Rico checked his things. He and AJ had taken everything they knew they'd need for survival on their own. Some extra food, ingredients, tools, and of course, the blades their father made. AJ took the daggers, as he was smaller anyways. They kept the weapons hidden from the guards and were allowed into the bay with the existing 138. Anyone detained in the jail was automatically sent for this, so about 90 or so were prisoners that were being sent up with the rest of the selected individuals. However, they all would soon become the same thing; Survivors. After walking around the Loading Bay, Rico was shocked by how many mons he recognized. Some were friends, some rivals. "It's like they sent anyone between 18 and 30. Makes me sick." Rico scoffed, trying to find someone he was familiar with. "Wait here." He commanded AJ, who sat down by a small fire made by some scraps of wood and some pokemon sitting around it. 

The pokemon around the fire were obviously from the jail, as they were talking about crimes and such. "You should've seen the guy. Sliced 'em twenty times before they tranq'd me. He Damn well deserved it." A Scyther laughed, and the others with him. "What's so special about a few cuts?" AJ boldly piped up. "Shut it, brat." The bug pokemon snapped back, but AJ wasn't in the mood to just 'Shut it' because some felon said so. "You could've done what I did. Two kids decided to push me too far at school." He began before an Ursarang interrupted him. "Nobody cares about schoolyard squabbles! Those end in, what, the principal's office? Oh wow, you're' Sooo tough!" They erupted in laughter, but AJ wasn't laughing. "There were two of them. One has two broken arms and a concussion, the other one got ragdolled so hard I think he broke his back. Then seven guards came in the room..." "And tranq'd you, too bad." The rude scyther rolled his eyes and laughed to himself, but everyone else was staring at AJ in disbelief. Things were being passed around, such as "This kid?" "No way, he did what to the guards?" "We could barely take on two guards, let alone seven!" and "Dammit Cletus, I think I damn well near pissed myself." (Don't know where that one came from...) With each and every uneasy stare, AJ's confidence only grew more bold. "Stabbed them in the legs with broken scissors, rammed them face first into the wall, threw them through desks, hit them with chairs... I had a fun day at school." He concluded. The scyther flew over. "You think you can just walk in and show up Jax Raymond? The Sector 9 Slasher?" He brandished his sharp claw, which made AJ draw one of his father's daggers, made to be sturdy yet light weight and with lethal sharpness. "Try me." The other ex-convicts backed up, fearing another explosive fight.

    "You think this is some kind of game?" Reymond growled, circling AJ. "Bitch," AJ grinned. "I AM the game. Wanna play?" Immediately, Reymond rushed him, furiously slashing away. Sadly, He didn't have much strategy to it, making it almost too easy for AJ to Parry or dodge. "You're winding up too much, making your attacks telegraphed as hell." "Is that really as hard as you swing?" "I'm bored, can you start trying yet?" Were all things AJ were goading Reymond with, until the Ursarang pulled Raymond back. "All due respect, Sir, Calm down. He's just an arrogant Brat. He'll get what's coming when the surface comes." The ursaring managed to calm the prison's top dog, who scoffed and turned from AJ. "Next time you cross me, I won't be so merciful." "You mean you'll actually give some effort next time? I look forward to it." AJ smiled, yet with a fire behind his eyes. Jax glanced back, smirking a little. "You got heart, kid. I'll give you that. But heart can't save you on the surface." And with that, the prisoners dispersed.
    
Cairo came across a group of females who had been conversing in the corner. "Any idea what's happening?" She asked, injecting herself in the conversation. The five didn't take too kindly to this at first. Among the five were a Houndoom, a Charizard, an Ampharos, a Raichu, and a Persian. "And who the hell do you think you are? Huh? We're talking here!" The Houndoom growled, causing the lucario to flinch. "We're not here to be your friends. Well, At least I'm not. I'm here so I can survive." The Charizard snarled. "Now, Now, ladies. Let's not be so rude. She's just as confused as the rest." A New female spoke, and immediately the other five glanced at the new voice. The voice belonged to a Female Blaziken, who had seemingly dropped in out of nowhere. She put her hand on Cairo's shoulder. "She's allowed to talk to us. This isn't a clique from high school. We all need to survive. That's obvious. The more, the better. So I say, we stay as a group and we..." But Cairo had snuck off before she had finished. "Damn! Why'd you scare her off like that, Sasha? And Nat, what's with the Loner talk? You joined us willingly!" The two fire types avoided eye contact. "She has a bit of an anger problem." The Charizard, Natalie, pointed out. The houndoom, Sasha, rolled her eyes. "You wanna talk? You're too proud to ask for any help 'n it's gonna getcha killed one day!" The Blaziken stepped in between them. "Girls, stop, or I swear on Arceus, you'll both not last a day!" The Ampharos sighed. "We know you're trying to make things better, Alexis. Things are very stressful right now." There couldn't be a bigger understatement.
    
Meanwhile, Cairo was pushing her way through the other pokemon before she bumped into someone, A Greninja. He wheeled around, about to chew her out, but then he saw her. "Sorry! I'm just... I don't know where I'm going and It's hard to move around and..." Cairo was generally stressed out when she didn't know what was going on. The Greninja said nothing, looking up and down the figure of the Female. "So... you're here alone?" He asked. "Uh... I thought I said that..." Cairo took a step back. "Well you can repay me... And I think a girl like you knows what I want~" Cairo realized what he meant, horrified by his advance. Then, there was a tap on the Greninja's back. "Hey, Mister! I have a question!" The Voice belonged to young AJ. The Frog pokemon turned around, and immediately, he was met by Rico's fist, which hit square in the cheekbone. The Greninja was severely staggered, wobbling back and fourth for a moment before Rico dropped to one knee and struck with an uppercut, forearm connecting with the underside of the Greninja, who shrieked in a high-pitched tone. Rico stood back up. The Greninja was kneeling on the ground, hands in between his legs, bent over. Rico went behind the Greninja and grabbed the back of his neck. "You brought this on yourself." He snarled before throwing the greninja back to the ground. Now on all fours, he was in a very vulnerable spot. Rico took some steps back, then ran forward, and when reaching the target, punt kicked the side of the greninja's head, knocking him out cold. Cairo ran over, hugging Rico. "You're the best!" She says excitedly. Rico grunted and broke from her grip. "Don't mention it." He said in a low tone. "I'm just gonna chill here with you." AJ said to Cairo. "He seems mad, and I don't wanna get Dickpunched and punted like that guy."
    
Soon, the Guards called for the 140 to separate by predetermined groups of 20. Rico, still unhappy, regrouped with AJ and Cairo. "Great. They could put us with the worst of the worst criminals. Or they put us with self-centered bastards." AJ punched Rico lightly. "Don't be such a downer. We got this!" He smiled innocently, which was always a good sight. He was still only 15, so It's good to see his more upbeat, happier side was still in control emotionally. The guards pushed Rico, AJ, and Cairo into one of seven corridors. After a short ride, they arrived in a larger elevator, with about 18 pokemon in there, the 17 from the large group along with a guard. Among them were the Six females Cairo met earlier, Jax Raymond, the Scyther who almost fought AJ. Among the familiar faces were Shane Rosario and his sister Emily, Evan, Logan, Kiro, and Arianna. Including Rico, AJ, and Cairo, that made 16. The remaining four were a Quilava, a Rhydon, a Cinderace, and a Midnight Lycanroc. The guard looked a little more on the younger side. He was a Grovyle that didn't seem quite comfortable being there. "Rico, what now?" AJ asks. "Make conversation. Pass the time. I have to... sort something out." Rico said whilst glancing at Cairo. "Oooooh Okay, Loverboy!" AJ giggled, causing Rico to bark back, "Shut up! Idiot!". Did AJ know Rico secretly had feelings for  that he suppressed in order to not ruin their lifelong friendship? Well, both were just guesses that he happened to be right about. AJ happily trotted away, in an attempt to get to know who was apparently supposed to be the new "Team".