Disclaimer: I don't own any character in Pokemon, but this is an original storyline.

A/N: I know, the last chapter was short, but it was really an intermediary chapter.

P.S. Ri2 did bring up some points that I feel I should clarify.

1. Jessie and James failing on purpose?

Not directly on purpose. They are trying to kidnap Pikachu, but their own kindness (deeply buried) raises its head whenever they face off against Ash. With both of them being the underdog where they came from, they feel a little camaraderie with Ash and this interferes with them while they're making plans, which makes the plans have flaws that they don't see because they're too close to the situation. I hope you guys understand that. I'm not sure how to put it simpler.

2. Keeping worse Rockets off the twerps backs?

Again, they're not doing it consciously. They're not good Rockets because they have too much empathy for the underdogs, causing them to be the laughingstock of Team Rocket. As long as they're kept busy, no one has to deal with them, so Giovanni has kept them on a case they found just to keep them out of everyone's hair. He really doesn't take their reports on Pikachu's power seriously because he thinks that their idiots. Because he's kept them on a case they're willing to keep working on (for whatever reason) he hasn't gotten a real report on how strong Pikachu actually is (Butch and Cassidy don't count since they're almost as bad as Jessie and James). In this way, Jessie and James have been able to keep the more dangerous Rockets from attacking Ash and company because they don't believe the reports and thus don't think Pikachu is a worthy prize. It's completely unintentional, but it is due to them.

Jessie and James? Kind?

Like I said, it's from themselves being underdogs. They feel a connection with Ash. I'm not saying they're angels, but they are kind deep down inside, which is also why they have on occasion, helped them and not tried to take advantage of the situation to steal Pikachu.

James and his fiancée?

Yes, he's scared of his fiancée, and that is a really big reason he doesn't want to go to his parents, but like any man, he also has some pride. He's not going to go crawling back to his parents for money because it would one, demean him as a man, and two, give them a bigger position to push him into marriage with Jessica. Also, do you really think a man with any pride would admit that he doesn't want to go home because he's scared of his fiancée?

I hope this helped alleviate some confusion.

Now, on with the story!

Gambles and Choices

The four of them set out early in the morning, before the sun had even risen. While Jessie and James knew about Ash, they were still in the dark about why he was the way he was. However, they did have some extremely valuable information.

Apparently there was a Rocket facility not that far from where they were presently. It was being used for some research that Jessie and James weren't privileged to know. However, they were aware that this facility had been where they had rendezvoused with the Red Rockets they had been guiding, and they, being the curious people they were, had investigated. They hadn't been able to find out much, but there was a lot more scientists than there were supposed to be in such a small and relatively unknown facility. There was also a ridiculously high amount of security that hadn't been there just a few months ago.

This was considered the prime location to begin the search for Misty.

The group was going to use Jessie and James' security codes to get into the facility, with Jessie and James leading in the 'captured' Ash and Brock.

Ash watched as the two tied the rope tightly around his wrists, his eyes watching intently on the way the knot was tied. It could be vital to know how to untie it without those two. This was a risky gambit. He couldn't take the chance that they'd actually get to the separation point without mishap.

He tried to look downcast and disheartened as they lead both him and Brock into the growth of the forest, far away from the warm sunlight and the vital waters he needed.

He would have felt more comfortable if he'd had Pikachu, but for the ruse to be effective, he'd had to let them put his Pikachu in an electric-proof cage.

This had to look real to be successful. Otherwise, they would all be in trouble.

It was a large gamble to rescue one girl; but it was Misty. Ash's royal training was insisting that one girl was not enough to risk the future of the merfolk on. But his own heart demanded that he do whatever necessary to get her back. He just couldn't leave her to Team Rockets evil plans.

Who knew what they planned to do with her.

Distantly, he had made himself admit the possibility that this may all be an elaborate scheme to trap him. But he couldn't believe that. The Red Rockets could have abducted him as easily as they had Misty. So why didn't they? Why did they want Misty instead of him? A revealed merman?

The only answer he could think of was that they wanted her for something they couldn't do to a merman.

Rape, maybe?

But then why her? There had to be plenty of other, more available full-grown women to choose from. Why had they kidnapped a perfectly normal fifteen year old?

What was going on in their twisted minds?

Jessie and James lead them to a large undergrowth, concealed almost completely from the low light and the plant life surrounding it.

They could have walked a foot away from it and would never have seen it.

No one stopped to question them. They were just two Rockets bringing in more research subjects as far as anyone else knew.

They were lead through a maze of corridors before arriving at what looked like a cellblock.

James carefully untied the rope from around Ash and Brock's wrists.

"The lab is straight through there," Jessie said, nodding to a door opposite them, her hands already working the latch on the cage and releasing Pikachu.

The door was enormous. Probably to intimidate the research subjects that were captured. There was no handle, no windows. There was, however, a keypad on the right side that was accompanied by an optical scanner.

"We're going to get to the fire alert system. Remember, you only have about ten minutes before we set off the alarm. You should be able to slip out in the confusion. You have to get everything done before then," Jessie continued.

With a curt nod of his head, the group parted ways. Jessie and James slipping back out the main door, back into the twisting maze of endless corridors.

Now they had to find a way into the labs.

Giovanni looked impassively at the closely monitored container. The girl floating inside it was going to be his key to achieving all his goals. With her, his plans would surely come to be reality.

He'd never let her go. He'd taken precautions for such.

No one believed him, except for his pet scientist who would believe anything Giovanni told him. But that was alright.

As long as he was obeyed, it really didn't matter what his underlings thought.

Now, all he had to do was control her.

He was looking forward to breaking her will.

A/N: I know. This is a meaner chapter than most. It contains themes that were not suitable for young children so I upped the rating. I couldn't continue the story without illustrating how cruel Team Rocket really is.

So, how do you want them to get in the lab?

1. Through an air duct

2. Catch the door before it closes when someone enter/leaves

3. Knock someone out and use them to open the door (the retinal scan)

4. Suggestions welcome

P.S. I know for a fact that there are non-pokemon fish in the pokemon world because you see them in a fish tank during the episode of "The Misty Mermaid."

I feel vindicated.

P.P.S. Sorry the chapters aren't longer. I'm working full time with school, so I don't really have a lot of time to write. I'm still writing this story solely because of the encouragement of you readers. Otherwise I would have quit by now and used the time to get some extra sleep.

P.P.S.S. Review please!