[PLOT] Necessary End

[TRHQ Agent]

((This is a limited ORP: Because it covers a major metaplot event, we're opening it to player participation, but due to the nature of it, unfortunately there will not be much for your characters to do. Starting around noon EST tomorrow, December 4th, the ORP will progress at a pace of one post roughly every two hours. It will then remain open to posting until midnight EST, at which point the RP will close.

You may play as many characters as you wish as long as they are qualified to attend. Rocket characters can attend if they are grunts with 6+ months of RP activity or if they are agents. For trainers, the League sent out a general notice requesting able-bodied volunteers who are confident in their ability to fight and who are willing to confront possible danger. Characters on both sides are attending to provide support in the event a fight breaks out - however, there will be no combat in this ORP. If you suspect your character might instigate a battle, please refrain from involving them. This is not a battle RP; it's essentially a solo that's being opened for other characters to witness and observe firsthand.

If you plan to involve your Rocket character, you should be aware that the League will take note of their appearance to add to their database of confirmed Rockets. This won't necessarily lead to anything, but it might make RP in high-traffic areas such as Camphoreon more difficult. If the idea is unappealing to you, you may wish to reconsider sending them.

Neither the Rocket nor trainer volunteers have had the details of the situation fully explained; all they know is that they are overseeing the completion of negotiations between the two parties.))  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxWhile the League had no actual, concrete evidence as to why Team Rocket hadn't infiltrated or broken into the area that held the captive Rockets, the popular theory was that they were too disorganized after being scattered three months prior. Whatever the real reason, the Pokemon League didn't question it too much and instead counted their blessings that they could keep their potential sources of information as well as their bargaining pieces. Despite the increased number of prisoners and the amount of time they all had been there steadily increasing with every passing day, there was still only one that had spoken - the young woman that had leaked the location of the base - but even then, she hadn't divulged anything beyond that regardless of how much coaxing or encouraging either the League or the police had done.

xxxNegotiations had been underway even before the attack on Team Rocket's base, but those had been largely insincere on the League's side. They were still insincere for a time afterwards, due largely in part to the fact they considered themselves to have quite an advantage over Team Rocket now: A much larger number of captives as well as having driven them out of what was presumably their main base of operations, given its massive size. Team Rocket was therefore expected to give in to the League's demands with little resistance. What the League hadn't anticipated, however, was that their foe had every intention of retrieving all of their missing operatives no matter what. The League continued its attempts to prolong the negotiations as long as possible to push Team Rocket to give in, but their efforts were to no avail. Quite the contrary - for every push from the League, Team Rocket pushed back twice as hard with threats of violence against Lance as well as the population in general. The League had a duty to the defense of Kodo and its residents, but Team Rocket had no such obligations and therefore had no such morality blocking their half of the negotiations - especially with their one and only captive on the line.

xxxThe Pokemon League's strategy eventually backfired, leading them to finally acquiesce to Team Rocket's demands. The deal they agreed upon was thus: In exchange for the return of the Champion of Kanto, Lance, the Pokémon League would return all twenty-one of the Rocket captives as well as terminate its presence in Kodo entirely, taking with it any and every influence within the region. They had to leave completely and utterly, rendering the region of Kodo without support to its trainers from the League. The terms of the deal were extreme and were wholly undesirable for the League - but the life of Lance hung in the balance, and whether he would live or die depended on whether or not they accepted the deal. Most of them also had no desire to hand over their single informant to Team Rocket - especially after offering her protection from them - but the organization simply would not accept anything less than every last one of their missing operatives. Care had been taken when discussing the unfortunate terms of the deal with her, as well as ensuring her their intentions remained the same; if she could escape and return to the League at her earliest opportunity, they would give her the amnesty and the safe passage to Almia they had previously offered her. They also had no intentions of really completely leaving the region - after all, Team Rocket hadn't specifically stated that the League couldn't dissolve in Kodo and reform as some other organization under a different name.

xxxJust because the Pokemon League was fully expected to be an open and honest organization didn't mean they couldn't take advantage of loopholes.  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxFive Grunts hadn't been that many. None of them had been very important or memorable, and only one of them was of any concern and that was solely due to his insubordination and questionable behavior, and nothing else. Of course Team Rocket wanted them back - but given the various factors, it wasn't as big a concern. The Pokemon League and the police were too good, too concerned with morals to do anything beyond question the captured Rockets, everyone knew. There was no question about it that all of their methods would be strictly by the book and completely humane - no torture of any kind except maybe excessive frowning and obvious displeasure. None of the Rockets had to worry about being abused or battered to pressure them to speak, they wouldn't need to worry about physical or emotional trauma due to torturous methods. It was so unlike the time before when Galactic had captured a number of Rockets - then a few Agents as well as an Elite, and an Executive which turned out to be the boss's brother, of all people - so incredibly unlike the time before that it wasn't even comparable. It wasn't as alarming, it wasn't as concerning, it wasn't an organization-wide emergency as that had been. It was still important, of course, especially in regards to security, but it still wasn't comparable.

xxxThat was their big mistake.

xxxThey had been negotiating with the League off and on while debating whether to infiltrate and steal all their operatives back, or to simply terminate all five of them - there were pros and cons as well as supporters of each option - but unbeknownst to Team Rocket, one of their five missing agents had leaked sensitive information and practically lead the League right to their doorstep. The hasty evacuation and subsequent explosion to rid the base of most of the larger equipment they couldn't take with them had left them scattered and briefly disorganized. When the dust cleared, they were down another sixteen people of varying ranks - including a handful of Agents as well as an Elite - and it also left their second option out of the question entirely. There was no way they would exterminate so many of their own, especially those of higher ranks. It also left the first option rather questionable at best - even though the location was known, it was inevitably deemed too risky to try to pull off a rescue attempt in their current disorganized state. A third option, however, opened up - rather than spread their already scattered forces even thinner to try such a risky endeavor with no guarantee of success - honestly with lowered chances of success, given the sheer number of operatives that were in need of rescue - they could focus their current forces on rebuilding while they negotiated with the League to simply hand the twenty-one Rockets over. It meant they would have to wait longer to get them back, yes, but it also meant they were guaranteed to get all of them - unlike a rescue mission which had no such guarantees of success, and with the added risk of losing even more agents in the process.

xxxNegotiations, therefore, were renewed with vigor - and threats - and while Team Rocket expected the League to give in rather quickly, it soon became obvious that their foe was playing a waiting game. Such games were games for two players, though, and the Pokémon League should've learned long ago that Team Rocket never played fair. They beat the League at their own game, finally - it took an almost frustratingly long time, much longer than they had anticipated - but regardless, they won, and the League gave in to their demands. Various plans went into place immediately and certain orders carried out as soon as possible. Lance's current state had to be altered - they couldn't let him go around spewing all of their secrets unhindered to the League, after all - as well as they had to remove expensive and important chip in his head. A few small, specific teams had to be assembled, and a mass announcement sent to all Rockets (minus the 'dexes belonging to the captured Rockets, of course; couldn't have the League receiving anything important, after all) that indicated the League had caved quite completely under Team Rocket's pressure, and their missing agents would be back within a few days' time at most - or else the Pokemon League would have a hefty price to pay, and it would cost them dearly.  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxBeforehand, each side had explained the existence of the deal to each of its own in attendance, as well as made it quite clear that there was to be absolutely no fighting or battling except as a last resort, as retaliation against their opponents. Each side also made sure to enlighten its own on other certain conditions or necessary information before departing.

xxxSo it was that both the Pokemon League and Team Rocket sent a number of their own - made up of those who were required to go and those who had volunteered - to a predetermined location northwest of Camphoreon, near the beginning of the desert, to ensure that the other side upheld their end of the deal. Pokemon League representatives arrived first, given the location's close proximity to Camphoreon, and so had time to unload all of their captives and begin lining them up in preparation for the exchange. The far-off sound of chopper blades punctuated the silence, increasing in volume as the vehicle drew ever nearer, until a large black, nondescript helicopter landed nearby. Its blade eventually slowed to a halt as the engine was shut off, and when the sizable door opened on one side, it revealed a number of Rockets in uniform. They began filtering out into lines opposite the League; two Agents remained with their sole prisoner at all times - one on each side of him - to give the impression such security was necessary. To add to their deception, the small group remained behind the front line of Rockets to prevent the League from getting a good look at its Champion just yet.

xxxAs both sides shuffled around and finished their preparations, they each had their own individual, quiet conversations amongst themselves, or in the League's case, to their numerous prisoners. Alder had moved to assist with their captives, while Petra remained near the front of their side, to keep an eye on their opponents - Claire was doing the same. Most everyone appeared tense to varying degrees; the Rocket prisoners all had differing expressions, and while most were relieved to a certain degree, others seemed worried, curious, or possibly even disappointed.  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxOnce both sides had finished organizing themselves and ceased moving - the League took longer to do so, given their high number of prisoners - each stood facing the other, staring each other down for a good minute or two before anyone spoke. Alder broke the silence first, as he took a step forward, his hands folded behind his back. "I presume you know the full terms of our deal," he began, his voice loud enough to be heard quite easily by all those present, "but let's repeat them one last time, just to make sure." Once he received nods from a couple of the Rockets across from him, the redheaded man continued, "You will return the champion Lance to us - whom you captured in the line of duty almost three years ago - alive, along with all of his pokemon. In exchange, we will return to you all twenty one of the Rocket prisoners and their pokemon."

xxx"And," one elite of the group stepped forward - Claire - to add to the former champion's statements. Curiously, no executives were present in the number of representatives from Team Rocket. "The Pokemon League will leave Kodo entirely and permanently. You will relinquish your hold on this region and remove any and all hints of your presence."

xxxA few of the League members shuffled a bit uncomfortably, and Alder heaved a heavy sigh before finally nodding his head, "Yes."  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxWith their terms reaffirmed and still agreed upon, Claire nodded her head once. "Good. In that case, let's begin: Pokemon and keys first." Upon receiving a nod from the other side, two Rockets stepped forward - one carrying a small box, the other a single key - while several League members stepped forward carrying two large boxes and one key. The two with keys each approached a handcuffed prisoner - one of the girl Rockets was chosen, while Team Rocket only had one prisoner for theirs - and each demonstrated that the keys did, in fact, successfully unlock the handcuffs to prove they were giving their opponent the correct key to free their comrades once the trade ended.

xxxWith that accomplished, the handcuffs were relocked on each prisoner and the demonstrators stepped back to join those with the boxes, and the two small groups then walked forward to meet in the middle. The keys were exchanged quite easily, but the boxes of pokeballs presented some difficulty given their different sizes. Once exchanged, each box was opened to display the various pokeballs contained therein, and a small handheld device was produced from one person per group to verify the pokemon held within the spheres. While the process went quickly and smoothly for the League who now held the box containing Lance's team, it didn't go nearly as quickly for Team Rocket and their two boxes containing the teams of twenty one different Rockets. Eventually, though, they finished, and both groups returned to their respective sides; the small Rocket group continued past their side and entered the large helicopter to deposit their boxes.

xxx"Prisoners next," Alder announced, his hands still folded behind him as he stood near Petra across from the Rockets. Two more League members moved, this time heading to the line of their imprisoned Rockets, and separated them into two roughly equal lines. The prisoners were escorted to the front of the League's side, with the two lines separated by a large gap between them where the League escorts stood. Once Lance was escorted to the front of the Rocket's side, each side's escorts guided their respective prisoner(s) to the middle of both groups to trade them.  

[BlackPidgeot]

Escorted to the front, a man with flaming red hair would finally be within sight of the League. Though it was Lance, there was certainly something off about him.

Besides wearing a trainee uniform and looking noticeably paler and thinner, his expression also was strange.

In silence he looked around in confusion. An uncharacteristic amount of fear also showing in his golden eyes. The spark of confidence was gone and then some.  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxAs the prisoners from both sides met in the middle, the escorts on each side switched and gestured to their own, gently (or not so gently in some cases on Team Rocket's side) pulling them on to continue and finish the trade. It appeared that Team Rocket expected at least one or two of their comrades to be averse to rejoining the organization, as the escorts followed them and ensured all of them were present and accounted for - and would stay that way.

xxxThe League escorts who now flanked Lance remained stopped in the middle, obviously confused and concerned about his frightened demeanor and pale appearance. Almost three full years in Rocket captivity had certainly not been kind to the man. "Lance, sir," one of them said, addressing the champion in a gentle voice, "are you alright?"  

[BlackPidgeot]

Lance, or what was left of him, just looked around dumbfoundedly. Not even responding to his name when spoken to.

He said nothing, looking he wanted to run, but not exactly knowing where to go. Even the way he walked was shakey.

He made a small sound that sounded like worried whine, his hands fidgeting with the uncomfortable restraints.  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxSomething was definitely wrong, and the same young man that had addressed him previously tried once more, this time waving a hand in front of the champion's face to see if that would have anymore of an effect, "Lance...?"

xxxThe other escort, while the first was busy, turned abruptly to address the Rockets accusingly, "What have you done to him?"  

[BlackPidgeot]

The hand in his face was not received well and there was a snap of teeth as Lance tried to bite it in his fear.  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxx"I don't know what you mean," Claire said as the first escort hastily pulled his hand away to avoid having it bitten, and the second escort leveled her with a vicious glare. "You wanted Lance back - there he is." Behind her, the handcuffed Rockets were being hastily guided into the helicopter's interior with quiet words and assurances of removing the handcuffs once they were all inside.

xxxThe various League members held varying expressions ranging from shock to confusion to outright anger, though most remained in a stunned silence regardless of their countenance. "This--" The second escort started to say, though her words were halting as she practically sputtered, "this isn't at all what we agreed to!"

xxx"Oh yes, it is," the elite replied coolly, appearing unperturbed by the reactions of the various members of the League. "You wanted him back alive, and you have him back alive. You didn't specify anything else about him."

xxx"Yes, but this?" Alder added, taking over speaking for the escort who remained with her comrade by Lance's side, as the pair briefly fretted and debated over what to do with him and how to handle him. By all appearances, he didn't seem to understand anything and only responded with fear and by lashing out.

xxx"You asked for Lance back alive, and you got him back alive. You received exactly what you asked for," she reiterated, shifting her weight onto her other foot. "Are you telling me this isn't what you wanted?"

xxx"No, of course it isn't!" The young woman shouted once more, giving no time for Alder or Petra to respond. "What the hell makes you think this is what we wanted? What did you do to him?! It's like he's not even Lance anymore!" She finished, gesturing to the aforementioned redhead as if to give more evidence to her claims.

xxx"Then I suppose neither of us has any use for him." That said, Claire raised a hand and signaled to a nearby elite. The indicated Rocket swiftly raised a gun pulled from the holster at his belt, aimed it at Lance, and fired.  

[BlackPidgeot]

As the shot rang out time seemed to slow. The confused man feeling the impact go deep into his chest. The force knocking him back and to the ground. That was where he remained, staring at the sky with wide eyes and gasping like a fish out of water. Blood quickly soaking the front of the shirt he was wearing.  

[Blood_Goddess]

It went without saying that Faleen would be quick to volunteer when the elites called for Rockets to join them on the exchange. For nothing more then to ensure the return of her partner, she felt she should be there when Izaya was brought back.
And perhaps, a last empty send off to the red haired man who had been the source of much great hate in her life.

Being able and tasked with piloting the helicopter for the team was a nice little bonus.

A dark blond agent, dressed in a pristine white agents uniform made sure not to wander far from the pilots seat as they set down, watching from the window as her team mates filed out, and began the exchange with the League and their trainers all files about on the other side of her own team, before them, each one of their stolen comrades, soon to be returned after months of being away, her eyes instantly spotted Izaya, who seemed to be under no hard, like the others. No surprise there though. The League was soft.

She could hear the muffled exchanges, though rarely caught the words from the League, that was until they started yelling at the realization as to the state their precious champion was in.
She might have smiled at her handy work, but she just watched on with a quiet expression.

More muffled discussion was broken suddenly by the shot of a gun, a sound quite unmistakable to the Agent. It took Faleen by surprise, so much so that she nearly jumped out of her seat, a hand already at the strap holding her pokemon at her thigh, but a quick check told her that the shot came from their side, and that the target, had been Lance.  

[TRHQ Agent]

xxxThe sharp report of the gun seemed to startle everyone on both sides into a brief pause, eliciting a plethora of gasps, screams and startled stares. Yes, everyone was surprised, save for the elites on the Rocket side, who all appeared to have been ready for it to come to this. They reacted immediately, moving to quickly push the remainder of their freed brethren into the helicopter's interior so they could depart as soon as possible, though Claire merely took a few steps backwards so she could continue facing the League to watch them.

xxxThe League didn't remain stunned for long. Petra reacted first, releasing her Dragonite and rushing to Lance's side to offer any help she could with her knowledge of first aid. With her focusing on the injured man, Alder called out two of his own pokemon as he heard someone behind him cry out for someone else to call for help. Pokemon began appearing near him as more people sent them out, but the sudden increase in firearms pointed at them - both from the same Rocket who had shot Lance, from Claire, and from a couple of the other elites - made the League members pause and reconsider their actions.

xxxBy now all the captured Rockets had been safely ushered into the helicopter and seated in the back of it, so the various elites quickly began filtering in next, and one of them called to the pilot to start the engine. Claire moved to follow them as one of them let out a trio of Zoroark, who hastily entered the vehicle as well. Various League members began sending out flying types in advance, given the aircraft the Rockets currently occupied. "Don't make us shoot anyone else," Claire called out to Team Rocket's foes, her gun still aimed at them as she and the last of their comrades entered the helicopter and the ramp pulled itself in, folding in on itself for storage during the flight. That said, the elite turned to Faleen, "Take us up."