Rico stared at his brother. The former Shadowy figure, revealed to be Lukarin Rhodes, circled his twin brother. "By Arceus, you're no different. Same as I remember." Luke, although seemingly a bad dude, still attempted smalltalk. "Save it, Lukarin. Why're you here?" Rico asked. "Remember when I saw AJ the other night? About the Reckoning?" Luke knew, because AJ isn't the type of kid to not blab something like that. "Is that like another apocalypse? Or what is it, Lukarin?" Rico stepped closer. "No. It's an army. A large one. Led by an Umbreon who is one of the banished, like us. But beware, He's rather tyrannical. He's fair to us, but to outsiders, he's not so kind and merciful." Luke explained. "And you expect me and AJ to join this Reckoning?" Rico asked, and Luke simply nodded. "No. I can't, Lukarin." This made the Purple Lucario stir. "Why not? We could fight as three brothers and be undefeatable! We could write the very rules of the overworld! I have no doubt together we'd be strong enough to..." But Luke didn't get to finish.

"Why not? Because, Lukarin. Because I have promises to keep. That's why I'm not joining you, Lukarin. I made a promise to Father, years ago before he was sent up here. I promised I'd protect AJ from getting sent up. I promised our father I wouldn't let this family be destroyed. I promised I'd be there because he couldn't! And then I promised mom something, that I'd protect not just AJ's health but also his innocence. Protect his young mind. That second one was broken. AJ's killed four pokemon already, and Arceus knows how many you've killed." Luke's distorted voice sighed. "Fifty-eight." Rico grunted, "Exactly. You lost your morality, Lukarin. You joined The Reckoning? The group of the most rogue, rebellious sons-of-bitches you could possibly join forces with?! You can say it's a strategic advantage, but how long until whoever the hell leads that group sees no need for your survival, Lukarin?"

The bushes rustled. "That's a very intriguing question, Ricardo Rhodes. But I have a feeling Lukarin is of more use than you think." The umbreon emerged. You'd think he was a tall, slender guy , but no, he was tall and quite ripped looking more like a fighting type who has been given a dark type's body. "Keston Kross. The Pleasure's all mine, Ricardo Jaire Rhodes. Do you go by Ricardo, RJ, or as your brother called you, Rico?" He chuckled. His voice alone just SOUNDED suspicious. No one nice had that kind of voice. Rico knew almost immediately something was up with this guy. "Who are you?" Rico gripped his blade's hilt. "Ah, I suppose that would be in order. As I have already stated, I am Keston Kross. I am the proud leader of the freedom fighting liberation group, The Reckoning." Rico noticed the knife at the Umbreon's side. "You look more than strong enough to handle any normal pokemon. Why the protection?" Rico's gaze fixed on him. "Insurance policy." Kross shrugged.

"So why make Reckoning a power trip? And from what I've heard, why does a different source make it sound like you're some tyrant?" Rico glared at him. "Ah, they are either jealous of my power or they fear what I will become. Reckoning aims to liberate the Underground Facilities all over the earth. The councils are selfish, banishing anyone who has ideas that go against their own. I was one such individual. They banished me for simply thinking we should have trials by jury, thinking that it would be in the civilians' best interests to have a say in matters rather than let twelve elected run the show. Only one councilwoman was ever fair and showing moral correctness. She tried pardoning me, but that got shot down 11 to 1. Should we liberate Terra Doma, she will remain an authoritative figure, and even if she was not as upright, she is the mother of my best mercenary." Keston wasn't done, but the last line sparked Rico to speak out. "You mean my mother?" He asked. Kross nodded. "Counsilmember Rhodes is so hard to hate. She really should've been the head of the whole thing. Tis a pity, That riot didn't result in any change. After that, that's when they banished all who had different thoughts. It was necessary, but the idea for that rebellion was carefully planned. I scoff at Jayce Morrison's Incompetence, anyone should be able to carry out a simple revolt." The Umbreon Insurrectionist finished. "Jayce Morrison is dead, Keston." Rico said while biting his lip. "Oh, No. Anyway... I come not with a threat of obliteration, Ricardo Rhodes. I come with an invitation. At Noon, I shall send an advocate along with your brother here. Anyone who wishes to join may do so, and we'll give you time to mull it over. Even if you decline and do so peacefully, then the offer still stands! However..." Kross' nonchalant expression and chill demeanor turned into a serious expression and a tone that, when threats were made, could make anyone who was easily scared piss their pants. "...Should you violently resist, it will mean you declare your opposition, and it seals your fate. We are The Reckoning this world needs. You're either with us, or you die trying to be against us." And in a blink, he was back to chilled out. "It's Just that simple."

Rico stepped up to him. "We want no war with Reckoning. We cannot face your sizable army. But we do need time to think. I can't speak for the other 18, but Kross, I won't be joining today." Kross' smile didn't fade. "You'll come around. Show up at any Reckoning base when you can. Find any abandoned town or fort. I have mons stationed in a lot of them. Find them when you seek to join the winning side." Kross then disappeared back into the dark of the woods, leaving the two brothers alone in the dim light of the moon. "I advise you to join. I don't wish to have a target on your back." Luke said, voice still modulated, before pulling his hood over his head and also escaping into the darkness. "An ambassador..." Rico sat against the wall, contemplating the offer and what Kross had said. Before long, uncharacteristically and unexpectedly, the Lucario drifted off to sleep.

Rico woke a few hours later. Shane stood next to him, leaning against the wall. "How long was I out?" Rico asked. "No clue." Shane shrugged. "Well, I need to go back in. Take over." Rico went back through the gate as Shane took over the morning watch. As Rico cooked breakfast over a morning fire, the others started waking up, One by One.

A few minutes after waking up, Nora approached Justin's workbench. "So you're bent on survival and ignoring the group survival, right? Why are you here then? With a large group?" She asked as he was working. "Because there's strength in numbers. Even I know that. Survival has no rules, except kill or be killed. Therefore..." Justin was saying before she interrupted him. "There! You're wrong! We don't have to kill everyone we see! Some of the 140 are probably just as scared as we are!... or, were. But either way, not everyone we come across is out for blood, Justin! You have to trust others..." It was Justin's turn to interrupt. "Oh, so just let anyone through? That's how pokemon will get kidnapped or killed. You can't trust everyone, but if you want to live, you'll trust me. You'll trust Rico and everyone who actually knows what they're doing. You didn't seem too impacted when Morrison bit the dust. Wait until it's someone close to you. Sasha, Natalie, Cara, Alexis, or maybe even Maya. Any one of them could die at any given time! I don't know what you're thinking, but get to reality! We could die up here and I sure as hell don't want to be left digging holes for another who knocked on death's door!" Nora, hurt by his words, began to tear up before running off, out of the gate. Justin glanced up, then back to his work. "Great job, Jackass." Lexi rolled her eyes. "What do you expect me to do? Sit here and lie, saying we'll all survive? We already had someone die, she needs to face reality." The Blaziken sighed at his comments. "Nora's usually an optimistic pokemon. She's kind hearted and caring, Justin." The Grovyle, annoyed, set down his tools in an aggressive manner.

"Then why start fights with me?" He asked her. "She isn't. It's the only thing you talk about, and she's too scared to try small talk. She enjoys talking to you, O'Reilly. It's so obvious that a Blind mon could see it. If you can't see it, then I guess you need to stop focusing on Survival so much. You actually contradict yourself, Justin." She leaned against his bench. "Yeah? How so?" He sarcastically replied as he tinkered with some scrap metal. "You're always talking about the importance of Surviving as a group, strength in numbers..." "What of it? Get to the point." He sighed. "Yet you seem to be more worried about yourself than any of us. So you're not worried about group survival, it's survival of yourself with the help. Is that really backing up what you said? Or is it proving you a coward?" She said whilst walking away. Sasha, sitting nearby, looked from Justin to Alexis, and back again.

While glancing back and forth, Sasha caught a glimpse of someone leaving the gates. Curious, she went to investigate. Upon exiting the walled camp, she saw Logan, with quite an amount of stuff, walking down a path away from the camp. "What's that idiot doing...?" She thought as she ran after him. She would've gone undetected, had she not accidentally snapped a twig with her foot while running. Hearing this, Logan shot a stone spearhead in that direction, which landed right between her legs. "You missed." She halted about thirty feet back from him. "I know. I didn't have to." "I believe you. Logan, what's going on? Why are you leaving?" She crept closer. "Ain't it obvious? I'm A lone wolf, Sash. I do as I will on my time. Always have. Sure, Rico's been a help training me to fight 'n all, but I've always lived alone. Besides, I can't let the other guy out. Too dangerous." Logan took a few more steps before he felt Sasha's grip on his left shoulder. "I'm not allowing you to leave, Logan. Even a Lone wolf needs a friend or two." She insisted. "Too bad that ain't your choice, Ms. Blair." He shrugged her hand (or whatever you wanna call it) off. This was followed by Logan finding her now in front of him. "You really wanna stand in my way?" He used his free claw to summon another spearhead. "You're either going back and forgetting I was ever here, I'm knocking you out, or you're coming with." Logan laid the options out. "I'm coming." She said without hesitation. "You sure? I don't advise it." Logan kicked himself mentally. Yes, he regretted giving that option. "They're always saying 'Don't go it alone', 'there's strength in numbers', and such. So why not? Two is better than one." She smirked. The Lycanroc muttered some what sounded like extremely British curse words. "Fine. Tag along. I'm walking, I'll give you 5 minutes to say any last words to them before we depart." Sasha nodded and began writing something in the ground. She then took something from the bag she carried, some oil for burning things. She tossed it up the hill, shattering the glass and causing the oil to spill on the ground and down the hillside. Sasha threw a fireball at the oil blob, lighting it ablaze. "Let's go." She motioned to Logan. "Not a bad idea. Perhaps you got more than you know about locked away in there." Now curious, Logan walked off into the wilds, and for the first time, he accepted a travel companion. "Where to?" Sasha asked with some eagerness and excitement. "Nowhere special." Logan shrugged, smiling slightly. "Always wanted to go there..." Sasha rolled her eyes and returned the smile. This would be quite the adventure.

About an hour later...

"I told you! I can't find Sasha anywhere!" Justin, who was on guard duty that night, was yet again at odds with a less than calm Natalie. "You think I give six shits about what you think? IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!!!" The dragon snarled fiercely. Justin, as brave (well, more like hard-headed) as he was, knew not to mess with her like this. "Whatever. I'll see what I can... Eep!" The last part came as a result of Natalie reaching out and clutching the Grovyle by the throat. "You will tell me how to track them. Tell me, or I rip your little grapevine throat out and use it to make a batch of red wine."

"Hey! I got something!" Evan's voice called. Natalie cast Justin aside, the Grovyle crashing into the camp's barricade, but not breaking it. Cairo sighed. "You guys... we're gonna end up dead if you keep trying to kill each other before actual enemies arrive." Being the local and only real medical expert, she checked on Justin while Natalie found where Evan's voice came from. The Jolteon was accompanied by Kiro. The two were looking at a mysterious fire burning at the bottom of a hill. Natalie swooped down the hill, tracing the source. "Oil fire? No doubt, deliberately set..." She knew fire, of course. She's a Charizard!

"Any clue as to symbolism?" Kiro asked Lexi, who was reading inscriptions at the bottom of a hill. "I can't... that's not any language i've seen, and I know at least four." Kiro knelt by the writing. "It's code. The sisterhood used it when we were secretly stealing food or medicine back in Terra Doma." Lexi admitted. "That explains your lockup." Kiro rolled his eyes. "Fuck off, Blade Boy. We did it to help each other survive when we were hungry or sick, not for personal gain. What was one of ours was all of ours." After she finished, Kiro didn't say anything for a little bit. "What?" She asked after seeing his expression. "Nothing. Just... I admire your motives. Noble, even if against the laws. Doing whatever it takes for collective survival. That'll serve you well. I'm glad you're on our side." He smiled, standing and glancing away from the writings. Lexi gave a faint grin herself. "You're not so bad yourself. But back to the point, what this says is..." Lexi was saying before Natalie landed. "I'm here now, where are they? Did that Rocky Bastard kidnap her? What is it?!" The charizard demanded answers.

"It says..."

Lexi always said "never survive alone". I'm sorry I couldn't warn you, you are like family to me. But I couldn't let him die on his own. Forgive me, but it's what I decided is best for everyone.

-Sasha Blair

"Arceus DAMMIT!" Natalie burst with fury and shot up into the evening sky. "Where'd she go?" Kiro sighed. "Looking for Sash. Those two never have lived separate." Lexi smiled and shook her head. "Well, Time to head back?" Kiro asked, which received a nod in return. "If only we knew what tomorrow holds..." Kiro thought to himself as he paced up the hillside.