Chapter two: memories

Giovanni was sleeping in his dark room at Team Rocket Headquarters. Everything was silent except for the sound of his Persian asleep on the floor next to his bed. Suddenly, the window burst open and a cold breeze filled the room. The man awakened, then got up and went to close the window. When he turned back he let out a scream of horror.

He saw a woman with long purple hair covering all her face so as to make it not completely visible. She wore a black rocket uniform with a red R on it.

"No… not again.." he said terrified "Melissa… what… what are you doing here? Leave me alone… please,"

The woman began to walk in his direction… she kept her hair down and her head low.

"Melissa no! No please… NOOO!"

The powerful boss of Team Rocket awakened as he heard someone knocking on the door.

"Mr Giovanni! Sir!"

"WHAT'S THAT?" he didn't even get up to open the door.

"Sorry, we heard you screaming and we thought you were in danger," the Rocket agent said.

"NO YOU DUMBS! HOW DARE YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE AND GO BACK TO YOUR ROOMS!" Giovanni yelled at his employee.

"Ok… sorry Sir… goodnight," he did as he was told.

Giovanni gave a look at his Persian on the ground as he thought about the nightmare he had before. He was sweating.

"I always see her… it… it must only have been a nightmare but… it was so real," he held his sweaty head in pain. "Oh my beloved Melissa! I'm so sorry… things could have gone in a different way," he said to himself.

Before going back to sleep, he noticed that the window was open.

Jessie awoke at the first rays of sun.

She looked around a bit confused. James and Meowth were sleeping in the same bed which was next to hers. They had spent the night at Jake's house.

Jessie got up smelling the soft fragrance of pancakes from the kitchen and went downstairs wearing her white pajamas.

"Good morning Jake," she said smiling.

"Oh, hi Jessie. It's still early," he answered turning back from the kitchen.

"Do you need any help? I'm not a good cook but if you want I can try to help you," she asked him.

"Don't worry. Take a seat. I'm cooking pancakes for you and your partners,"

"Thanks Jake. That's very nice of you,"

"You're welcome. I'm glad to help Melissa's daughter."

They stayed in silence for some minute. Then, Jake spoke.

"I actually can't believe I've met you again… after all these years. After your mother's disappearance I've desperately tried to find you but with no success," he had tears in his eyes. "Jessie, I've missed you so much," he embraced Jessie and held her close.

"I've missed you too. Besides my mother, you were the only one who truly cared about me," she began to cry.

"Jessie, I swear I've sought you everywhere. But Giovanni gave you to a foster family and didn't let me have any news about you… Jessie, I feel guilty for not keeping you with me but I couldn't find you anywhere,"

"Don't feel guilty. That's not your fault, Jake. I trust you,"

"Thanks, Jessie. I've been waiting for this moment since you were only four."

They hugged for another minute. Then, they let go.

"Jake, what are you doing in this chalet in the middle of the forest? Has Giovanni given you some kind of mission?" Jessie asked him.

"Well, actually… I'm not in Team Rocket anymore,"

"What? But… but why? I've always thought that after 'that mission' you were assigned to a new partner. After all, you were a great agent,"

"The truth is that… after Melissa's disappearance, Giovanni took over the gang after his mother. Do you remember Madam Boss? You were so young after all… I wouldn't surprise at all if you didn't remember about her," Jessie nodded a bit confused. "Well, she was so depressed when Melissa disappeared that she wasn't able to run Team Rocket anymore…" Jessie noticed a single tear on Jake's cheek. "After some weeks, Giovanni fired me,"

"But… but why? You were his best agent with my mother!"

"With your mother. But not alone. Let's just say that I found out something he wanted to keep secret," Jessie was about to speak when Jake gently placed a hand over her mouth. "You wouldn't understand, Jessie. You are not ready yet,"

"I wish I could help you Jake… you mean a lot to me,"

"Don't worry, Jessie. My revenge on Giovanni will be sweet".

Later that morning, Jake decided to help them catching some pokemon. Meowth and James told him about the twerps and their constant failures so he promised he would have caught some pokemon for them to bring to the boss. Jessie felt uncomfortable at the idea that Jake knew about all the missions they had failed. Unconsciously, she had always wanted to be like her mother. Together with Jake, she had been the best Team Rocket agent ever and they had failed not even a mission. But Jessie knew that she wasn't going to be like her. Perhaps, she wasn't cut out for Team Rocket.

"And with this, you should have enough pokemon," Jake said with a grin. He had just caught the last pokemon of the day. So Jessie, James and Meowth had 3 Tangelas, 11 Spearows, 8 Bulbasaurs, 5 Squirtles and 2 Raichus to bring to Giovanni. James and Meowth were excited.

"DONUTS DONUTS DONUTS! When we bring all these pokemon to the boss, he will give us a lot of money as a reward! And I will buy lots and lots of… DONUTS DONUTS DONUTS!"

"Yeah, and I will be his favourite pokemon again!"

"Thanks for your help, Jake," James said.

"No problem, I'm glad to be useful," he smiled satisfied. "Now let's go to my house, it's almost dinner time. You three are my guest of course,"

James and Meowth screamed in unison "YEAAAH!"

"Jake, are you sure we don't bother you? You have to cook for the three of us and…"

Jake interrupted her. "Hey Jessie, don't worry. I've just found you. I would never let my partner's daughter spend the night outside in the forest and have nothing to eat," he smiled at her.

"Thank you, Jake," Jessie smiled back and they all headed to Jake's cabin.