Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Chapter 1
"See you later Mom!" "Pikachu!" "We'll be back soon!" "Toge-pi!" "Bye Mrs. Ketchum!" The group set off for Professor Oak's libratory the next day, waving goodbye to Delia and Mimey. As they turned to the road ahead, Misty complimented Brock on his idea. "This was a good idea, Brock. I don't know why we didn't think of it earlier."
"Thanks. It is pretty simple; after all, Professor Oak is a Pokémon expert. If anyone knows the place to go, it's him."
Ash increased his pace. "Plus, I get to tell him all about the Pokémon I saw!" Misty and Brock had to hurry to keep up with him.
In no time at all they had arrived at Professor Oak's laboratory, where they were greeted by Tracey.
"Hey guys! How's it going?" Tracey looked happy to see them. He had his Marill with him.
"Hi Tracey!" the friends chorused. As they headed up the hill to the lab, Misty let her Azurill out to play with its parent.
"Professor Oak has something special for you guys. I don't know what it is, don't ask me," he added before the group could ask. "All I know is that it's pretty important."
"Sounds like fun. All right! Important stuff, here I come!" "Pi-Pikachu!" Ash went into a jog, Pikachu on his shoulder. Misty called out in vain to stop him.
"Ash, be careful, don't run into - "
Ash turned his head as he ran. "I'm fine, Mis - " CRUNCH! As he and Pikachu slid slowly down the wall of the laboratory, his friends passed by without a glance. Misty did complete her sentence though.
" - that wall."
"Hmm, I wonder what it could be?" Brock mused aloud.
"Wonder what what could be, Brock?" Professor Oak stood in the doorway, a notepad and pen in one of his hands, and a cup of coffee in the other. After they whole group exchanged greetings (and after Ash and Pikachu caught up, their faces slowly returning to their normal shape), Professor Oak led them inside. Stories, both fascinating and irrelevant, were told in the Professor's living room. Finally Oak stretched and got up. "Well, if you don't mind, Ash, I'd like to get down to business. I was hoping you'd come, because I have an... errand... for you."
"For me?" Ash tried to look surprised. Misty and Brock looked about to protest, but Oak seemed to know what they were about to say.
"You two are welcome to accompany him; in fact it will be better that way," Oak added, turning to face the laboratory machines. "Yes, much better."
A brief silence followed, broken by Brock. "If you don't mind my asking, Professor, what exactly is this - errand?"
Oak turned around, surprised. "Oh deary me, I forgot to explain, didn't I? Well, you'd better follow me." He led them into the lab and sat down at his computer. Several virtual folders and subfolders and two encrypted passwords later, the computer screen went into a video taken above some sort of large building, looking down on the roof. Jungle canopy formed a sea of foliage around the building, which looked new, but... there was something strange about it that Ash couldn't identify.
"This is a live satellite video of central Guyana, South America. The building you see is called the Mew Investigation Department, or MID. The Department's mission, as you may have guessed, is to study the origin, nature, and activity of the New Species Pokémon, Mew. Recently, the scientists and researchers there have made an astonishing discovery. Unfortunately, I can't reveal that discovery to you... " Ash almost groaned, but checked it. "... but once you are there, I think it will be safe for you to find out. The researchers there will tell you all you need to know."
Ash immediately cheered up. "We're going to that place? Awesome!"
Misty was curious. "But why, Professor Oak? Is there something you need us to deliver, like we delivered the GS Ball to Professor Ivy?"
Oak smiled. "Exactly, Misty. I need you three to deliver a photograph to the Department. This photograph may contain crucial evidence as to where Mew is currently living. I can't risk sending it virtually, there's too many ways it could be detected. I'm counting on you three to get that photo to the Department safely. But enough about that now." Oak blushed. "I've gone and worried you before you even get a chance to rest. How about we take a stroll in the fields?"
Ash, who had been busy wondering what the Professor had meant by "safely", seconded the motion. "Yeah, that sounds great. I'd like to see my Pokémon, it's been a while."
/
Thankfully, Ash's Tauros waited until he, Misty, Brock, Tracey, and Professor Oak were well clear of the laboratory to stampede. Ash ran forward, laughing "Tauros!" A moment later, he turned and ran the other way, crying "TAUROS!" Pikachu was quick-minded enough to use Thunderbolt, and after the initial shock of reunification [*haha that's punny*], the 30 Tauros calmed down, and Ash remained in one piece.
"... for now," Misty reminded him. But Ash wasn't paying attention; a second stampede was following in the dust of the Tauros. Ash and Pikachu ran out once again to greet their friends.
"HEEEYYY GUUYYS!" Ash disappeared under a crowd of loving Pokémon. As Misty, Brock, Tracey, and Professor Oak hurried to catch up, they could hear Ash greeting his Pokémon individually.
"Bulbasaur! How's the peace-keeping going?" "Bulba-Saur!" "Hey, Totodile, still dancing?" "Totototototo!" "Noctowl, I bet you saw me coming miles from here, you can fly that high! "Brrrrrr!" "Kingler, careful with those pincers!" "Kukiikukii!" "Phanpy, how's life been treating you?" "Phanpy Phan!""Cyndaquil, you're flame's higher than ever, but try not to burn the others please!" "Quil, Cynda!" "Heracross, glad to see you're trying to get sap out of someone besides Bulbasaur!" "Herrac!" "Careful Muk, don't hurt yourself while while swallowing me!" "Muuukkk!" "Bayleef, I'm glad to see you too!" "Baayyy!" BOOM! BOOM! "SNORLAX SNOR!" Even Snorlax was there to greet its trainer. The whole mess was rather sentimental, and it was quite some time before Ash was allowed to get up. He then went off to do various activities with his Pokémon. They were having so much fun that Misty, Brock, and Tracey got tired of watching and joined in with their Pokémon. Finally Ash managed to separate himself from his Pokémon, though his efforts at retrieving Pikachu failed miserably.
/
The next day, Ash and his friends returned to the lab, this time accompanied by Ash's mother. They were sitting in the living room with Professor Oak and Tracey.
Professor Oak sipped his drink, this time his usual tea. "Well, down to business. I'm not trying to hurry you out of here, but the Department needs the photo sometime soon. I can arrange for a plane to take you to Guyana. You should take a full team of Pokémon with you." Ash thought again of possible reasons for all this security surrounding the errand. How important was the mission of the Mew Investigation Department that it required a maze of virtual folders and passwords simply to access a satellite view of the building? How vital was the photo that sending it virtually to the Department would be too risky? Who would want that photo so badly, and for what reasons? Well, it can't be that important, seeing as Professor Oak asked us to transport it, said the tiny under-confident voice in Ash's head. What are you talking about? Professor Oak thinks I'm great, he's told me so! said the very loud over-confident voice in Ash's head. Ash quickly snapped out of his internal argument when his mother voiced his thoughts.
"Professor, I'm not worried or anything, but why all this secrecy and security?" Delia did indeed sound worried.
"Oh, don't worry, Delia," Oak said quickly, "I'm sure these three will come to no harm. It's just protocol. We wouldn't want that photo to fall into the wrong hands."
"Who would want to steal a photo being used for scientific research?" Brock asked.
"Hobbyists or collectors?" Tracey guessed. "I don't know," Oak replied. "For all we know, greedy collectors could be watching us." But Oak looked like he knew of other kinds of people want would want that photo.
/
One week later, after Ash, Misty, and Brock had each spent some time at home and relaxed, they returned to Professor Oak's lab. Ash began the difficult process of choosing which Pokémon to bring with him on the trip. Pikachu, of course, was his #1 spot. He decided to take Professor Oak's advise and bring a full party, so he needed to choose five more Pokémon. This was easier said than done. Ash sat thinking under a tree with Pikachu as Misty and Brock showed up.
"Hey, Ash," Misty said. "What're you looking so conflicted about? Trying to decide what to have for lunch?"
Ash smiled in spite of himself. "No, I'm trying to decide which Pokémon to bring. I don't want to disappoint any of them. What do you guys think?"
Brock shrugged. "We can't make the decision for you, Ash. But I wouldn't worry too much about it. It's not like we're going to be gone for long."
Ash lightened up. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Pikachu, let's go and tell them." He and Pikachu went off to meet his Pokémon, whom Bulbasaur had gathered together at one of the lakes to prevent them from surrounding Ash and begging.
When the two came back with Bayleef, Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, Heracross, and Totodile, Ash saw that Misty and Brock had also selected their teams. Playing in a nearby pond were Staryu, Starmie, Horsea, Corsola, and Psyduck (with a water tube). Togepi sat in Misty's lap. Brock was polishing Onix, with the help of Geodude, Crobat, Vulpix, and Forretress. Brock looked up.
"How'd it go, Ash?"
"I thought my Pokémon that I didn't choose were going to mob me," Ash replied, "but Snorlax just shook my hand and the others followed suit. I told them I'd be back soon."
Misty giggled. "Snorlax shook your hand? I'm surprised you're still alive!" Ash blushed, and tried to adjust his hair, which had gone wild after Snorlax shook Ash like a toy (in a friendly way, of course). Bayleef looked concerned and tried to help him with her vines. Then Professor Oak came out of his lab with Tracey and Mrs. Ketchum.
"You folks ready to go? You should leave soon if you want to make it to Viridian in time for your flight. I'm sorry I can't let Tracey go, but I need him here."
"I don't know how you'll be able to manage without me, but I'm sure you guys will be okay," said Tracey jokingly.
"Toge-pi!" chirped Togepi.
Soon enough, it was time to say goodbye. Ash, Brock, and Misty departed, waving to Oak, Delia, and Tracey, along with Delia's Mr. Mime and Tracey's Marill, Scyther, and Venonat. Oak had to clear his throat before shouting to the distant group: "We're counting on you!" The three figures waved in acknowledgment and then turned back to the road ahead of them.
Delia whispered, "Be safe." Mimey patted her back.
"Mime!"
/
Unbeknownst to either of the groups of parting friends and family, three pairs of eyes watched, planning. Or at least, attempting to plan.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the twerps, off on another journey. How exciting." James grinned his best evil grin.
"Yes, how exciting indeed. The more those twerpy palls travel, the more chances we have of stealing Pikachu." Jessie smoothed her hair anxiously. "We've tried a million times and we'll try two million more. One of these day's we're bound to get lucky. It's like playing the lottery."
"What're you talking about?" Meowth's eyes shone. "Making a good capture requires more than luck an' determination. It requires skill, daring, sense, creativity, confidence , and lots more. We, as proud members of Team Rocket, just need to work harder!"
Jessie stopped watching Ash and his friends for a moment. "Yes! You're right, Meowth! We've been too lazy to even try to capture any of the twerps' Pokémon in... how many days has it been?"
James pulled out a notebook and counted. "21. That's five whole weeks!"
Jessie frowned. "Really?... I could have sworn it was more than five."
Meowth sighed. "What's a cat to do? You guys leave the countin' to Me-owth. The point is, we need to renew our energy!"
"Go green!" James suggested. Jessie and James stared.
"Maybe," continued Meowth, "but what I meant was, we need to refresh our methods. Dig deeper pits or put somethin' in them that makes it impossible to get out. Build faster machines so we can make our getaways before the twerps can blink an eye. An' maybe skip the motto once an' a while." All three paused to digest this last suggestion. "Okay, well, forget about that. But we will capture that Pikachu!"
"And stop being lazy!" Jessie shouted.
"And convert to clean energy!" James yelled.
"TEAM ROCKET!" all three chorused.