Chapter 1
They had bound and gagged Jessie. She lay meekly in the back of the dark van—the same van she and James loaded equipment in earlier—as they road on to Team Rocket Headquarters. Meowth was still out cold. Jessie tried to untie herself but couldn’t. Butch and Cassidy were in the front talking secretively as a few Rocket underlings watched her, holding on to their guns.
Why would the boss think that we had betrayed Team Rocket? Maybe this is some sort of trick, but why? Why if the boss thought that she, James and Meowth were traitors, did he let them go off this morning on a mission? These different thoughts played over in her mind for such a long time.
She hoped that James would rescue her. But he was so weak and such a coward; he could never save her. Although, she did remember how he fought back there: He tried so hard; he wouldn’t give up. A sense of dejection consumed her. He still was unable to succeed. Then if he couldn’t save her, she would never see him again. This thought almost made her cry. But she couldn’t show weakness (or what they would perceive as guilt).
But wait…what was she thinking? They were not traitors! She would just explain that to the boss to clear them of any wrongdoing. They were being framed. She would clear their names.
Jessie was extremely exhausted from all that had just transpired and from all the worrying and thinking. Plus, she had hardly gotten any sleep last night. She tried to keep her eyes open but they soon gave way to slumber.
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The rolling of the door and the sound it made as it hit its brake woke her. Someone grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out. Her legs were cramped by the long drive and this made her walk funny. Meowth was still unconscious; he was being carried over the shoulder of the Rocket in front of her.
She tried to struggle to get free, making muffled sounds behind her gag.
"Wait," said Butch, then sarcastically he uttered, "I think she wants to talk." He pulled down her gag.
"What the hell do you think you’re—"
Butch pulled her gag back up. "We won’t have you making noise—if you wish to speak then I suggest you do it calmly." Cassidy giggled in amusement. Butch let the gag down again.
"I want to see the boss," said she holding in her rage.
"In due time."
Jessie’s eyes widened. She didn’t want to wait! She wanted to explain her case now.
Butch pulled the gag up again and they proceeded forth.
They were taken in through the back entrance. This was a part of the headquarters she had not been used to see. Only rare pokémon, top-secret experiments, traitors and enemies were brought through here. Jessie got chills down here spine. They were in what appeared to be an elevator. An iron gate dropped down, sealing them in, then the metallic doors closed behind them. Cassidy sneered at Jessie. She was obviously frightened by what was to befall her, but she tried to play it off as though she was not. It was common for traitors and enemies to be tortured. She had never dreamed to be in such a situation. Butch pressed a button and they descended. She tried to calm her nerves but it was awfully difficult.
When they stopped, she was lead out through a long corridor. At both sides of the wall there were a few doors that read lab 1 and so own or had a toxic warning sign on it. As they proceeded, they went through many twists and turns. Jessie was beginning to think they were in a maze. They finally came upon a door at the end of a hallway. Cassidy placed a clearance card through a slot and the door opened up to another corridor. They walked a short way to another door. Butch opened it with his card. It was an empty dark room.
What’s this?
Butch motioned for the underlings to put Jessie in.
She tried to resist their tug but with no avail. She was thrown in and the door was lock behind her. She could hear Butch and Cassidy make a joke at her expense as their footsteps trailed away with their laughter.
She lay on her side in darkness, wanting to scream. The least they could have done was untie her and take off this god-forsaken gag. And Meowth, it would be nice if he was here with her, so she might not feel so alone. But where had they taking him? Somewhere along, they had gone off with him and now she realized she had been ignorant of it. What were they going to do to him, to her? Why wouldn’t they let her see the boss? And James…she saw him being beaten by those Rockets. She hoped that he was okay. For if he wasn’t who could help her. Oh, James, please be okay…please help us.
Under other circumstances, dealing with different people, Jessie would not be nearly as frightened and upset as she was now. She closed her eyes and cried without restraint.
Meowth fluttered his eyes as he regained consciousness. His head is throbbing. Two glowing lights hovered over him. When his sight cleared, he noticed that it was one light. He tried to get up but his limbs were clasped down. He looked from one side to the next. What is dis? He was fettered to a stretch table. His mouth opened with sheer panic.
"So you woke up."
"Who?" Meowth said looking around.
Coming out of a shadow, walked Cassidy wearing a lab coat. "Hey fur ball, aren’t you glad to see me?"
"What’s going on?" he asked impatiently, "where’s Jessie and James?"
"With the boss."
"What for? What’s going on?" he yelled in fear.
"They’re ratting you out as Team Rocket’s traitor," she said.
"No, they wouldn’t."
"You would think that, wouldn’t you."
He couldn’t decipher whether or not to believe her.
"They could nev-va do dat."
"Listen Meowth," said she getting closer. "I don’t like it anymore than you do… that’s why you’re going to help me find out the truth."
"I am…"
"Yes, you are," she hissed sinisterly, "then you’re going to help me teach them a lesson."
"And…." Meowth said with a deep swallow, "what if I don’t…"
"Well then…" she said taking out a large syringe with blue fluid, "we don’t want to come to that…now do we?"
Ash, Misty, and Brock had helped James to a hospital. He was being checked over by a doctor, while they were in the waiting room. None had spoken about what had just transpired. They were all very stunned by it.
Pikachu walked up and down the room then came in front of Ash. "Pika?"
"I don’t know…" Ash answered.
"This is all so frightening," said Misty.
"I can’t believe any of it," he said.
"I knew Team Rocket were horrible," Brock said, "but this is just amazing."
"Amazing? More like heart wrenchingly horrifying," Misty said.
"What are we going to do?" asked Ash.
"We should just call the police," she said.
"No, we can’t do that," said Brock, "you heard James…he was so terrified."
"Since when do we listen to him," she said with annoyance.
"Since now," Brock snapped, not knowing what else to tell her. He knew it would be better to contact the police but then James would be in trouble with the law. And he didn’t want that. Something about this whole situation brought out a great deal of sympathy for James and Jessie. The image of her being held with a knife to her throat horrified him.
All was quiet. Misty felt bad; she wanted to help James but Team Rocket was just so scary and she was afraid that Ash and Brock would want to help him on a suicide mission to rescue his friends. She didn’t want to risk her life or have them risk theirs. If they get the police involved then no one would get hurt. But then again…Jessie and James have been in trouble with the law before. Perhaps if they bargained with the police or something for Jessie and James’s help in taking down Team Rocket, they might let them off easy.
She announced this prospect. At first hesitantly, but when she was sure that it was such a good idea and that no one could refute it, she spoke more confidently.
"Maybe," said Ash; "but we could never be sure that they would want to help the police."
"Oh come on, they seem desperate enough," Misty retorted.
"James would totally not go for it," said Brock, "even if the police did agree to that, James would not trust them."
"Why are you all of a sudden on his side!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You being so nice to him and bidding his wishes," she said angrily.
Brock was surprised to see her angry because of his concern for James. He just felt sympathy for him and wanted to do his best to make such an ordeal not seem so bad. He did not suspect Misty would be upset by it.
"He just lost his friends and does not even know if he will ever see them again," said Brock, "he has to face his boss sooner or later and he knows it will be difficult—we see now how evil Team Rocket can be and I just feel sorry for them."
"Yeah…" said Misty, "but you don’t actually want to risk your neck to help him?"
"Didn’t we just do that," Brock said, then with consideration he added, "I don’t know."
"Misty, don’t be so upset," said Ash."
"How can I not be…they’re not our friends," she said in despair, "why…why help them—they are so attached to Team Rocket—they are Team Rocket! —They have always wanted to steal your pikachu, they always cause us trouble, and now you guys probably might…" She fell silent. Her emotions were getting the best of her. She looked down and away.
The doctor came out of the room. Brock and Ash bolted up with anticipation. Misty slowly followed.
Brock asked, "is he okay?"
"Yes," said the doctor. "He just has a lot of bruises, nothing is broken…he should be well enough to go home tomorrow—we want to keep him over night, though, just to make sure he is a hundred percent okay."
"I’m glad to hear that," said Brock.
"Uhmm…what happened to him?" asked the doctor.
"Uh…a gang jumped him," said Brock, holding James’s folded jacket in his hands. It had been decided beforehand for James to take it off so no one would know he was a Rocket.
"I see," and the doctor wrote it down in his report. "You can go see him now."
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James was taken aback by this whole ordeal. Yesterday, they were in good with the boss; they conceived a great plan to steal rare pokémon and this morning they were on their way to execute it. What went wrong? It all happened so fast. One moment we were acting silly and complaining…the next… I don’t get it? If the boss suspects use of treachery why play if off as though everything was okay, then have Butch and Cassidy lead an attack on us? And of all the people, why them? He grew angry thinking of Butch hold a knife to Jessie. When I get my hands on him he’ll be so sorry for that! Oh, Jessie, what are they doing to you?
The trio went into James’s room. It was dim; the only light came in from the window, illuminating James as he lay on his side with his back towards them. He felt so alone. They could sense his melancholy and tensely proceeded forth.
"James…how are you feeling?" asked Ash.
James sat up and faced them. He was patched up a bit: a bandage on his forehead and one on his neck, and one on his abdomen. He smiled and said "better than before."
The tension lifted. They came closer to the bedside.
"That’s great," said Brock. "The doctor said that they want to keep you here over night, to make sure you’re completely fine."
"Oh really?" asked James. He didn’t like this but he didn’t object. "I guess that is…best."
"So have you thought about what you’re going to do?" Ash asked. Midway in his question he realized it was too premature and that it would have been better to postpone such a question. Brock smirked slightly but said nothing.
"Yes, I have," he said cheerfully, "I’m going to have a chat with Giovanni."
"Who?"
"My boss," said James, "that is, after I dispose of Butch and Cassidy and who ever else gets in my way."
"What?" The trio said simultaneously.
"You don’t think I am just going to ask for Jessie and Meowth back?"
"No, of course not," said Brock, "but—"
"I’ve had it with them," James said ardently. "You don’t know how it feels to be treated with no respect whatsoever and expected to concede with everything, do nothing and then…and then this!"
"But you can’t possibly go up against them and succeed," Brock said.
"Mayhaps," James uttered.
"We can’t let you do that," said Ash.
"You can’t stop me."
"We can try," Ash challenged.
Who does this kid think he is? James sat forward sharply. "I can’t believ—" He cringed from the pain.
"You’re too weak to do anything, James," Misty said sympathetically. "You’re insane to think you can beat them alone."
"Well I don’t have my friends with me!" said he, "I have no choice!"
"You have us," Ash said.
No… Misty looked at Ash.
"Yeah, we can help you," said Brock.
"I can’t ask you to," James said looking down.
"You don’t have to," said Ash.
"But…but it will be dangerous," said Misty.
"We’re not afraid," Ash said with confidence.
"This isn’t a pokémon battle!" Misty exclaimed. "We could loose! And the consequences will be awful!"
"She’s right," said James, "I can’t have you go with me, besides it’s my fight."
"That’s suicide!" Ash said.
"Call it what you will," James said, "but I have my honor to uphold."
"And so do we," said Ash, "we cannot leave a friend in need."
A friend? James couldn’t believe what he just heard.
"We could never live with ourselves," said Brock.
The sound of the door unlocking alerted Jessie. Blinding light shined in. Two Team Rocket members came in, picked her up and dragged her out. She squinted at the light. Then saw that Butch was standing before her.
"The boss wants to see you now," he said.
In Giovanni’s office, they placed her in a chair before his desk. She struggled to get up but they put pressure on her shoulders.
"Why so angry?" Giovanni asked coming from in back of his desk.
She wanted to speak but her gag prevented it.
"Take that off," he said to one of the Rockets, pointing to the gag.
"What’s going on!" she said angrily, besides her best efforts to be calm.
"I thought you might be the one to tell me that," Giovanni said not amused by the redhead’s agitation.
"I don’t know anything!" she said desperately.
"That is not how we see it," he said.
"The traitor lies to save her skin," said Butch. "We caught them with their conspirators."
"What conspirators!" yelled Jessie, enraged.
"Stop dancing around the truth!" Butch yelled back. "Meowth can testify to that!"
"Liar!"
"Traitor!"
"Bastard!"
"Bitch!"
"Enough!" Giovanni shouted. They became silent.
Jessie closed her eyes with utter angst. What the hell is going on? Why are they accusing us of treachery? Something doesn’t make sense. We had no conspirators. Meowth …what did he say about him? Testifying against us? Meowth wouldn’t lie against us to save his skin. Would he? Then Giovanni doesn’t have anything to do with this. Butch must be framing us…or is trying to.
"Jessie, I thought better of you," Giovanni said, "you, James, and Meowth were always loyal to Team Rocket—why now do you betray me?"
"We haven’t," said Jessie, "we are loyal—Butch is lying—we only met Ash and his friends today—we were going to steal that pikachu when Butch and Cassidy appeared out of nowhere and attacked us."
"A likely story, Jessie," said Butch; "they’re always meeting with Ash. Once they realized they couldn’t beat him they joined him in hopes of bringing Team Rocket down! Everyone knows Ash and his friends have a close relationship with Officer Jenny and Professor Oak. Together they plotted against us to protect the pokémon reserves we have tried to steal from. Stealing his pikachu is only a pretense. There are other pikachus—Ash’s isn’t the only one."
Jessie stared at Butch in consummate dismay. Where does he get this stuff? Surely the boss will see the stupidity of his claims.
"Where is James?" Giovanni asked.
"He is with Ash, Misty, and Brock," Butch answered.
"I see."
"No. It’s not like that!" Jessie feared the worst.
"Out of my sight," Giovanni said in disgust.
"No! We’re not traitors—we were going to capture Ash’s Pikachu!" she yelled as the underlings pulled her from the chair and onward to the exit. "They attacked us all! Ash and his friends had to fight back! They weren’t helping us; they were helping themselves! Butch lies! We’re not traitors!" They succeeded in pulling her out of the room.
"I want James," said Giovanni.
"We don’t know where he is," said Butch, "but he will come to us."
"How are you so sure?"
"Him and Jessie have a very…special relationship."
The next day, James was released from the hospital. Ash, Misty, and Brock were there with him. They were at odd of where to go. James was in no condition to go straight to Team Rocket Headquarters and battle with Giovanni (if that was his intent). James told them that there was a secluded loft a bit far from here that Team Rocket members (mainly him, Jessie and Meowth) go to when they need a rest from fighting. (Surprisingly, they don’t use it often.) He also added that the place had some much-needed supplies he couldn’t wait to get his hands on. The trio wondered what that could possibly be.
They had to travel through the forest to get to it. They came upon a semi-open field leading to it, late in the night. James hoped that none of the Team Rocket members were residing there now. Though the lights were off, James wasn’t sure if anyone was occupying it. They crept around till they got close enough. Then Ash ordered his Pikachu to get closer and see if anyone was around. And it went off; sniffing around here and there till it peered up into one of the windows. It went on to different sides of the loft, then came back.
"Pikaaa-chu," it said cheerfully.
"Okay, let’s go," said Ash.
They went over to the front door. James took out a card. He bent down slowly and put it in under the door. A green light flashed. When he stood up straight (attempting to hide the pain in his side), he pushed open the door. The trio stared at each other, then shrugged their shoulders.
After James turned on the lights, they could see that the loft was very nice inside. It looked so comfortable: big comfy couches, a kitchen with all the modern appliances, a refrigerator fully stocked and two bedrooms upstairs.
After settling themselves in, James went over near the fireplace. He got down on his knees and pulled up the rug. Then he pulled up the floorboard. He took out a large black container (struggling with his weak arms) and placed it on the coffee table. He then went back to the open floor and pulled out another identical container, and placed it near the table. He put the floorboard back in its place along with the rug.
"What’s that?" Ash asked a bit more excited than he had expected.
"Arsenal," he said in a casual manner.
The trio was surprised and even more so by his nonchalance.
He opened one of the containers to show several guns of different sizes. Then he pulled up the level and placed it aside, revealing, what seemed to be, two high-tech looking rifles and an indent where a third rifle belonged.
"I wonder who took this one?" he said with suspicion.
"Who could have taken it?" asked Ash.
"Probably any Rocket member," said James, "I can’t say for sure—I don’t know all the members who have access here."
"So a selected few can only come here?" Brock asked.
"Yes."
"What about Butch and Cassidy? Do they have access?"
"Yea," said James, "but I don’t suspect they know about our hiding place. Every Rocket has their own."
"Uh…what do you plan to do with those?" Misty asked.
"Well isn’t it obvious?" James replied.
She shook her head with disapproval and walked over to the kitchen.
"What’s with her?" James asked.
"She’s a bit sensitive when it comes to this stuff," Brock said.
Ash looked up at him in surprise.
"You’d think that she was hard as stone, seeing how she can really give you an earful when you get her angry," James said with a giggle. He hadn’t been able to giggle since he was last with Jessie and Meowth.
Ash laughed, "my thoughts exactly."
"Sometimes you can be so insensitive," Brock said irritably to Ash.
"But he agrees…"
"He doesn’t know her as you and I do."
James considered this for a while. Jessie has always been strong and feisty. No one would ever suspect her to be sensitive or vulnerable. Is this the case with you, Jess? Strong on the outside but inside as vulnerable as a kitten? If this is so, don’t let them see your weakness, not even for a second.
James went through the other container to take out the ammunition and battery packs (for the laser guns). He took out a clip and placed it in one of the semiautomatics. He pointed it into space with one eye closed to test his sight. He hadn’t toted a gun since he was trained at Team Rocket Headquarters just after being recruited. He hoped he had not lost his talent.
Down in the laboratory area, Butch proceeded to lab 7. The door slid open after using his clearance card. The dark place was cold, eerie, and had a lifeless aura. He walked through a section of cages containing sickly and mutated pokémon from most of their genetic experiments. Then he came upon a circular stage. Passing by control desks, he entered it and met Cassidy.
"How’s our little friend doing?" asked he, putting his hand on Cassidy’s shoulder.
"See for yourself."
He looked down at the stretch table. Meowth had gone through a metamorphosis. He had gotten slightly bigger: his slink body had become muscle-bound, his eyes had dilated, and his mouth was foaming. He was struggling with the manacles as his eyes twitched.
"Once we release him," said Cassidy, "he’s sure to attack them."
"How certain are you of this? I don’t want any mistakes—this plan has to work perfectly."
"Well…his brain waves are very erratic—I doubt he can grasp logic thought."
"Excellent," he said with a menacing grin.
She smiled up at him. He smiled down at her inviting gaze and kissed her…long and hard. When breaking away he said, "I’ll be back." Then with an expression of consideration, he added: "I have some…loose ends to attend to—yea that’s it…loose ends."
Coming into a small dark room, Butch sits at a desk and turns on a communicative device. A suspicious person comes on the monitor.
"The drug was successfully tested," said Butch.
"Good…when can it be shipped out?"
"As soon as Thursday."
"That’s in three days."
"Yes, we have to duplicate the formula," said Butch, then he eyed him. "You have no reason to be hasty."
"I have prospects already lined up."
"I didn’t know the black market worked so quickly."
"There is a lot of things you do not know."
Butch sneered. "I would say the same to you."
"Watch it kid," he said irked, "I give you funding."
"And I give you business."
"Touché."
Misty was having a difficult time sleeping. She could not get comfortable, twisting and turning, in and out of sleep. She had a heavy heart thinking about the danger awaiting them. She wished and prayed desperately that Ash and Brock would reconsider. They were her best friends and she did not want to loose them. But what was doubly irritating is that they don’t seem to understand the danger. They are just so willing to put their selves on the line for Jessie, James, and Meowth; and for what? She knew that if they understood what they were getting into they would change their minds. And this made her think of James. If they did change their minds, who would help him? Either way, they were going to suffer: help and who knows what, don’t and suffer the pain and guilt of desertion.
Misty needed to get some air. She got up and walked out of her designated room. All was so dark and completely quiet. She walked against the wall so that she would not bump into anything. When she finally got to the landing, she slowly crept down the stairs. Half way there, she could see a dim light from where the kitchen was. Who could be up at this hour? Oh, I hope it isn’t anyone from Team Rocket. She clasped her hands together without making a sound. Oh, please let there not be any Rockets.
She proceeded onward, grasping a poker from the fireplace and held it over her shoulder. You can never be too careful. She crept on, trying to keep calm. Then she heard a rustling sound and what appeared to be silent sobbing. Nearing the corner, she poked her head around. James, in a tee shirt and shorts, was sitting at the table, clutching a tissue; his back was towards her. She withdrew back behind the wall and leaned against it. Poor guy. She felt so much sympathy for him at this moment. She didn’t want to disturb him so she decided to go back upstairs, but she moved abruptly and the poker hit against the wall. She cringed at the loud sound it made.
"Who’s there!" James said jumping out of the chair.
"Uh, it’s just me," she said peering from behind the wall with a sweat drop.
"Oh," said he, turning around as he sat back down. "What are you doing up?" His voice was gruff, perhaps from all the sobbing.
"I-I can’t sleep."
"Join the club," said he.
She laid the poker down by the wall and walked towards the chair next to him. "How are you feeling?"
"You don’t want to know," he said gloomily not looking at her, obviously trying to hind his tears.
"Try me," Misty said as she sat down.
He looked at her for a second. "I can’t even really describe it but it seems like I’m between utter wretchedness and consummate misery."
"I’m sure it’s not that bad," she said compassionately.
"You wouldn’t know," James said grimly.
"You don’t know that."
"Oh, really," said James crossly.
"Really," said she a bit piqued. "Don’t you think I feel horrible about this whole ordeal? It may not be at the intensity you feel, considering Jessie and Meowth are gone, but it is nonetheless a horrible feeling."
"How can you feel so," said James, "you have never cared for us."
"It is not a matter of whether I care for you (not that I don’t)," she said, understandingly, "regardless of being friend or not, you don’t deserve this…it’s…it’s not fair."
"Not fair…" he uttered, then with passion he said, "do you know what it’s like to loose the person you love!"
"I’m about find out," Misty spat out involuntarily. Wait…James loves Jessie? I knew they had something going on.
He looked up at her astonished. Misty loves Ash? or Brock? No. It can’t be Brock. He’s too old for her.
She blushed. "Uhhh…look James, all we can do is hope for the best and be strong," she said trying to make him feel better, as she took his hand between hers and looking sincerely into his eyes. Such pretty eyes, why haven’t I noticed them before? What am I saying? A sweat drop formed as though her thoughts were revealed to him. "I know you’re hurting inside but we can’t allow them to make you feel so awful…e-every thing will be okay. Just you wait and see. Every thing will be okay." Please, God, let us all survive. She smiled compassionately at him.
He reciprocated the gesture, endeavoring to hold back tears.
