No Cheating

“Only use your Pokemon to fight, and never attack opponents directly.” That was the first thing the admins told every Team Rocket grunt as soon as they signed on to the organization. Why exactly this was a rule at all, much less the most important one, was a mystery, but the stern, steely demeanor it was always said with allowed for no argument.

However, no amount of intimidation could stop rumors from spreading. Some said that it was to avoid getting blood on your uniform. Others said it was to make the Team seem like less of a threat. Boris didn’t believe any of it.

“I’m tellin’ ya, the Boss has gone soft,” he ranted, slamming his fist into the mess table. His partner, Liss, winced at the sound of plates rattling. “Team Rocket was feared back in my day. They weren’t afraid of hurtin’ people.”

Liss sighed. She’d heard this tirade time after time, and no matter how many times she told him that Team Rocket just seemed less scary to a hardened criminal than a kid, he kept saying the same thing- apparently he’d heard once that his friend’s uncle’s coworker had been killed by a grunt. She knew better than to say anything at this point.

It was just as Boris was about to continue that an alarm blared, accompanied by flashing red lights. “Intruder in the Southern Building. All units, to your stations. This is not a drill,” said the voice on the intercom. “I repeat, intruder in the Southern Building. All units…”

Liss tuned it out as she and Boris sprinted down the hallway to get to their designated location. Boris was still mumbling something or other. Crotchety old man.

When they got there, Liss almost missed the intruder at first. It was Boris who saw her first.

“Seriously? They send all of us after some kid?”

A girl with pigtails, probably about twelve, walked through the halls. She looked straight ahead at all times, her expression calm as could be. Empty, almost. Liss raised her eyebrow. She’d be the first to battle the girl, but she was fairly confident she’d be able to take her down.

When the girl turned to face her, Liss sent out her Raticate. The girl sent out a Croconaw. “Hyper Fang!”

Croconaw sidestepped a moment too late. Raticate’s teeth sunk into its side, and Liss smirked. Her satisfaction was short-lived, however.

The girl didn’t seem fazed at all, and Croconaw looked more annoyed than hurt. She whistled and clapped, signaling something, and Croconaw slammed Raticate into the floor with a crushing Aqua Tail.

Liss grit her teeth as her Pokemon stood, injured. She wouldn’t have sent Raticate into such a vulnerable position if she’d known how little damage Hyper Fang would do. “Focus Energy!” A critical hit might get her out of this situation.

Without another word said by the girl- just a series of claps- Croconaw charged forwards, mist trailing from its mouth. The Ice Fang landed before Raticate had a chance to do anything else. The furry Pokemon toppled over, crying out weakly before Liss returned it to its Poke Ball.

“Golbat, go! Use Air Slash!” As soon as it was sent out, Golbat whipped up a stream of air and deftly shot it at Croconaw.

Croconaw seemed to be hurt more than it was by Hyper Fang- it stumbled back a few steps, and its breathing looked heavy. Still, the girl’s face remained neutral. Croconaw’s Ice Fang missed Golbat by a hair, and Golbat was able to hit it with Wing Attack.

Still, Croconaw stood, and a critical hit from Ice Fang knocked out Golbat in one hit.

Liss recalled her Pokemon, assuming the girl would go on. Instead, she held out her hand as if expecting Liss to give her something.

“What do you want?” Liss’s tone was flat, more like a statement than a question. The girl took a coin from her pocket with her other hand, gesturing more forcefully with the one that was already out.

“Fine!” Liss hissed, handing the girl a bit of change.

Without so much as a smile, the girl put her prize money away and continued.

Boris was next. “You can’t just disrespect Team Rocket like that! I’m gonna crush you!” he shouted.

The girl ended up crushing him with her Jumpluff. Once again, she held out her hand for prize money.

“Why you…” Boris fumed. “You go ‘round, humiliating me and my partner, and now you expect me to give you money?”

The girl nodded, impassive as ever.

Boris pulled back his fist with a roar. He threw the punch-

For a split second, Liss saw into the fourth dimension-

And now Boris was screaming, steam rising from his eye sockets, his punch stopped cold in midair. Something jittered just under his skin. He collapsed after an agonizing moment, dead before he hit the floor.

In two voices, the girl spoke.

“No cheating."