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The New Normal - 6-4 - Interlude - Proton
🕑 Added 2023-11-01 12:53:19 +0000 UTCThe New Normal – 6-4 – Interlude – Proton
“Why are we running away?! What have we been training for if not to stand and fight?!” Proton shouted frustratedly at his boss, who was busy rushing around and directing orders to remove all of the evidence around their base.
It was a few days after their successful attack at Devon, and a day after their less-than-successful attempt to retrieve the two Orbs. However, the silver lining was that the specially made hidden scanners that they had discretely planted on the grunts’ uniforms were able to collect whatever data was so important to his bosses.
And we got the Porygon research, whatever the fuck they thought it was so useful he couldn’t understand. The eggheads were up to their usual shit as usual, and Proton didn’t have enough fucking patience to listen to their endless droning.
But now, for some dumb reason, Team Magma and Team Aqua seem to have both agreed to start moving away their operations as soon as they realized that their operation had failed, and that retaliatory strikes were likely underway. Already, they were getting reports that a couple of bases were already being raided, and his bosses seemed to not be doing anything in response!
Or perhaps this was the plan all along.
Proton just didn’t fucking understand. It was like his bosses suddenly lost all of their spines when it came to dealing with the Hoenn League. They had the numbers! They could fight! They could ambush them and sow chaos among those fucking do-gooders before they could react!
“Answer me, Archie!” Proton demanded furiously, pushing up to his boss who had been continuing to ignore him. “We have the numbers, and the training, so why should we rush off to someplace else without even TRYING to put up a fight?! We could engrave fear into their minds with the damage we’d sow! I didn’t take you for a coward!”
Upon hearing that last comment, Archie turned and glared at Proton, “You fucking fool. Have you not learnt from your mistakes in Indigo?!” He spat out, “It doesn’t matter how many numbers we have, you fucking idiot, because they will NEVER be enough!”
“And how do you know that?!” Proton argued stubbornly, “We have yet to try! We do all this training, and you’re not even willing to put it to use!”
Then suddenly, Archie lashed out with a fist that smashed straight into Proton’s stomach, causing him to double over in pain. Archie grabbed Proton by his hair and dragged him up painfully so that they were face to face.
“IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW MANY GRUNTS WE HAVE!” Archie yelled angrily, “THEY WILL NOT BE ENOUGH! The League will ALWAYS have more! And if the Hoenn League lacks in numbers, they can always call on the Indigo League for even more! We would EASILY be overrun!”
Archie let go of Proton’s head as he continued while ignoring Proton’s coughs of pain, “This is one of the rare times where both Maxie and I are in agreement. Even if we were to stand and fight, we would gain nothing.” He explained, “We have the data. Sure, it isn’t as complete as we have hoped, but we have to make do with what we have. And from what Maxie tells me, what we have is sufficient for the project our backer needs it for. The first step has been achieved towards making our goal a reality.”
“So what? Because you have what you want, you’re just going to leave?” Proton sputtered out as he tried to pull himself up.
“Yes. And that’s because we do not think like you and your thugs, Proton.” Archie responded, “We are visionaries. We seek to remake the world anew so that a utopian paradise can be created. Now that we have the first step of achieving our goal, what reason do we have to stay? We do not need to project strength. We don’t need to preserve our reputation. None of those things matter to us.”
Archie bent down and almost pressed his face against Proton’s, “Our grunts understand this. They understand that sacrifices are needed for the creation of our eternal paradise. That’s why, amongst Team Aqua, only you and the remnants of Team Rocket are questioning this decision. Look around you, and you will see that all the other grunts are willing to do what’s best for the greater good.” He gestured an arm to the rest of the base.
“They know that the best choice of action right now would be to leave all this behind and maintain as much of our strength as possible.” Archie explained, “We will be making counterattacks, but only as far as necessary to cover our retreat. We cannot afford to relax until our final goal is finally achieved.”
And indeed, as if to prove Archie’s words right, Proton looked around and saw that on the faces of the Team Aqua grunts rushing around, there was no sense of dissatisfaction. Even if they KNEW that their retreat would likely cause many of their own to be captured and imprisoned, they accepted it with a determined mien. Or perhaps, a fanatical one.
Eventually, Proton shook his head, realizing that there was no winning an argument against his fanatical boss. Sometimes, he really regretted betraying the old Team Rocket. They might have kept him on a tight leash, but at least they were fairly reasonable about it.
“So, where are heading to now?” Proton asked, reigning in his temper and blatantly changing the topic. “If we’re trying to get away from the authorities, where can we even head to?”
Archie shot him a grin, “Oh, curious now aren’t we?” He chuckled, “Well, if you must know, Maxie and I have spoken to our backer, and all three of us agree that it’s time to finally combine our forces. Our operations in Hoenn have come to a, mostly successful, end.”
“You still haven’t answered the fucking question.” Proton grumbled.
“Come now, use your brain, Proton.” Archie replied snidely, “I know that’s not what we brought you on for, but you’ve been really disappointing these past few minutes. I’m sure you could figure it out.”
Proton bit back a retort and physically held himself from punching his boss in the face. For one, he would immediately be dogpiled by all of the other grunts that clearly held more loyalty to Archie than himself, and second, Archie was a BIG man. Proton was many things, but he knew a lost fight when he saw one.
So, he held himself back and wracked his brain for where else they could go. Obviously, they couldn’t go back to Indigo, not since they had labelled all of Team Rocket as terrorists. That would be idiotic. And since they can’t stay in Hoenn...that only left one place.
Sinnoh.
A.N. I tried to capture the difference in mindset between Proton and Archie. Proton has never subscribed to the more fanatical thinking and is more of a traditional thug. Here, I wanted to show how different Team Magma/Aqua operates compared to Team Rocket, since they are driven by fanaticism rather than profits.
Also, for clarity’s sake, Team Magma/Aqua always planned to retreat after striking at the Orb, to avoid getting caught up in the retaliation. But of course, Proton doesn’t get why.
This chapter has been BETAed by Allute! Big thanks!
Comments
Cerber
Better hope John and Lance manage to launch their international police force asap. Because by the way you made things, it seems like team galatic isnt satisfied with just controlling dialga and palkia. Its seems more like they are trying to make a universal controlling device. If that is the case, then i guess Aura or something is going to be their only weapon against it. Aura thats gotten through forging a closer bond with their partners
Vtec
Sorry to hear that! Unfortunately, while I can't say too much more due to spoilers, but I can promise that they won't be skipping to another region after Sinnoh.
timelesstrix0
this whole team rocket plot is starting to get boring imo. feels like they're just gonna keep skipping to every region that comes up and repeat
