*Author's note: This chapter will be done Interview style, meaning It's AJ asking Questions and the others answering them. This is meant to give you readers a basic backstory of the others you don't know much about yet. Thank you!*

AJ decided to interview the Blaziken first, who was flanked by the other five she was with earlier.

AJ: So, who're you girls? I'm AJ!

Blaziken: Me? Alexis Leone, at your service. These five are with me.

AJ: And who are those girls, if you don't mind?

Alexis looked to the other five, shrugged, and smiled.

Leone: I don't see why not. The houndoom is Sasha Blair. Fierce and Fearless, great friend to have. The Charizard, Natalie Cruz. Kind of a loner, but she's a good powerhouse to have if you need it.

The two both didn't look too happy, but they weren't about to get mad at some kid who was just curious.

"We really have to deal with this kid?" Sasha, who was half asleep, yawned. Jax flew over, standing behind AJ. "Cut the kid some Slack. He's stronger than he looks and probably could whip your ass." AJ tilted his head in confusion, and Alexis stood ready to fight. "Why so supportive of the kid? Don't want him to kick yours, so you're getting in his good graces?" She accused. "It's just good business. Wouldn't you agree?" Jax shrugged. AJ looked back and fourth between them. "I thought I was the one asking questions here!" "Sorry." Both said in unison. "Continue." Alexis sat back down, ready to answer more.

AJ: So, the other three...

Leone: The Persian's Cara Davison. Aspiring Architecht and Interior Designer. Ampharos, Nora Martinez. The Alolan Raichu, Maya Rios. Those two joined more recently, but still have been a good part of the team.

AJ: Wait, what team?

Cruz: The six of us stick together. Always have, always will.

Blair: Just a Pact of Sisterhood type of thing.

Leone: Couldn't have said it better Myself.

AJ: So, like, who's your leader?

All but Leone: Lex.

Leone: I'm more the leader type according to them. I just like looking out for people close to me.

AJ: Awesome! Alright, I have to talk to the rest of these people!

Davison: And why would that be? We're company enough, aren't we?

AJ: Well, I kinda need to know everyone, plus I think something's making me talk to everyone else here too.

Leone: Run along then. We'll be up there before you know it.

AJ decided to talk to the Scyther convict, Jax Raymond. He approached him cautiously. The Scyther tried flying, but the slowly rising elevator floor kept forcing his landing. "Damn elevator..." He cursed before noticing AJ there.

AJ: So you were in prison, right?

Jax: What of it?

AJ: Why? What did you do to get thrown in there?

Jax: That's complicated.

AJ: Well, How so?

Jax: Robbed the treasury, got caught. The Mastermind behind it pinned me as the ringleader and got me thrown in for a long time, people in the jail thought I was the ringleader, so I was treated as such. In reality, I was just an average pokemon trying to get enough money to afford my older sister's operation. Fortunately, A stranger gave us the money and she survived, but I haven't seen her since.

AJ: So why'd you stick up for me after trying to fight me?

Jax: You remind me of my older brother. You're just so calm and collected, even while a pissed off pokemon with claws for hands is attacking you, in your case. There's something about you that interests me. How'd you dodge every time I swung?

AJ: My aura told me when you'd strike before you actually did. It's complicated. Also, it sounds like you only acted like a tough guy in front of the other prisoners. Why?

Jax: That's easy. Protection of Image. I had to maintain my status. I've never really dropped that, since everyone always saw me as the boss around the prison. Am I a good person on the inside? I was. Trust me, AJ. I'm not a good pokemon. I'll never be a role model. You won't read my name in any type of history papers except for police reports and criminal records. Lemme give you some advice; Don't trust everyone. This isn't like the movies or the video games. The surface will be different. Good mons will die. This cruel experiment is just a game to the council.

AJ: Well, that's a relief. I already told you, I AM the game.

Jax: What's that mean exactly?

AJ: Well, You talk about the Game of survival? It's all about how you play it, about control and if you take it, it's about debt and if you pay it, and it's about the pain and if you can make it. Mr. Raymond, I AM the game, so don't play me. I'm the control, you can't take me. I'm the debt, there's no repaying me. I'm the pain, and no one can take me. I'm the hunter, not the hunted. I'm the difference in this survival game.

Jax: Sounds too good for someone your age to have made up. You hear that some place?

AJ: Song my dad used to like. I really liked it, so I kind of adopted it as my self motivation speech I give to myself in the mirror.

Jax: Hmph. Understandable. I've talked enough, kid. Just let me be. And understand one thing: I may respect you, but don't expect me to pull you any favors. Jax Raymond works alone and for no one but himself. I'm not your friend. Hell, I'm nobody's friend. Got that?

AJ nodded, moving on. He figured that this time, He'd talk to someone he kind of knew. Logan, Shane, Evan, and Kiro where hanging out in another part, talking about strategy. AJ Approached them. "Shane, where's your sister?" AJ asked. The Zoroark pointed to a female Shiny Zoroark pacing herself a short ways away. "Thanks!" AJ said as he ran over to her.

AJ: Hey, Em! Mind if I talk to you?

Em: Huh? Oh, it's you. Look, I'm just really stressed right now...

AJ: Is it because of Lu...

Em: Please... Don't say his name. You'll make it worse.

AJ: But he...

Em: I know, he's your brother, and I get that it must be hard for you too and for your mom.

AJ: Then why're you so broken up about it?

Em: You mean he never told you?

AJ: Luke didn't talk much about his inner thoughts to me. Usually, that was Rico's thing.

Em: Your brother and I... well... We...

AJ: Waaaait... were you dating my brother?!

Shane: Because you're too young to know... Yeah, they "Dated", and went a little beyond that.

Emily had to resist every urge in her body that told her to murder him. Poor AJ tilted his head, confused.

Em: You'll understand when you're older.

AJ: I'm 16.

Em: I thought everyone you're 15?

AJ: My mom hid me from the council for a year and said I was born a year later than I actually am. Council had a rule back then of one kid every 3 years, and I was only 2 years after Luke and Rico. I'm 16.

Ari noticed AJ and ran up behind him. "Hey! I never thought I'd see you after the incident at school!" AJ turned just in time to nearly get tackled. "Woah! Uh, yeah. Sorry I forgot to say goodbye... Hey, can we talk in a minute?" The Lycanroc nodded, and AJ turned back to Emily.

AJ: So, Word on the street is you decked a guard? Why?

Em: Isn't it obvious? I need to find Your brother, Lukarin. It's personal business.

AJ: Oh... Hey, If I see em, I'll tell him you're looking for him!

Emily smiled and patted AJ on the head, thanking him. Ari was about to have an anxiety attack, so AJ went to her next.

Ari: Where've you been, Jay? You never went anywhere without telling me! We're besties, man!

AJ: Sorry, I got kinda sidetracked with a sudden trial and all. I would've told you, trust me! So Ari, did you do anything to get yourself thrown on here?

Ari hesitated, before turning slightly away from him.

Ari: I knew the only way to see you again was to get arrested, so I stole extra food from the cafeteria.

AJ: You didn't need to, Ari. You didn't need to...

Ari: What wouldn't you tell me? That Your brother told you, you told me in a text that you were sworn to secrecy! I needed to know, and I know they confiscate all forms of communication during and after a trial!

AJ: Ar... I'll tell you later. I'm gonna get back to ya on that whole secret thing, Gotta go check out the others!

Ari: Speaking of secrets...

Ari mumbled something as AJ jogged over to the Rhydon. He didn't look too friendly.

AJ: Uhhh, hello?

Rhydon: Come closer and I snap your tiny neck!

AJ: I'd like to see you even get off that Fat ass of yours first!

The massive ground type was filled with rage, but As the Rhydon slowly got up from his seated position, the Grovyle guard struck at amazing speeds with a combo of Leaf Blades. They left some pretty nasty cuts, making the Rhydon bleed. Rico, having been watching from afar, seized an opportunity and ran forward, then jumped and brought down his knee on the neck of the Rhydon, breaking the vertebrae and crushing the trachea. The Rhydon was dead.

The guard shrugged, but AJ followed and tapped his arm. "Excuse me, Mr. Guard? Why'd you help me? I thought you were told not to get involved..."

Guard: Well, that's true, however, I'm not actually a guard, you see. This uniform belonged to a friend. I swiped it so I could escape.

The False guard ditched the uniform, revealing more casual clothing underneath.

AJ: So who are you, REALLY?

O'Reilly: My Real name is Justin O'Reilly. I specialize in making weapons. The Council saw me as a threat, and my trial for potential involvement in the recent unsuccessful insurrection was in a week. I escaped and a guard friend loaned me his uniform to escape today.

Mid. Lycanroc: Insurrection? You mean the Liberation!

AJ: And you are...?

M.L: Jayce Morrison.

AJ: Sorry, never heard of you.

The Aussie-sounding Lycanroc sat with a puzzled look, then burst out laughing.

Jayce: Ay, Good one, Kid! Ye got me! But Really, I shouldn't have to 'splain who I am!

O'reilly: He's the one who led the Insurrection against the Council.

Jayce: Why didn't you join me, Jus? Thought we 're tighter than this.

O'reilly: Your actions almost resulted in my arrest simply because I had a past connection to you. I don't want anything to do with you, Morrison! You're a rebel and a criminal!

Jayce: I'm also the most leader-like one here. I know what It's like for hundreds to depend on me for what to do or where to look. I did it for the residents, not myself.

O'reilly: Keep telling yourself that. You're just a selfish bastard like the rest. When it comes down to it, Bet you'd turn tail and run or you'll surrender!

AJ Put himself between them. "Guys, gimme a sec!" "Why?" Both mons answered. AJ flipped to a new page and clicked a pen. "Now I'm ready!" The Lycanroc facepalmed. "You've been writing everything that everyone says down this whole bloody time?" AJ nods. "That's why there's names next to the things people say! Anyways, Carry on!" The Grovyle sighed and stood down. "I don't want my past feuds to be recorded. Sorry, bud. Don't show that to anyone." "No promises!" AJ shrugged, then cheerfully trotting to find his next interview. He stumbled upon the last two he didn't know, a Cinderace and a Quilava, both males.

AJ: Hi! I'm Austin Rhodes, people call me AJ, and I'm gathering intel about all of us! Care to share?

Cinderace: The Quilava's Bradley Bishop, I'm Kyrie Michaels, former culinary students. kicked out because somemon sabotaged us by poisoning our food for the final test and killing the teacher. We got off easy, because the one who poisoned him got executed.

AJ: then why were you two kicked out if it wasn't your fault?

Kyrie: Lack of attentiveness. We let it happen so apparently we're to blame.

AJ: You guys still make some Bomb-ass food?... Can I get a burrito?

The Quilava spoke in an Surfer/skater type of accent.

Brad: When we have the materials necessary, we'll make whatever you want, little dude. Til then, bro, we gotta make it, like, up to surface, brotato chip.

AJ finished writing, then clicked the pen again. "Got everyone...! Except me." He scribbled down a few notes about himself. "Young, Good-lookin', badass, Arm-breaker, Devourer of Chocolate". "Perfect!" He said as he closed the notebook.
-----
[End Interview segment, back to Regular writing style]

As AJ pranced around, Rico was attempting to patch what happened with Cairo. She wasn't too happy, granted Rico, her lifelong friend, brushed her off twice.

"But what the hell is wrong with you?! You not only got me arrested, but you just acted like you didn't know me after saving me from some Arceus-damned Rapist!" Cairo was nearly teary-eyed. "Cairo, I was told that Terra Doma is dying. Oxygen running low. I tried doing it to save you from this eventual fate, but it happened anyways." Rico sighed, but then was unexpectedly slapped across the face by the female. "Some plan that was! I would've easily done all this for you if you would've told me! That's what friends are for! And what's worse, you're too damned dense to see that..." She suddenly turned a bit green and doubled over, vomiting on the floor. She usually did that when nervous and yelling at the same time. Rico backed up, letting her get it all out. "Gross! Come on, now we have less room to work with!" Natalie, the Charizard, groaned. "Stop Bitching about some girl's puke, I'm tryna nap!" Sasha barked at Natalie. "Those two fight a lot." Shane noted. "Really? Haven't noticed. The Houndoom's kinda cute though..." Logan admitted. "I say you do you, man." Shane shrugged, not really interested in any one of the girls. "C'mon, man. One of em's gotta look hot to you!" Logan nudged him, eyes still focused on the group of females. "My heart's with someone else." Shane closed his eyes and took another deep breath before exhaustion claimed him. "Whatever. You do you, Rosario. You do you." Logan gave up trying to stay awake and also got a little sleep.

About ninty minutes later, after the majority of the group had been sleeping, barred Jax, AJ, and Rico, who had been sparring with AJ the entire time, when a giant metallic rumbling shook the elevator shaft. Anyone sleeping was woken within seconds, minus the Rhydon, because he was dead. Very, very dead. I can't come up with a word to describe how dead he was. The group looked up, and metallic doors were opening. Just as they were all asking questions, the questions were immediately answered, as they were blinded by a light, brighter than any other light they'd ever seen before. They had reached the surface at last. Now the question is, How many, if any at all, have what it takes to survive?

Longest chapter by far. Including this little blip at the end, we're at a grand total of 2625 words. Personally I'm proud of myself :-)