Outskirt Stand.

In other news today, Authorities have vowed to keep up the search for a young man who reportedly attacked an innocent civilian in Phenac city a week ago. Authorities suspect that this trainer was also responsible for a series of attacks on other inexperienced trainers across Orre. More information on this trainer will be released as we find out more. This is Orre Broadcasting signing off...

Zakar watched the TV from his bench with a dismissal glare. Everyone knew that Cipher controlled what people saw on the TV these days and that wasn't likely to change anytime soon. He muttered under his breath as he took a drink from his glass of water and looked across the table at Larvitar and Totodile, the only two friends and Pokemon he could depend on.

"Well guys...since we're not surrounded by Cipher henchmen I guess we managed to lose them after Phenac city. Here's to another day on the run." He muttered as the two Pokemon nodded at him. He had battled it out with a low ranking member of Cipher earlier this week and had barely managed to win, but the henchman had turned out to be a sore loser and had brought his friends with him during their next encounter. He looked out the window at his beat up old bike and sighed.

I can keep fighting them but what good will it do? He thought to himself. The Shadow Pokemon Cipher used were so powerful and had almost no regard for the Pokemon they fought. His Larvitar had almost been beaten to a pulp the first time he had tried fighting a shadow Pokemon and he had barely gotten away. It was only a matter of time before tracked down the remaining trainers who fought against them in his opinion.

What's the point? He thought bitterly.

Blaise had just arrived at the Outskirt Stand. Professor Krane had sent her to deliver a package to the bartender there. She climbed off her motorbike and placed her helmet onto the seat. A tumbleweed rolled by with the wind as she confirmed that the package was still in tact inside of her delivery pouch. After giving herself an affirmative nod, she entered the stand and made her way to the bartender.

"I have a delivery for you once again, Mr. Bartender!" Blaise placed the package onto the counter and exchanged a smile.

I wonder what's in there... She thought to herself as the bartender placed the package back under the counter and thanked her.

"You wanna know what was in there?" He asked as if he read her mind. Blaise looked a bit astonished and then nodded with curiosity. "Well it's just a few premier balls I ordered from Prof. Krane. It's not easy to find these nowadays, but It's even harder to sell them with Cipher around." The bartender let out a sigh as he wiped off a glass.

"Tell me about it," Blaise took a seat on a highchair and leaned on the counter. She frowned at the thought of Cipher, but shook off the negative feelings. "Hey, can I get some water?" She asked politely, realizing how parched she was after the long drive over the desert. The bartender nodded, filled a glass, and slid it to her. Blaise took a sip and exhaled in relief.

"So, Blaise, if you're ever interested in buying some Pokeballs, I'm always doing a buy-ten-get-one-premier-ball-free deal." He tried to advertise.

"Ahaha, about that... I'm kinda broke at the moment." Blaise laughed wryly and scratched the back of her head. "Professor Krane doesn't give me much of an allowance." As she continued to finish her glass of water, she glanced over and noticed a trainer with a Totodile and a Larvitar.

Zakar turned and looked over at a woman who was talking to the bartender and sighed again as he thought back to his first time fighting against Cipher. It had been shortly after an incident at Realgam tower where a trainer rumored to be fighting against Cipher had disappeared after losing a battle against some high ranking member of Cipher, or so they said.

It was after that day that most people agreed that the whole region had gone to hell. For months afterward trainers who fought against or spoke out against Cipher disappeared. The only places that were considered remotely safe were the Outskirt stand he was currently sitting in and Pyrite town which was home to rouges and scoundrels who were tough enough even that even Cipher thought twice to mess with them. As long as the citizens of Pyrite minded their own business Cipher left them alone.

The sound of an engine brought Zakar out of his daze and he turned to look out the window out the stand and saw a beat up old hover-cycle that looked quite a bit like his own grind to a stop outside the stand. But that wasn't what got his attention.

The figure who had gotten off the hover-cycle was massive, If Zakar had to to guess he was probably a full three heads taller than he was but that was all that he could tell. The figure was wearing some sort of cloak that covered most of his body but left his hands which were covered in scars uncovered. Zakar continued to watch the massive figure who seemed to know he was looking at him as he turned to face Zakar's direction and then turned towards the entrance to the Outskirt stand and simply walked up the ramp and into the stand.

The figure didn't look at anyone but the bartender as he walked directly towards him without stopping. The bartender didn't say a word but the figure did.

"Skarmory flies at dawn." The figure said simply.

"And may he never stop flying." The bartender responded. The figure responded by pulling a case out from the inside of his cloak and handing it to the bartender who quickly stored it under the counter.

"Did they see you?" The bartender asked.

"They know what I did. I need to leave soon or they'll come down hard on this place if they find me here." The figure replied. The bartender held out a hand which the figure grasped and shook.

"Be safe old friend." The bartender said quietly as the figure turned and headed towards the door.

Blaise silently watched as the mysterious figure walked in and spoke some unfamiliar phrases to the bartender. She waited quietly while sipping her glass of water and watched the two converse for a moment. After they shook hands goodbye, the figure left the Outskirt Stand. Blaise gulped down some water before speaking.

"So what was that all about? Who was that?" She asked with her never-ending curiosity. The bartender shook it off and gave a smile.

"Don't worry about it, you're still my number one deliverer." He bluntly replied and then went back to wiping off glasses. Blaise pouted a bit but then figured she should allow him his privacy. I didn't mean it that way, but okay... I wonder what they meant about a Skarmory flying at dawn. She thought to herself.

Okani had a rather heavy Bagon in her arms, who was not making it any easier to lug around as trn dragon type really didn't like being the pokeball. "Bagon, quit being stubborn and I'll let put ya down" Okani said as she glared at it. Of course, the relationship between the master and the pokemon was walking the fine line between love and hate. While she adored her pokemon, she also had a hard time getting said pokemon to stop disobeying orders. Arriving at the bar, Bagon in tow and she went directly to a booth to sit. Taking in deep breathes by the second, she would never carry the pokemon again, ever.

"Stay here, got that?" Okani asked the oblivious Bagon. With a sigh, she marched over to the Bartender and asked "may I have the strongest shot you got?" Normally she wouldn't be drinking but after that over exhausting trek, she really didn't care.

"Aren't you a little young to be drinking?" The bartender asked. Okani rolled her eyes and snatched the glass of wine from his hands. Winking at him before turning back to the booth only to find her pokemon missing. She gulped down the wine and ended up spotting Bagon right at the counter, trying to reach something.

Astro struggled to find the perfect angle, his video camera was placed up on a tripod, pointing out at the open desert expanse. His Pokemon had been released from their balls and were assisting in the filming of the very first scene of Astro's exposé on Team Cipher and their agenda. Backing away from the camera, he released a sigh of relief and said, "OK, Grimer, Tyrogue.". Grimer began to spew purple gas from his mouth, making the desert appear infinitely more menacing. Tyrogue held a film clapper in his hands, he clapped it and Astro began.

"Welcome to Orre. a region plagued by a criminal organization known as, Team Cipher. Most likely you're not even aware of the plight of the Orre people because contact with the outside world has been completely cut off. Just getting past the border was an exceptionally difficult task. Join me, Astro Turf, as I expose this organization to the rest of the world. And CUT."

Astro packaged his camera back into his backpack and threw it in the back of the beat-up dune buggy he was using as transport. He signaled to his Pokemon that it was time to leave and they hopped into the back seat. Astro turned the key to no avail. The buggy made a tremendous clinking sound and seemed to sink down into the sand, exhausted. Astro's eyes popped with concern. The rusted vehicle had broken down, leaving him and his Pokemon alone in the desert. "This is a problem." Astro said with discontent.

Zakar looked over at the figure and narrowed his eyes. Something about the man's size was familiar, but he couldn't place it. But all of that was rendered inconsequential a moment later when the sound of multiple engines outside the stand caught his attention.

Hover-cycles. Five of them. And each one of them had two armored goons on them wearing different colored uniforms.

And they were staring directly at the Outskirt stand. Zakar knew who they were immediately.

"Cipher!" He yelled out as he turned to look at his Larvitar who was anxiously watching the group through the window.

"Get ready to use Brick Break." He told the green Pokemon as he watched as the ten Cipher members approached the stand. But they didn't push past the figure, instead they seemed to be interested in him.

"Well..." One of them said. "You've lead us on quite a chase. I guess we should have known you would have survived the destruction of the hideout. How about you tell us where you took the machines and we'll go easy on you."

The figure looked at them and then ripped the cloak off his body to reveal a heavily muscled and scarred chest and a twisted mustache. He was wearing a red over shirt that left his chest bare.

"You Cipher fools may have have destroyed the Hideout, but as long as I live Team Snagem will never be defeated!" The figure yelled out as he pulled two PokeBalls off his belt and threw them into the air. The two balls opened in mid air and a Machamp and an Armaldo appeared in a blaze of red light.

Woah... Zakar thought as he watched the unfolding battle with awe. He had seen the figure before, well, a poster of the figure in Pyrite town. It was a figure that he thought was either long dead or captured, the Cipher broadcasts claimed that he had been captured nearly two years ago.

Gonzap... He thought in amazement. He had heard rumors that he had thought were false that the former Team Snagem was still alive in some form but he hadn't believed them until now.

One of the Cipher members grinned as he pulled off his helmet and tossed two Pokeballs into the air. "Bad move old man." He said as a Metagross and an Alakazam appeared in red flashes of light. "Now we're gonna have to hurt you."

A girl entered the Outskirt Stand, struggling to carry a Bagon. Why doesn't she just put it in it's Pokeball? Blaise thought to herself and shrugged. Suddenly she noticed the Bagon appear next to her and try to reach the counter. Blaise tilted her in confusion and understood that it's stubby paws were aiming for her glass of water. She giggled and placed the glass on the floor in front of it. The Bagon seemed content and began sipping some water.

"Cipher!" The boy from earlier looked out the window and yelled. Blaise immediately spun her head toward the outside and saw the scene unfold. While overhearing the conversation, she came to a realization that the tall figure who has just left was the leader of Team Snagem. Whatever is left of it at least... The unrest would not calm in her heart and the adrenaline began to flow. As soon as one of the Cipher members sent out a Metagross and Alakazam, Blaise leaped off her seat and dashed outside.

"HOLD IT!" Blaise yelled as she sent out her Cyndaquil and Dratini. Her sudden appearance startled the Cipher members, and without giving them a chance to respond, she commander her attacks.. "Cyndaquil! Use Flame Wheel on that Metagross!" She ordered and then turned to Dratini. "And you use Shock Wave on Alakazam!" Cyndaquil instantaneously spun toward Metagross in a fiery ball and Dratini launched a shock wave at Alakazam.

The Cipher member was caught off guard for a moment but as his Alakazam and Metragross were attacked he turned towards the others and motioned at Gonzap. "Get him you idiots! And make sure to get the machines back in one piece or we're in trouble!"

He turned back to his two Pokemon and began issuing orders as the Metagross apparently managed to shrug off the flame wheel attack while the Alakazam winced as the Shock Wave hit it. The remaining Cipher members began to surround Gonzap and his two Pokemon.

Metragross! Use Shadow Wave on those two rodents!" The Cipher man ordered and a wave of energy shot out from the giant blue Pokemon and slammed into the two. "Alakazam! Use Psybeam! On the trainer!" The cipher man said with a laugh.

"You really don't think you stand a chance against my Shadow Metagross do you?!" The Cipher man laughed only to have his smile turn to a frown as Gonzap called out to his Machamp. "Machamp! Use Cross Chop on the Metagross!" He shouted as he looked at his other Pokemon. "Armaldo! intercept!" He roared as the Pokemon's claw shot out and intercepted the Psybeam attack before it could hit the trainer but it looked as if that attack had drained the Pokemon of most of it's strength.

Zakar watched with wide eyes and he looked at the bartender who was also watching the battle.

"What should I do?!" He shouted at the bartender. The bartender shook his head. "There's nothing we can do. There's too many of them out there to fight. Best we just let them think Gonzap has the snag ma-..." The bartender put his hand over his mouth in horror as he realized what he had just let slip.

Zakar slowly turned to look at him. "It's snag machines. That's what was in the case wasn't it?" He said quietly as he continued to watch as Gonzap's Pokemon and the unidentified Trainer's continued to take a beating.

Zakar ran over to the bartender followed by his two Pokemon. "Please," He begged. "I can help them. I don't know what you had planned for those machines but right now we can use them to stop them here!"

The Bartender looked out the window and he closed his eyes for a moment as he heard the sound of the Machamp letting out a shout of pain. It was at that moment that he seemed to come to a decision. "Take it. But it's up to him if you get to keep it." The bartender said quietly as he reached into the case as handed him the machine and helped him strap it to his shoulder.

"Go." The bartender said quietly as the player ran out the door.

Larvitar! Brick break on the Metagross. Totodile, use scratch on the Alakazam!" He shouted as he ran outside and the two Pokemon jumped into action.

Okani blinked, everything seemed to be happening in slow motion as a group of people came rushing in and yelling demands, wow. Wow, this wine is strong stuff.[/] She was starting to feel the effects of the drink, she felt like everything was spinning around her and still her little sadistic Bagon was... Sipping water? [i] Whoa, this really is strong stuff... Slowly making her way over to Bagon, nearly tripping every three or four steps.

"Baggoon, hooowwww is thhhheee wattteerr?" Okani slurred and dropped down next to him with a lofty look on her face. There was more demands being made, it would seem that all these people were too demanding. With a huff, she forced herself to get up and immediately regretted it as a wave of dizziness hit her. Grabbing hold of the counter and keeping herself upright, she looked around as it would seem there was a pokemon battle going on. No one invited her and she felt the need to kick some butt with her drunken and difficult pokemon.

Grabbing her fire types pokeball she tossed it up in the air and grinned as the adorable fire type appeared, before Charmander came running over to her and sat on her foot. "Owwwww!" Okani growled as she picked up the Charmander and put it next to Bagon. She marched and limped herself outside as her two loyal pokemon followed her, she could see everything that was happening now. "Bagooon! Use Headbutt on the Alakazam! Charrrmannderr! Use Ember on the Metagross!" Okani yelled to them, thank god that they decided to actually listen now.

Blake walked down the road houndoom and gengar by his side. "Lets try and see if we cant find a place to stay for the night." He said putting gengar in a ultraball with a blue flame ball cap seal on it. he and houndoom walked around looking for a place to sleep. the houndoom alerted Blake to the commotion he watched the battle a hand on his gengars pokeball. "maybe we should leaned a hand shadow." He said looking at his Houndoom. "Hound hound." It said nodding agreeing. "Shadow use shadow ball then follow by flame blast." Blake simply pointing to the alakazam. He held the Gengar pokeball now incase shadow would need some help.

As the Metagross used Shadow wave, Blaise knew for sure it was a Shadow Pokemon. Cyndaquil withstood the attack and maintained his battle stance, but Dratini was knocked back several feet. "Tch!" She clicked her tongue and braced herself for the psybeam. The leader of Team Snagem's Armaldo intercepted the attack but seemed to have been drained of it's energy. Before commanding again, the girl with the Bagon from earlier wobbly limped outside and joined the battle. Is she okay...?" Blaise thought to herself, taking her mind off the battle for one second before returning.

"Cyndaquil, use dig! Dratini! Try to confuse the Alakazam with water pulse!" She ordered and continued to observe as the other Pokemon who joined the battle also attacked. More and more people were joining the battle. Suddenly her eyes were caught on a machine attached to the arm of the boy from earlier in the Outskirt Stand. "A snag machine...?"

Blake tired of waiting for shadow to need help threw his pokeball. "Gengar use hypnosis then use dream eater." he said pointing to metagross. Shadow started to run around in circles waiting for another demand. "Shadow use shadow pulse between the two of them." He yelled from the corner. Gengar used hyipnosis on the metagross but waited for shadow to get in place and use shadow pulse before using dream eater. "That's good team work you two." He called encouragingly. shadow was then hit with a metor mash and gengar with a psybeam.

"NO!" The man from Cipher shouted out in desperation as the Alakazam and Metagross finally went down after taking the numerous attacks from the gathered Pokemon. He turned to look at the men who were supposed to be taking down Gonzap only to see the former head of Team Snagem knocking two of the goon's heads together with the rest of them on the floor in a heap but Gonzap looked as if he had taken quite a beating and could just barely stand. He turned to look at Zakar and his eyes widened in fear for a moment as he saw what was on the young man's shoulder.

"No...Where did you get that?!" He shouted out in fear as Zakar grabbed one of his two empty Pokeballs and inserted it into the machine. The ball seemed to glow for a moment as the machine made an odd noise and a dark ring seemed to surround the ball as it was launched through the air towards the Metagross

The Cipher peon reached for a Pokeball and tried to recall the Metagross only to have the altered Pokeball reach the giant blue Pokemon first. The Metagross was enveloped in a red burst of light and the ball closed, seemed to shake a few times and stopped moving.

Did I just capture a Shadow Pokemon? Zakar thought in amazement as the one remaining Cipher Peon began to run towards his Hover-cycle leaving the Alakazam out cold on the ground.

The houndoom sits the gengar jumping on his back as I walk from the shadow with two berries. "Here you go you two did I great job." He said calling gengar back into it's ultra ball. the houndoom followed me as I walked toward the other Pokémon the houndoom growled at nearly everyone of them. "Shadow it's fine, were safe now." he said petting his head. "Who were they." He called "Does anybody know?" he called out again. "Anyone?" he yelled one last time

The houndoom sits the gengar jumping on his back as I walk from the shadow with two berries. "Here you go you two did I great job." He said calling gengar back into it's ultra ball. the houndoom followed me as I walked toward the other Pokémon the houndoom growled at nearly everyone of them. "Shadow it's fine, were safe now." he said petting his head. "Who were they." He called "Does anybody know?" he called out again. "Anyone?" he yelled one last time

Blaise sighed in relief when the Cipher members were all down. They had seemed to have won. She felt goosebumps all over her from watching the snag machine being used to capture the Metagross. The man with the Houndoom then questioned anyone if they knew who these people were. Blaise blinked a few times in amazement. He doesn't know who they are? Is he serious? He must not be from around here then... Then right at that moment, Blaise noticed that the Cipher goon that was commanding Metagross and Alakazam earlier was currently trying to sneak away on a hover bike.

"Dratini stop him from escaping!" Blaise ordered in haste. Dratini flung herself toward the goon and restrained him by wrapping herself around his legs. The goon face-planted hard into the ground.

The Cipher man tried to run as fast as he could but before he could get more than a foot away the Dratini wrapped itself around his legs. He let out a curse as he hit the ground with a thud.

Zakar grinned at the Dratini's trainer before looking back over at Gonzap and the Cipher members who had been knocked out by Gonzap. The former Snagem head was trying to get back to his feet but he was staring at Zakar with something that he hadn't expected to see on the man's face.

Apprehension. And Fear.

"Go ahead. Steal the snag machine." He muttered as Zakar approached him. "But when your running around stealing Pokemon from their trainers remember that we'll never stop looking for you until we get it back."

Zakar shook his head. "I think you misunderstand." He said quietly as he pulled the snag machine off his shoulder and handed it to the badly wounded Gonzap along with the PokeBall containing the Metagross. "I believe these belong to you. I'm not with Cipher and I don't plan to be anytime soon."

He looked at the other trainers. "I think introductions are in order. My name is Zakar, and I'm currently on the run from Cipher. He pointed at the Larvitar and Totodile. "And these two are my Pokemon. Rescued them a few months ago when Cipher tried to steal them away from a trainer. He ran off after the battle and left them alone so I took them in."

He turned to look at Gonzap. "And I think we all know who you are although I'm not sure how your still alive. I thought Team Snagem was disbanded and wiped out years ago." Zakar asked. He didn't want to upset the much bigger Gonzap but they had just helped him out against Cipher so maybe he would answer a few questions.