Hmmmmm, perhaps there is a situation in which Itigus is left for dead, but miraculously survives?
Here are the possible routes I'm thinking of taking in terms of how I arrive:
1. Arrive to the island while having tracked suspicious shipments to it.
2. Arrive with everyone else, but having slipped away during commotion with other trainers. He has a Marowak with lightning rod, and an Arcanine with Flash Fire, so it's not too far fetched to say he could've possibly escaped into the jungles using Extremespeed, and his Marowak absorbing all electric based attacks.
3. Considering Itigus has fought against powerful crime syndicates before perhaps he was captured, and put on the island as a sort of hellish execution method. (This path would also possibly take away some of the material I have to work with depending on what time Itigus would be dropped off on the island. However, it does seem to be a viable option.)
4. Itigus arrives with everyone else, but as he tries to escape he is either captured or gravely injured.
5. Itigus flies to the island, and is struck down, only narrowly surviving (Perhaps his Marowak is able to force itself out of the ball, and absorb the second half of a lightning attack.)
6. Itigus arrives with everyone else, but does not comply with TR when they tell him to give them five of his Pokemon. At least, not fully.
With option 1 it would be easier to say that Itigus was able to avoid detection because the base was not completely set up at the time. Perhaps during his investigation, he is captured, and tortured. Through some means, or event Itigus manages to break free, and take one or two Pokemon with him.
With option 2 I could simply explain that Itigus had shown his ID only to quickly get on his arcanine and make an escape. With this I'd be able to write a story about his survival, and use of various Pokemon for evading the syndicate, and his reaction to certain events from the shadows.
Option 3 presents the possibility that Itigus can be dropped off at any point in the RP. For crime syndicates, it would not be enough to simply kill the person who goes against them. Considering Itigus doesn't really have friends or family, he could be dropped onto the island, and perhaps even forced to kill some of his own Pokemon. Perhaps the Pokemon had been infected with the virus, and Itigus would then have to kill the only things he ever allowed himself to become attached to.
Option 4 is generally the idea that Nygenn had. Perhaps TR even holds his Pokemon hostage and forces him to attack other trainers?
Option 5 is similar to option 2 in that I would be able to write about his survival, and the relationships between him and his Pokemon. Perhaps one of his Pokemon even creates a fake corpse out of a Substitute.
Option 6 With this option, Itigus releases five of his Pokemon, and hands them empty Pokeballs. This is discovered, but still gives Itigus's Pokemon enough time to escape. Itigus is then taken to some sort of prison. He is interrogated, and tortured. The Pokemon he released eventually rescue him, and then go their separate ways once more leaving his Mightyena to protect him. With such a diverse array of Pokemon on the island, Itigus's Pokemon would be able to more easily blend in. As a character, Itigus would do anything to make sure his Pokemon were safe. This also makes it so Itigus has only one Pokemon, and is therefore vulnerable. While his other Pokemon could still be working to find a way off the island, they could also be captured as well. Since the Mightyena is the only one still in its ball, the other Pokemon on Itigus's team could very well be used against him. However, since the Pokemon had the order to sabotage, and spy on TR this could be a double edged sword.
While I agree that my character should not be our lord and savior, I would like to advocate that he can make a difference. I want to be able to have Itigus have a hand in defeating Team Rocket without having to contrive it later on in the story. Itigus is a trainer who has seen the cruelty, and cunning of men, and always prepares himself for the worst. While his paranoia does keep him alive, and well it also blocks out a lot of relationships with other people. He has difficulty trusting others, and can easily be punished for attempting to do everything himself.
I plan to have Itigus be able to show his self sufficiency, but I also plan to have him learn that he needs to work with others at times when the problem is bigger than he is. Through all his planning and contingencies I want to establish the experience, and power he possesses. At the same time, I also want to establish that, even though he is formidable on his own, the enemy he faces is much greater. I want to show that he can only make a difference when he works with others, and that the only way he's going to do that is through loss, and development. While Itigus is a character that could survive on his own for a while he is still just as helpless as everyone else to change anything. His own flaws, and distrust of people will be points in which he can be punished, and grow as a character. I also think forcing a powerful character such as Itigus to bend to his knees would even further illustrate the threat of Team Rocket.
Then again, perhaps I am trying to become too powerful? I don't know, I personally like characters who are incredibly powerful, but tragically flawed at the same time. It's more interesting to see a powerful character break down, and rise up again than to see a weak character simply become stronger in my opinion.
Tell me your thoughts. I'm sure I'll be able to form a starter post after you all reply.