Magnus grabbed his bicycle and hopped on it, with his gear packed safely, and in case of emergency... the gun.
"I'm going on ahead to make sure the path is clear for you all." Magnus told the group. He handed his map to Joel. "Stay together, stay safe. The Underground Tunnel is only a mile off from here. If we can get there and get through it, we should be able to slip safely to Joel's house."
Magnus left the rest of the group, pedalling quickly to clear a safe passage to the Underground.
...
Magnus reached the entrance to the Underground, only to find that it had been blocked by a pair of Rocket Grunts.
Fuck! No matter, I'll dispose of them quickly. Magnus rode up to the entrance of the Underground and attempted to pass the Rockets.
"Sorry, kid." One of the grunts said. "Can't let you pass, at least not for free."
"Please sir," Magnus said, showing no fear. "I need to get through, what do I have to do?"
"How about one of your Pokemon." The other Grunt said, with a sinister smile upon his face. "That seems like a reasonable price for your safety."
"I'm afraid I can't do that. You'll just have to let me pass." Magnus pedalled forward, but the Rockets grabbed his handlebars.
"I don't think you understand kid... You're going to give us a Pokemon, whether or not you pass."
"Tough shit, Grunt. You're not getting a single one."
"Hey," The second Grunt said to the first one. "Doesn't this kid look familiar?"
"Yeah, he looks like that kid... like that kid Lucille told us to watch out for!"
Without a moment's hesitance, Magnus drew his knife and slashed at the throat of one Grunt, slitting the jugular vein. The other Grunt grabbed the knife from Magnus, and brandished it against him, swiping at Magnus, who managed to use his bike as a shield to block the slashes.
Seeing no other option, Magnus drew the gun from his jacket pocket, pointed the pistol at the Grunt, and fired. He fired again. He fired a third time. The Grunt fell to the ground in a heap, with Magnus's ruined bicycle alongside him. Magnus took his knife from the dying Grunt and had the man face him.
"Tell me why.. Why is Team Rocket doing this?" Magnus demanded of the Grunt. The Grunt responded with these dying words:
"Wouldn't you...like to... know..." The Grunt died, taking with him any information that Magnus might've needed. Carefully, Magnus ditched the bodies in the trees, leaving them for the scavengers to find.
Magnus pulled out his phone and sent a message to everyone:
'All clear. Get here quickly'
Magnus sat down, contemplating the path ahead.
"Well Magnus," Magnus told himself. "You better get used to running." Magnus sat and waited for the gang to reach his location.