The man disengaged the ball's hatch and released his first Pokémon out onto the battlefield. With an enclosed office encased around them, there was nowhere for Red and Yellow to hide.

Onix uncoiled his body, withering it upright to observe the boy below him. The jagged, rocky boulders scrunched together to hold his body in place. Rearing his head forward, Onix breathed a howl of wind that echoed from his mouth. This was similar to Brock's Pokémon, but was different in attitude as Giovanni grinned with uncanny satisfaction for an opportunity to face the boy of a former Police investigator.

"So! I must say I am impressed you got here, son of Ferrari."

Red's eyes narrowed with fervent anger; his teeth clenched with fury after hearing him declare that name. This put him to swift action. Clutching hold of his ball Red tossed it out onto the field. Releasing his secondary catch that he caught on Route twenty-two, Nidorino.

"What a gorgeous Pokémon you got their Red. I didn't expect to see that you would have Pokémon similar in appearance to mine." He smiled with evil intent.

My friend motioned his Pokémon forward with an attack, Giovanni trying his best to be on his guard awaited for the epic clash to begin.

"So, you are engaging in Mega Kick."

This sense of perception from the opponent didn't shock Yellow at all. In fact, he certainly was expecting Giovanni of all people to read Red's movements quickly.

"Red, he has the same powers as me, don't underestimate him!" He warned with hushed tone.

Because of Red's sheer power to override people's ability to perceive his attacks. His cognizance was something to be marveled at. None of Red's opponents could detect his moves and so they would only plan according to Red's absolute silence.

But this battle just got a bit more difficult. Red had to plan for what Giovanni's moves truly were and could see that his Pokémon were about take decisive measures as he schemed with them in the darkness of his mind. This was about to make strategizing for Red more difficult of a prospect, now that there was no way to gauge what move Giovanni would use next.

Nidorino's Mega Kick did land with impressive damage, the impact of his kick leveled the rock monster. Careening his large, rocky head up against the ceiling. Busting a hole through the sheetrock, while broken lights dangled and flickered from being severed from above.

"Impressive! This is the type of move that I would expect from your father." He growled with excitement. "But your offensive is not enough with my defensive moves."

The tall and thin Executive outstretched his arms and allowed for a move to begin.

"Rage." He declared.

A move that would literally put every trainer to shame. This one was going to be much more difficult to sway unless Red could prevent it.

The beast raised his head and maneuvered with swift action toward Nidorino. His head and body jammed the four-legged creature deep below the ground. The beast roared with succession as the hard-tiled floor below them became nothing but a round crater of rock and dirt.

"Damnit, this is not good." Sweated Yellow as he watched Red's intense battle begin with anxiousness.

Nidorino was able to take the hit, doing a little bit of damage to him in the process. Had Red prepared himself for an unpredictable opponent like him he would have used his PokéDex ready to gauge his opponent's moves. However, Red had been manipulated into an improper mistake his first turn and his anger got in the way. For now, he was unsure of what would happen next.

"What does that move do?" Inquired Red to his opponent.

"You aren't aware of how this move works do you?" He mocked. "This move is coming for you the next turn no matter what and it raises my Pokémon's attack stat by one each turn. Which means each blow from my Onix will be another barrel of devastation. The only way you are going to be able to override this is if you have an attack that disables my Pokémon's moveset or if you have a Pokémon that can be evasive each turn." He explained with careful order.

".......... So, if I land a hit on your Pokémon no matter what, your Pokémon's rage would do damage to me?"

"Precisely," He smirked with cockiness.

He didn't consider that Giovanni was able to use such moves to try and whittle him down within several turns. So as the dust started to settle, he tried to think about what his next moves were. They had to be evasive for them to count and the one Pokémon that could break the evasiveness was Pikachu.

The only problem was that Pikachu was a particularly ineffective choice due to his typing.

"What are we going to do with avoiding this attack? He's probably got an even bigger arsenal of attacks from his other Pokémon that we aren't clearly aware of." Affirmed Yellow.

"That and he is able to tell what my moves are right from the start." Gritted Red.

"Be careful, if he can hear the thoughts of Pokémon like I can, he'll have a greater advantage!" Informed Yellow with anxiousness.

The man smirked with confidence once again. He had more control of the battlefield than Red did, and he accomplished that by just reading the room of the opponent.

"I'd listen to Yellow if I were you Red. I was born like him with the gift to hear the voices of all Pokémon. Yet here you stand... You still cannot overpower me, which means, I'm not going to go easy."

"Than that makes two of us." Scowled Red with fervent anger.

The boy's scowl amused him; he looked so much like Ferrari was that it was killing him inside. Chuckling to himself as he took the time to reminisce about his former rival's escapades.

"Foolish boy, your father told me something similar when we bantered. You have pride like him, but I know your weakness."

There was no other option for Red to consider, four Pokémon on his team, Dugtrio, Nidorino, Charizard, and Pikachu. If only there were more of a variety on his team, he'd be able to have the field advantage, but this only aggravated him even more now that he had already made two mistakes on the battlefield. It feels like Giovanni was on a whole other level. Usually, Red was five steps ahead of his opponents, but Giovanni was clearly ten steps ahead of him.

Red pointed toward Giovanni engaging Nidorino in another powerful Mega Kick move that pressured Nidorino in a charge toward him. The creature spun and landed another massive kick on Onix's head thrashing him up toward the wall and crashing against the mahogany desk into two pieces.

Onix shirked from the move like it didn't faze him. Despite its power, it was still a Normal-type attack that would only be able to land enough damage because of its ineffectiveness to Rock-type Pokémon.

The snake, like-beast, slithered quickly toward his opponent and engaged in another Rage. Pummeling Nidorino toward the wall and pushing him toward an unforgiving barrier that only added more damage to his energy.

Unfortunately to the apprehension of both Red and Yellow. Nidorino was exhausted and had a few cuts and bruises along his pink, scaly body. He was drained considerably and now that Onix had the advantage to put him down for a third turn coming up, Red's first Pokémon would be done for.

Horn Attack was not going to do it and neither was Tackle and even if Red were to switch out to another Pokémon he wouldn't want to risk putting the agility of Pikachu at risk. Then there was a thought that hit him.

"Dugtrio."

Dugtrio would be perfect for landing effective Ground-type hits against his Onix, the more Red mulled it over in his head the more he realized that he needed to rethink his strategy. Nidorino was not going to be a proper solution to face down Onix. Rather, it was another powerful Pokémon that he wielded that would turn the tables on Giovanni for good.

"What's the matter, are you worried that I am going to win this? Well, if you had that thought, you were correct in your judgment. You cannot escape my Rage, no matter what you do."

My friend raised his Poké Ball and encouraged the Pokémon to swiftly return his essence from within the device. While he hooked his first throw to his belt for a quick rest. Red tossed out his second form. The same Dugtrio that fought the Grunt's on the hideout floors had finally made his presence known.

The Pokémon rammed up from underneath the tile. Their three oval faces, filled with determination. After Red had granted them the order these three moles dug underneath the ground.

"What?" Grimaced Giovanni.

Onix's Rage had built once more, and he arched his head forward and pounded along the ground. Hoping to at least hit the moles on the surface, but it was like playing a game of Whack 'O Mole, they were never even hit by the attack and yet Onix put everything he could into it.

Suddenly, a rumble started to happen from underneath the tile floor. The Dugtrio punctured underneath the snake with its rough three bodies. Thrashing him aggressively towards the ceiling again but the body itself caused more sheetrock to fall and plummet all around them. Onix had been completely overrun by this Pokémon's most powerful Ground-type move and was unable to battle further.

"Tch looks like I underestimated the type you would have on the field." Seethed Giovanni as he retreated his Pokémon from within his capsule.

"But I have a Pokémon that can help me with lowering that aggressive attack stat you have, Rhyhorn it's your turn."

The man tossed out his ball and as it rolled along the rugged ground shattered by Onix, the ball ignited and revealed a Pokémon that I've never encountered on my adventure.

Rhyhorn stood to be about three feet tall and weighed about two hundred pounds. He was on four legs and had a grey, rocky color to him. The Pokémon had red, almond-shaped eyes and had the look of a hard plated reptile. With one sharp horn on his nose and two extended plates on his back.

"Tail Whip!" Shouted the Executive with guttural enthusiasm.

The beast obeyed his command and stampeded toward Dugtrio. Smacking one of Dugtrio's moles that are connected to its body. The poor mole fell from the injury, exposing their defenses.

".........."

"Now that you have the capability of attacking my Rock-type Pokémon. I'll ensure that you won't penetrate his defenses with your offensive capabilities."

This was going to be short-lived unfortunately for Giovanni. He was too cocky to realize that even if he were to lower Red's defenses, he knew he was stalling for time.

Dugtrio burrowed below the ground and scurried quickly toward Rhyhorn, the Pokémon then quickly shot up underneath Rhyhorn's hide but didn't bounce him high enough for the Pokémon to smash against the ceiling. He crashed down on all fours panting from exhaustion from the terrible damage received.

Red was winning against Giovanni and his stall tactics were clearly not effective against the boy's powerhouse.

"Horn Attack, now!"

The rocky beast raised his horn up and angled it directly toward Dugtrio and charged after him.

The Pokémon burrowed quickly below ground again and suddenly another shaking and rumbling sound were brewing underneath. Just as soon as Rhyhorn had slowed to halt, the rugged ground slowly cracked open.

"Rhyhorn, lookout!"

Red's Dugtrio smashed up from underneath the Pokémon's hide and he somersaulted across the broken tile floor, colliding against the T.V. on the wall as glass danced around his rock-hard body.

"Tch!"

The belligerent Executive retreated his Pokémon, and the man started getting nervous. He was shaking from the strength of this Trainer, and he only had one Pokémon left.

"You are something else, kid. I've never seen tactics being played out like this, I was expecting more type disadvantages and defensive strategies, but you played this game with tact. I was wrong, you are way different from the intellect of your Father. He was talkative, but you... You don't much like talking at all... Why?"

"............."

"Well, speak child!"

"I am not my father and I'll never know what it's like because you took him from me."

"Your father died by sacrificing himself. Do you think this is just a game?... You are in the real-world kid. Sometimes there are things that happen that you can't control."

"I can control this right now." Furrowed Red with righteous anger in his cracked voice.

The boy tossed his ball out and retreated the Dugtrio, while Giovanni tossed out his final Pokémon. This particular Pokémon was not registered on any of our Poké Dex devices and this one packed a wallop. Kangaskhan, a large bipedal dinosaur, seemed to have a small baby in her pouch and a massive brown plated tail. The Pokémon had brown and cream scales and stood to be about seven feet tall. The tallest Pokémon Red had ever encountered yet.

"If you think you can control this situation, show me what you can do against my Kangaskhan." Grinned the Rocket Executive with a low rumbled tone.

Red tossed out his third throw and out appeared his massive, winged lizard. Charizard stood to be the tallest form ever owned by Red in comparison to Giovanni though he was two feet shorter. He bellowed out flames from his long snout and fluttered his wings in preparation for the final showdown.

"Show me!"

The Charizard started to register Red's anger and came down hard toward the Kangaskhan with a massive Slash across. The behemoth avoided the attack, and the sharp claws met the rocky floor and sprayed broken rock like a bullet ricochet in swift reaction.

"Comet Punch!"

Kangaskhan's fist started to ignite with light that engulfed around his limb. She aimed her right hook with a severe punch toward the Charizard's narrow head. Slamming him against the rough rock below, which only caused severe damage to him.

"A beast like that should at least be able to withstand attacks like this. I guess your Charizard is no powerhouse after all." Mocked the Executive with decisive timing.

Charizard still was able to recover from Red's emotion and flew toward him with a massive Mega Punch. The Charizard pummeled the Kangaskhan and he flew up against the wall crashing up against a massive portrait of what could only be described as an artist's interpretation of a Nidoking. With the frame and sheetrock along the wall shattered, the massive lizard recovered but checked on her young one in her pouch to make sure he was alright.

"Bite attack!" Declared the sovereign leader as his Pokémon opened her mouth for an attack on Charizard's shoulder.

The Pokémon avoided the move and Kangaskhan ran against the fifty-inch, plasma screen, causing more damage to it as it desperately clung to the wall.

Charizard was quick to react and grabbed hold of Kangaskhan and breathed an Ember attack straight towards the Pokémon's face. This burned Kangaskhan and she flailed about trying to recover from the awful burns that she received. Scratching her face only made the burns worse, she was hoping it would get rid of the fires that were churning against her skin. However, the fires continued to seethe.

"Comet Punch again, let's knock out this stupid lizard." Declared Giovanni.

Kangaskhan nodded obediently and came swiftly toward the beast. The Leader knew that he was going to try and use Ember again and after that, it would be the end of his Pokémon.

Already running out of options. The Pokémon lifted her right hook again for another powerful cosmic strike but this one utterly missed again and now that she was the last one standing. Charizard came up to her again and Slashed his claws across her face. Knocking the Pokémon back, she barreled toward the last piece of furniture standing in the office of Team Rocket's hideout and shattered the final mahogany chair that Archer was last resting upon. This move that Charizard engaged had finished Giovanni's final Pokémon and Red's victory was assured.

Giovanni was so taken aback by this.

He could not believe what he had just witnessed.

"This cannot be...."

"............"

It was not the first time he lost a match to the Red family and it didn't seem like it would be the last either. The man's shakiness about this match and the adrenaline he felt from this much exhilaration was a bit much on his own body that he started to realize that as soon as he lost. He had to take a deep breath, try and collect the situation, and as soon as the dust settled. Red was still glaring at him with a fit of anger. I cannot express well into words how dangerous he had become after the battle had finished.

His golden eyes pierced his narrow-slanted irises and Giovanni could tell for a moment that he saw his rival in him. Although Red fought with the intent of revenge, those righteous, golden eyes were telling him a different story: Pokémon are not tools, and you have no right to be stealing them from innocent people.

"I see that you raise your Pokémon with the utmost care. However, a child like you would never understand what I hope to achieve."

"And that is?" Inquired Yellow with the same furrowed anger as Red.

"Power, you can only do so much but if you don't have power, strength, and order. Then you will never become as strong as me. Team Rocket will continue to procure rare Pokémon, no, create rare and powerful Pokémon until our strength is bolstered."

"You won't do it a second time, Mewtwo is not your toy." Gritted Yellow.

"I beg to differ, we assisted in his creation. You cannot understand how important that is until you realize it from our perspective. We will never stop growing and our power will never stop until it encircles the entire Earth you pipsqueak."

The man pulled out a fresh cigar from his vest pouch and a lighter to flick the tip end of his cigar to inhale a fresh mint of smoke within his lungs. Giovanni observed Archer and Ariana slowly arose after the previous brawl with both Red and Yellow respectively.

"Get up, we're leaving. These Trainers have squandered our operations."

As soon as Archer rose from the ground, his back started to hurt from the intense impact against the door.

"Owe! R-right away boss." He gasped from the intense pain received at the rear.

Leader Giovanni then walked toward the boy, standing over his small frame with vast judgment written upon his face. The Leader reached into the other pocket of his black, jumpsuit and pulled out a device. This item had two binocular goggles along with the visor. The color of the visor was white with a bit of red trim. It also adorned a yellow, golden logo written in the form of an 'S' across it. Meaning that these goggles were manufactured by someone and based on their ergonomic fit with the velcro bands. It indicated that it could be worn by any individual.

"I shall step aside this time... I hope we meet again, Red."

As soon as the man handed off the device to the young boy, Giovanni and all his lackeys departed toward the elevator. Leaving my friends stunned at his own willingness to accept defeat and to fight another day. This would not be the last time we would collectively face him again. For their strength was only deterred at one location, Giovanni had other plans and it had everything to do with the 'S' that was inscribed outside of it.

My friends were able to free the rest of the Pokémon that were held captive by him at the hideout and they had finally procured Porygon and obtained the Silph Scope.

Now their next adventure is to return to Lavender Town and regroup with me and the rest of the gang to find Lt. Surge. With their connection to Mewtwo, and with little knowledge obtained about their classified MewThree project. There had to be a reason as to why Team Rocket was so protective of this technology all this time.

To be continued...

End Volume 7