It was still early in the day when Kokou realized he wasn't going to make it in time for the Rocket meeting in the caves. Rocket had been hiding out there for awhile, that was what usually happened when a Pokemon heist went wrong. While Kokou did work for Rocket, he was strictly an arm for the organization. Kokou never stole Pokemon, he didn't think he was better than that, he just didn't want to soil his time with another trainers misdeeds. Often times people taught their Pokemon stupid habits, and Kokou didn't want to be bothered with retraining Pokemon. None of his were stolen, though he had beaten a lot of Pokemon that would end up stolen. Nevertheless, Kokou had to make it to the meeting so he could be informed on the next big job that Team Rocket had slated for Western Hoenn. The big wigs were up to something grand, and Kokou wanted to be there for the big bucks. Money is what drove him the most in his line of work, a hired hand for the mob didn't need complex reasons to bash skulls together.
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With his tent packed up into his backpack, Kokou arranged to head out into the wild. He had about three miles to hike before he would reach the caves where the Team had assembled. That meant that Kokou would get his workout in before noon, and fortunately he had a handful of pocket jerky to snack on. It was chipotle flavored and tasted absolutely phenomneal. As Kokou walked, one of his Pokemon joined him. Flying just behind his trainer was the mischievous Fu, a Rowlet that was hatched in a Union Breeding Facility. Fu was Kokou's starter Pokemon, and Fu was his best friend. They were inseperable, and Fu never went into a PokeBall. Hooting peacefully, Fu talked with Kokou. Kokou couldn't rightly understands the Pokemon, but he could get a general idea of how Fu was feeling based on his hooting. It seemed that tFu was feeling in high spirits, but that was soon to change. 
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From the bushes just off the trail, Kokou heard some rustling. He whistled loudly for Fu to stand at attention, and the Rowlet flew over to the bush, leaf quills at the ready.