if he did not improve his own skills, others who force their Pokemon to fight for ill would be able to overpower those who cherish friendship and love with their Pokemon. It was a difficult, ongoing internal battle with no end in sight.

He re-entered the Professor's office, and once again walked up to the receptionist.

"Excuse me...my Pokemon is injured, is there a way you or the Professor can heal him?" he asked slightly anxiously. It was rare for a town to not have a Pokemon center, and yet Pallet Town strangely did not...how odd...

( Yeah I know was doing a few things that got me a little distracted from the post and all of that!)

((omg...so many "and's" and "as is's" x_x...periods are a good thing haha.))

Kusandei continued to observe the battle, assessing the situation methodically. His Scizor landed it's attack perfectly, though it seemed to take a lot of his remaining strength. And yet both Pokemon were still standing. How, he knew not. Tachikata had suffered massive damage due to a quadruple weakness to fire from the Fire Punch, so his Counter, doing double damage, should have completely taken out their foe. It came at Tachikata again, this time using a Double Kick.

"This needs to end," he said calmly. "Tachikata, use your Counter again!"

The Pokemon held up his pincers in front of him protectively as the Double Kick hit, barely withstanding it with his high defense. He then shoved the Combusken backwards with his Counter attack, sending it flying through the air.

"Alright, not finish this with a Quick Attack before it can land!"

The Scizor wobbled woozily where it stood, clicking it's pincers weakly first, before disappearing from the spot and blazing towards the other Pokemon somewhat haphazardly, attacking it somewhat clumsily from exhaustion with its claw as the other Pokemon tried to land.

Kusandei stared coolly at the battle scene as the Pokemon rushed in to each other, matching Quick Attack for Quick Attack. After they bounced backwards, however, he noticed that the other Pokemon's hand started to glow with fire. They were too close together to even consider trying to avoid the attack, and knowing that it was a fire-based attack, Scizor was sure to take a lot of damage. Thankfully, his steel body gave him a higher-than-average defense, but that wouldn't mean much against their foe. Again, it was time to deal with one's weakness, rather than run away from it.

"Tachikata, Counter that Firepunch!" he commanded.

Scizor covered his body with his pincers just as the fist connect, and his whole body seemed to glow as if aflame.

"Hold on, Taka," he shouted encouragingly. "You can do this!"

The Scizor weakly opened his eyes, having absorbed an impressive amount of damage. Though his body faded, his eyes glowed once again, though this time with a battle aura.

"Hit him with all you've got!"

"SCIZ!" the Pokemon cried, as he had his pincers slam directly into the other Pokemon, doing double the damage that had just been done to him.

Kusandei gave a small nod as the attack hit the other Pokemon.

"Nice job, Kata!" he said encouragingly.

However, it was clear that one attack wouldn't be enough to stop their opponent, as it leaped up and shot a Flamethrower at his Scizor. He allowed his face to betray the tiniest of smiles. Long ago, he had learned that you always work on finding ways to counter your weaknesses before improving your strengths, and it was because of his past that he had trained his Scizor to be capable of what it was today.

"That won't be enough to stop us!" he said poignantly. "What you can't fight with the body...you fight with the mind. Tachikata, use your Light Screen!"

His Pokemon closed his eyes for a second, then opened them again. They started to glow, as did the inside of his pincers. He threw his arms into the air, and then swung them down. Out of his pincers came a blast of light that created a shield in the air which shimmered as the flames hit it. He held it for a few seconds, mitigating most of the attack. Seeing as Scizor were not Pokemon with high mental agility, the Light Screen broke, though not until most of the attack had been blocked. While singed by the flames, he was still able to fight.

"Atta boy, Taka," he comforted him. "We've got this. Hit him with a Quick Attack!"

"Sciz!" he shouted enthusiastically, before launching himself at the Combusken at lightning speed.

Kusandei shielded his eyes slightly as he watched both Pokemon fight momentarily in the air. The Combusken came down into an attack onto the Scizor, and that's when Kusandei had an idea.

"Brace yourself, Kata!" he shouted. He knew that the opponent had decent attack power, but it would be difficult to break through the defense of a strong steel Pokemon--certainly more than a couple of kicks.

"Alright, now land and get ready to retaliate with another Razor Wind!"

The Scizor used the propulsion from the kicks to get to the ground faster. When he landed, a cloud of dusk kicked up, and he began to beat his wings furiously, picking up a small wind vortex on either side of him again. Withing a split second, they were full and ready.

"Aim and let'em loose!"

The Scizor watched the Combusken falling from the air, aimed the vortexes for the precise spot the Pokemon would be forced to land, and shot the attack.

Kusandei raised a mental eyebrow at the move the trainer used. Tachikata was forced to move in a much smaller space now, and would have to avoid the flames like the plague, having a quadruple weakness to them.

"A bit careless, don't you think?" he said lightly, almost jovially. "We are right next to town, you know..." He gave a small shrug. "Well, I guess when there's a fire...you just have to put it out. Tachikata, Razor Wind!" he commanded fiercely.

The Pokemon stopped confidently in front of the enemy, never taking his eyes off of his foe, and beat it's wings furiously. Suddenly, two vortexes of wind began to appear on either side of him, sucking up the air the fire was using to breathe, preventing it from spreading and also starting to quench them. After a few seconds, Tachikata leaped into the air, expanding his body like an X, then making himself concave as he shot the huge, flaming vortexes at the Combusken.

Ten'nen could only roll his eyes and sigh. It would just be his luck that his opponent would have the one type of Pokemon that is most deadly to his own. He wasn't all that surprised, but the sheer irony of it was delicious. He knew many trainers ended up starting out this way, but with two evolved Pokemon, their movesets were also that much stronger and more fully developed. However, being the ever-calculating trainer he was, he wasn't without weapons of his own. With luck on one occasion, Tachikata had proven that in a pinch, he could defend himself, even if only slightly, and as soon as Kusandei had seen that capability, he knew it would be prudent to train that ability. He allowed himself a grim half-smile.

"Well then. Shall we begin?" he asked, his tone still non-threatening and polite, almost innocent, neither his expression nor his tone suggesting either confidence or fear, nervousness or assuredness. Instead, he seemed almost eerily unemotional. "Kata, use your Quick Attack! You know what to do."

The Pokemon nodded his head, closed his eyes for a second, and then faster than the eye could follow, he had left the spot him was in. However, instead of using the attack to hit the opposing Pokemon, he bounced from spot to spot in an almost unpredictable pattern around the Combusken. The Scizor stayed a constant 5-10 feet away from his opponent, and went randomly from in front, to the left, back diagonally to the right, then behind, then back to the front, then to behind diagonally to the left, to the right, back to directly behind...there was no logic, rhyme, or reason to the Pokemon's movement, but it was like a somewhat slower Agility or Double Team, as Scizor had to pause each time he landed in a spot, waiting for the Combusken to strike...

(Sorry about that wrong thread it isn't closed dude!)

Ten'nen smiled slightly. "A challenge, eh...you know, you'd think you two would get a little tired of picking on new trainers all the time," he commented lightly, folding up his compact bike and sliding it into his backpack. The beauty of technology was simply fascinating...

"Alright, then, I accept your challenge," he said firmly. "I back down from no one."

Tachikata buzzed somewhat aggressively at his side, clinking his pincers intimidatingly. "Let's see what you've got!"

(Meep! The pause I wrote in (

Ryuhekai wrote:

With that, he awaited the Professors response, nodded politely, then left the building.

) was where he waited for a response...but no worries, I'll play it as it is. Just know that Kusandei isn't actually that rude...haha)

Kusandei thought he saw someone in the distance, standing on the road blocking his way out of the edges of Pallet town, but couldn't be sure. He heard his Pokenav ringing, and he heard the Professor's voice over the phone. He answered it quickly. "Hi Professor! I didn't mean to leave, you just seemed very deep in thought, and I didn't want to impose upon you any further...but I appreciate your willingness to help. I--"

He came to a halt on his bike. There were definitely two people standing there, and they were definitely staring him down. The looks on their faces told him all he needed to know. "Professor...let me call you back...there's...something I need to deal with. Please excuse me!" he finished, using the polite shitsureshimasu。

Placing down the Pokenav, he hopped off of his bike, walking it casually towards the two. "Greetings," he said casually, his voice firm, yet still friendly. "How do you do today? An interesting time to be standing in the middle of the bike path..."

Kusandei smiled slightly and nodded towards the Professor. "I have, indeed heard of their presence, as Officer Junsa informed me of them. I...I have to admit, I wasn't sure if I Was going to try to get involved with them or not, but if you suggest it, then I believe I should at least approach them and check them out. And, if you don't mind, I would like to...stay in contact with you throughout my journey. Much like the support you gave Satoshi and his friends, Officer Junsa believes that similar contact would be advisable, for the sole reason that it would be less noticeable than if I were contacting an Officer every few days. Officer Junsa would appreciate periodic updates from you, but if anyone is tracking, they will find it...suspicious that I report to an officer regularly. For you, it would be no great surprise, even expect. I'm sure you understand, but if you don't wish to take on the responsibility, I might be able to find other options...you just seemed like our best bet."

He sighed, taking the supplies the Professor handed him. "Anyway, you don't need to decide now," he told the Professor. "The sooner, the better, for I am wary of sending reports as quickly and frequently as needed until I have a reliable confidant...but that can come later."

He pocketed the items, and then bowed lowly to the Professor.

"Thank you so much for your help, the starter kit, and your suggestions," he told him sincerely. Best of luck with your research!"

With that, he awaited the Professors response, nodded politely, then left the building. He blinked his eyes once outside again, adjusting briefly to the light. It took him less time than most, and again, he couldn't help but think he saw a flash of something off out of the corner of his eye. "Stupid Absol is gonna make me paranoid..." he muttered.

He hopped on his bike, and, with his Scizor buzzing at his side, he rode out from Pallett town. He began riding through the dirt path, pedaling a a medium pace, saving his energy, taking in the sun, and simply enjoying himself. He, himself, didn't know how long the peace would last...

Kusandei followed the Professor into his office and waited patiently as he closed the door, windows, and blinds. Once the Professor had finished reading the letter and securing the room, Kusandei began speaking, though still quietly, just in case.

"My name, Professor, is Kusandei Khan, although from this point on, it is imperative that you refer to me as Ten'nen," he stated. "The letter should have explained why, though I wouldn't have put it past Officer Junsa to not include some of those details as a security measure..." He chuckled lightly. "That'd be just like her, actually. Always on the safe side."

He nodded to the letter, clearing his throat. "To briefly recap what I believe this letter said, which you should keep in case you have further questions or concerns, Officer Junsa believes that the organization we are dealing with is unlike any of the other Teams out there. We don't know if they are any more or less dangerous, and we don't know what their relationship to the other Teams actually is...and since they refuse to disband, no matter what happens to their different leaders, we can't expect this organization to simply die out of it's own accord."

He shook his head. "They are extremely dangerous, and what makes them so dangerous is how little we know about them, and the small public presence they currently have in our world. I'm one of the only ones who knows as much as I do who is still alive to tell it. And even THAT isn't enough to expose them." He paused briefly, allowing the professor to soak all of this in. "This is where you come in, Professor. I'm going to pose as a Pokemon trainer who, like so many other youth, simply wants to go out and explore the world, taking a shot at becoming a Champion. In reality, though, I'm going to pose as prime bait to get involved in as many of the different organizations as possible, and infiltrate them to gain as much information as possible. And yes, I mean the current Teams we know about, as well as hopefully catching the eyes of this newer organization."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, gauging Professor Oak's reaction. "I know it's a dangerous journey, but believe me when I say I've encountered my fair share of danger in my time. As has Kata, here. If it weren't for his courageous, if reckless and possibly stupid, act of saving me, I wouldn't be here now."

Kata clicked his pincers in mock anger, and Kusandei's eyes glinted mischievously. "I do so appreciate your stupidity, Kata," he teased. "But really, when you mess up your wings so badly that we had to put coat on you to save your life, you have to admit it wasn't your finest moment. If Nurse Joi hadn't had that, then where would you be?"

Kata buzzed his wings, feigning annoyance, and Kusandei returned his attention to the Professor. "So. Now you have the brief rundown. I'll need your help along the way as I try to assemble a team of Pokemon that will be useful in my task. The nimbler, sleuthier, and more diverse, the better. I've a few ideas, but...well, I'll take them as they come, I suppose." He sighed. "Do you...do you have any questions? Or concerns? I know it's a lot to take in, and I'd be happy to help you understand as much as possible. It's only because Officer Junsa trusts you that she sent me here. A lot is riding on this, and I don't want to mess it up..."

For the first time in their brief meeting, the youth in Kusandei showed, as his voice trembled at the end of his speech. He clearly was nervous about everything, and his confidence wasn't 100%. He had a long, hard road ahead of him, and his maturity showed that he was prepared, or thought he was prepared, for the trials ahead. He looked up at Professor Oak in earnest, awaiting his response.

Kusandei bowed his head to the Professor, then looked up, speaking evenly and carefully. After all, you never knew who was watching or listening, and you could never trust a place to be too secure...

"Good morning, professor," he said in a pleasant and gratuitous tone, truly pleased to finally have arrived at his destination. "It's an honor to finally meet you, the Professor held in the highest of esteem in the Pokemon world. I hope your research has been successful, and your many endeavors going smoothly."

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folded, sealed envelope.

"I...I cannot tell you my name. Not...aloud," he said softly. "But here is a letter from Office Junsa. I believe this should explain everything you need to know."

He handed over the letter, maintaining eye contact with Professor Oak. The letter contained all the information on his assignment, identity, and touched upon his past. It also detailed the requests for help in the form of a starter kit, and whatever other assistance the Professor could provide. A flicker of shadow passed over the window, and Kusandei caught a glimpse, again, of the Absol that had been following him for so long. They met eyes for just a second, before it literally faded from view. The corner of his mouth quirked in a small smile, and then he turned his attention back to the Professor, who was reading the letter.

"Let me know when you've finished, and perhaps we could speak in more...secure quarters?"

(Thanks for the grand opening post there dude! )

Kusandei pedaled into town slowly, enjoying a leisurely pace, with Tachikata buzzing happily beside him. It was still morning, perhaps just past 10 o'clock, and many of the townspeople were still completing morning chores or opening up shop. Pallet Town was a quiet town, and he knew he would have to be quite secretive about his mission and very presence while he was here, lest he blow his cover. Once he pedaled into town, stopping outside of the Pokemon Center, he hopped off of his bike, and began walking past the various shops and townspeople. He smiled slightly, simply watching them in their carefree manner. He envied the fact that they were yet untouched by the hassles troubling his part of the world...

Continuing his walk through town, he followed signs to Professor Oaks laboratory. He was told it was on the edge of town by the water, close to Route 2, which lead to Viridian City. Going all the way to the north of the town, he arrived outside of the huge building. Gazing around, he noticed the plethora of Pokemon grazing in fields, or hanging out in trees, or sleeping by the building itself. Tachikata clinched his pincers, slightly on edge. He wasn't used to being around quite so many Pokemon, and he instinctively and protectively got closer to Kusandei.

"Easy there, Kata," he said in a soothing voice. "They're not gonna attack. They belong to the Professor, who is a world renown Pokemon trainer and scientist. They are extremely obedient to him...it'll be fine."

The Scizor relaxed slightly, but only slightly. Sighing, and allowing himself a small chuckle, he entered the Laboratory. Once inside, at the front desk, he rang the buzzer lightly, hoping to get the attention of the Professor.

"Hello?" he called out uncertainly, as initially there was no response. "Professor?"