Jacob found himself sitting on a hill on the outskirts of Slateport City as the sun was beginning to set over the Region. The familiar darkness that overtook Slateport would set in, as another shift of Rocket Grunts would begin their patrol over the city, bringing down their wrath on anyone unlucky enough to be caught by the criminals. His shift had long since been over, leaving him free to do as he wanted, which mostly consisted of hanging out on the outskirts of the city to be alone, to think.

Those who found themselves joining Team Rocket, even with the best intentions, found themselves swayed under its dark influence, one way or another. This was a lesson that Jacob found out the hard way, one year ago. When he had joined up with the criminal organization, his parents were understandably furious at their son, who despite their best efforts to raise him well, wound up joining up with such a group. His employment with the faction cost him his bond with his family. But the corruption truly set in when he found himself in an affair with another Grunt that was practically his partner at the time. How he allowed himself to be chipped away at by his partner til she got him to bed her. This would cost him his girlfriend and daughter, who left him, betrayed by his disloyalty.

So why was he still fighting? His entire reason for even taking on this deal with the devil had been voided. Why was he so afraid for his life, if everything had fallen apart, what reason did he have to live at this point? He couldn't figure any of this out. Maybe it was some sort of hope that Rowan would eventually come back to him, that he could make things right again, and be with his girlfriend and daughter. But then, the problem was that if he was with her, Rocket would use them as leverage to further control him.

Whether they be fellow Rockets, or enemies of his, anyone coming to the hill would find the redheaded grunt sitting on the hill, in uniform, with his hat nearby on the ground.

---

elijah gardner