1. Ash's Story (Part 0: Prologue)

Chapter 1: A Name Born Twice

The chamber beneath Viridian City had no windows. Giovanni liked it that way. No daylight reached the room, and outsiders could not see who entered. A single lamp lit his desk while Persian rested beside his chair. On the other side, a raven-haired girl knelt on the cold floor and waited for permission to raise her head.

"Aurora," Giovanni said. His voice was calm, but she knew better than to mistake that for kindness. "I have a mission for you."

Aurora Sachi looked up. Her expression remained blank, just as Team Rocket had taught her. Questions could be dangerous around Giovanni, so she waited while the screen behind him flickered to life. A man appeared on it with jet-black hair, crimson clothing, and Z-shaped marks beneath his eyes.

"This is Adam Red Ketchum," Giovanni continued, pressing a button on his desk. "He leads Team Alpha. They have interfered with our operations across Kanto and Johto more times than I care to count. Some of their members possess unusual abilities, and they have connections to Legendary and Mythical Pokémon. I want to know how."

Aurora kept her attention on the screen. "You want him dead."

"Eventually," Giovanni said. Persian's tail moved once beside his chair. "First, you will infiltrate Team Alpha. Find out how they contact those Pokémon. Learn where their bases are, who Adam trusts, and how their organization works. Most importantly, find out what he would risk everything to protect."

Aurora pressed her fingers against her knee. "And after I find it?"

"Then you kill him." Giovanni said it without changing his tone. "Your family was useful to us before it fell apart. You have been useful since we took you in and trained you. I expect that to continue. When the time comes, you will carry out your orders."

Aurora had heard enough about her family to know arguing would get her nowhere. She lowered her head again. "Yes, Boss."

Giovanni leaned back in his chair. The red R on his shirt caught the light. "Adam Ketchum often takes in people who need help. He protects the injured, even when he has reason to be suspicious. Give him someone he will want to save, Aurora. Then make sure he regrets it."

Aurora chose a narrow road near Viridian City where one of Team Alpha's patrols was known to pass. Rain softened the dirt, and the trees blocked the moonlight. A shallow cut on her arm had soaked part of her sleeve with blood. She had darkened the skin beneath her eyes to look exhausted.

She heard voices before lowering herself onto the road. Boots splashed through wet ground. Someone called for a doctor, while another warned she could be bait. Aurora stayed still and kept her breathing light. The blade inside her coat pressed against her side as she listened for Adam Ketchum.

"Give her some room," Adam ordered from nearby. "Johana, check the trees. Vincent, contact the others. I want to know if anyone followed her."

Aurora let her eyes open slightly when someone took her wrist. Adam was checking her pulse. His grip was careful and warmer than she expected. She had prepared herself for suspicion, restraints, or a search. Instead, he treated her like an injured stranger. That made it harder to remember what Giovanni expected from her.

"She's alive," Adam said. "We are taking her back with us. Get Dr. Jekyll ready."

"Adam, we don't know her," a woman said. "She appears on one of our routes after midnight, injured and alone. Team Rocket could have arranged this."

"I know, Johana," Adam replied. "That is why you are checking the area. We are not leaving her here while we figure it out."

No one argued after that. Team Alpha carried Aurora through several hidden paths and eventually into a medical tent. It smelled of clean cloth, medicine, and machine oil. Dr. Jekyll cleaned the cut she had made herself, checked the bruises around her eyes, and examined her for other injuries.