Never a Better Time

"I'll ask you one more time; who are you working for?"

I rolled my eyes, "Firstly, you've asked me 'one more time' three times now. Secondly, nobody. I freed those Pokémon to turn in to you, so they would be returned."

One of my old wanted posters was on the table between us and my hands were cuffed, the chain running under a rod fastened to the table. There was a piece of paper and a pen in front of me. Officer Jenny had confiscated my Pokémon and was currently questioning me inside a barren room.

She slammed her hands on the table, an intimidation tactic I'd seen several times before. "It won't do you any good lying to me. We've known about you from the beginning. We kept you under surveillance because we didn't have any evidence, but now you can either make this easier, or we can bring you in with what we have."

I glared back, "Oh, really, Ms. Smarty-pants? Then riddle me this: if I had the Pokémon, why would I bring them to you instead of skipping town?"

"Maybe you're just a decoy and you're hiding a bigger operation, unless I persuade it out of you."

Getting angry, I continued through gritted teeth, "If you actually did your research, you'd know that I'm no longer affiliated with Team Rocket." I made no mention of Jessie, since she wasn't on the wanted poster, and I didn't want to get her in trouble. She's worked hard and honestly to get where she is today.

Officer Jenny pointed at me, "Aha! You admit that you've worked with Team Rocket!"

"Didn't your parents ever teach you that it's rude to point? Besides, I don't know why you were focusing on one ex-operative when there was a whole operation going on."

She faltered, but then grew serious again, "So you are working with them!"

I took a deep breath, "For the last time, NO! I spotted an operation at the festival, right under the city's nose, I might add, and tried to do the decent thing and bring it down. I'll admit that I intended to do this anonymously to avoid drawing attention to myself, but I took Pokémon from them to bring to you and that's it!"

Leaning closer, Officer Jenny said, "Well, if you really don't work for them any longer, then you won't mind telling me everything that you know."

I looked down, laughing, "I'm sorry to disappoint, but anything I know would be horribly dated. I was just a flunky. The last major operation I was involved in was over a year ago. I don't know anything, and I found out about this operation by complete accident. If you want, I can tell you where it was, but after that stunt I just pulled, I'd wager that they've abandoned it and retreated. They mentioned a hideout, but I didn't hear any specifics. You can try tracking them from this address." I wrote the intersection of the street where their tent had been.

Officer Jenny took it and squinted at it, before saying, "Good; but we'll still have to hold you the night. Can't have you interfering."

I glared at the table, "Fine. But I have a small request. If you do find them and arrest them, they can never know it was me that told you."

"Why? You have friends on that team?"

I laughed derisively, "I couldn't care less what any of them think." All of the ones I care about are out of harm's way right now. "But there's one crazy woman that simply won't take 'no' for an answer. If she ever finds out that I was here, she will break out of any prison you could put her in and come straight after me. I would prefer to avoid that."

Officer Jenny waved her hand, "Fair enough." Opening the door, she said, "Frank, take him to his cell. I'll be working late today." One of the officers came in and opened the lock on the rod, allowing me to move the chain out from under it. I was led to the jail cell I had been in the hour before my interrogation. The officer had me step inside and then undid my handcuffs by reaching through the bars. Out of instinct, I noticed the blunder in this in that I could've grabbed his wrist and pulled, knocking him out on the bars, but I didn't act on it. The goal was to wait this out.

I would prefer to take my final moments in this town with dignity and grace.

-Carrie's POV-

I woke up the next day and got dressed, hoping to see James before he left the police station. He needs to know. I was about to call off the mission to spy on him, but I couldn't anymore because he showed up with incriminating evidence. He could've gotten off scot-free, and he never would've known what I'd been ordered to do.

I absentmindedly said bye to my landlady and ran off to the police station. Taking a shortcut through several alleyways and pushing through the door. Frank sat at the front desk filling out paperwork and Jenny was nowhere to be seen.

"Frank! Where's Officer Jenny? Where's James?"

He looked up, surprised, before answering, "Officer Jenny is interrogating the Rocket agents she brought in last night. As part of the deal, James was released and granted anonymity of his part in their capture. He left right after Officer Jenny brought them in."

I mentally cursed and left to go to James's apartment. Going into the building, I knocked rapidly on his door. Refusing to stop until I got an answer, I heard the doorknob start turning and stopped, preparing to explain myself to James. I took a breath to start, but the words died in my throat when I saw a greasy-looking, middle-aged man with slicked-back hair.

He rubbed his eyes, which had dark circles, "Hey, you ever hear of 'slow down', toots?" After he opened them, he took a closer look, "Hang on… you're James's girl."

"You know James? Where is he? Isn't this his apartment?" I looked past the man and saw that the room was stripped bare of anything that indicated someone was living there, except for the sheets.

The man said, "The name's Larson, and I'm - or I was - James's landlord. Don't think we ever met, but he went on and on about ya. Anyway, he moved out; knocked at my door at an unreasonable hour with a huge hiking pack and his key. He said that I could keep the sheets, since he could get new ones and he expected to camp a lot traveling on foot."

"Did he say where he was going?" I asked, trying to get a lead.

"No, but if he's moving, he'll have to file a letter of resignation at his job. Hey, is everything all right between you two?" He raised an eyebrow.

I turned to leave, "It will be, if I can find him."

"Well, see if ya can convince him to stay. A lot of people in this town would miss him." He looked away, "Not that I care…"

Running off to where the construction crew would be working, I looked among the workers and quickly spotted Thomas, about to heft a bucket of cement up the scaffolding to lay down some bricks on a higher level.

"Thomas!" He looked over and waved, putting down the bucket of cement. "Hey, Carrie!"

I walked up, "Listen, I don't have much time; did James come by here?"

He thought about it for a second, "Yeah, I saw him talking with the boss earlier. Said he was moving. Real shame; won't be the same without him. But he left about half an hour ago."

I looked down, "So he's already left?"

Thomas lifted my chin up with one finger, "If he's still saying his goodbyes, there's one more place I can point you to."

-10 minutes later-

I knocked on the door of the condominium, hoping that the resident was still here and not at work yet. Having heard about her temper, I stopped after five knocks. I'm trying to get information, not a yell in my face.

The door eventually opened and the woman looked at me. Anyone in town could recognize her if they watch the news; she was even already in her suit.

Jessie was a little annoyed as she started putting in one of her earrings, "What is it, girl? Make it snappy, I'm running late for work." She turned around, apparently reaching for the other one, "If you're selling something, I'm not-"

I cut her off, "I'm looking for James."

She stopped for a moment and then resumed putting in the other earring, "You must be Carrie then."

I raised an eyebrow, "You know me?"

Jessie laughed, "We may not live in the same building anymore, but James still keeps his friends posted on what goes on in his life. And he just wouldn't shut up about you; he has it bad for you, girl."

Sighing, I said, "More like had it bad for me…"

"'Has'. Present tense, Carrie. He came by earlier, he was really sad about leaving town, and I told him it was a stupid idea, but he said he had no choice."

"Right; because of what I did."

She turned around, seeming genuinely confused, before her eyebrows shot up, "Oh! Seems we have a misunderstanding here. Before I can tell you where you'll find him, there's something you should probably know."

I looked up questioningly, "What?"

"James isn't leaving because of what you did. I mean, yeah, he said the spying thing wasn't cool, but that it was understandable, and that he didn't care. He even said that he was going to stop at your place to say goodbye after stopping to pick up some food at the store."

I gasped, "Really?!" I was more confused than sad now, "But wait… Why is he leaving then?"

Jessie covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, "Too bad I have to go to work; I'd love a ringside seat to this. Walk with me."

I moved as she grabbed her purse and then stepped out, locking the door. After she finished, I followed her through the hall. She continued where she left off, "See, James is leaving for something much, much higher on his list of things to run from than people finding out who he was."

"And what's that?"

-James's POV-

I looked through the potatoes, trying to determine which ones would keep the longest. Jessie said it was stupid, but the potatoes that I picked out when we started our journey leaving Team Rocket lasted over a month. Hers only lasted three weeks.

The cashier, Miriam, looked from her station in the small store, "Uh, James, I get that you're going to be travelling a while, but I don't see how looking closely at each potato will help…"

I answered without looking, "I don't know how long I'll be traveling on foot, and I'm trying to find the most resilient potatoes."

After picking out a few more potatoes, totaling up to a little under two dozen. I paid for them, and Miriam wrapped them up before I put them in my backpack.

She smiled, "It's a shame to see you go, James, but have a safe journey."

I smiled back and waved, "It's been fun living here, Miriam, and thank you."

Now off to Carrie's-

My thought was cut short as I bumped into someone. "Excuse me, I-" I looked and saw Carrie right in front of me, looking very cross.

I said, "Ah, Carrie, I was just on my way to- OW! OW! OW!" She had grabbed onto my ear and was dragging me somewhere.

"OW! Carrie! Please let me go! OW!" She dragged me into an alley and let me go. I rubbed my sore ear and turned to look at her.

"I'm guessing you found out that I was leaving. Listen, it's not your-"

I was cut off by a slap across my face. Holding my cheek, I listened as Carrie said, "You let me worry that I made you leave. And I run all around town to try to fix this. Only to find out that it wasn't that, but because your spoiled brat of an ex-fiancé is in town?!"

"Yes!" I said. "That's precisely why!"

"She is in jail! So what if she's in town? It's only a matter of days before she's transferred to another town for all of the Team Rocket members' trials. Why are you leaving?! Jessie said you weren't mad at me; don't you care about me enough to stay?"

Realizing what she was getting at, I put a hand on her shoulder, "Carrie, it's because I care about you that I have to leave. I need to protect-"

"Tauros!" She shouted (AN: Pokémon equal of shouting "Bull" as substitute for the expletive.), cutting me off, "I am a damn cop! What can some spoiled brat possibly do to threaten me, especially when she's in jail?"

I shook my head, "She won't stay in there for long. That spoiled brat has contacts in high places and can be out of jail, easy as 1-2-3. Also, she isn't a threat, but she can easily hire someone that is if she finds out that you even looked at me, or I at you. She is absolutely crazy."

Carrie crossed her arms, taking a sturdy stance, "Well, I don't care! And you're going to just drop everything, and leave all these people who appreciate you, a job you're proud of, and me, just because you're afraid of one person who doesn't even have your parents approval anymore?"

I twiddled my thumbs looking away, "Well, when you put it that way, it sounds dumb…" I'll admit that I forgot that my parents were leaving me alone about the marriage. Perhaps if I call them…

Suddenly, my head ached and I clutched it as I doubled over. Colors swam in my vision; a familiar blend that I saw in my dreams once.

No, not now! I just need half an hour to resolve-

I was unable to think coherently as another ache racked my head. Carrie ran forward and held me by my shoulders, "James, what's going on?!"

I got out of her grip and took out a Poké Ball, "Carnivine!" The ball opened and Carnivine started to form next to me, "I need you to get me to- Wha?!" Carnivine was clutching his head as well and he fell over unconscious.

I held his Poké Ball out again, "Return!"

Turning to Carrie, I said, "Listen, I'll resolve everything when I wake up. Just wait."

She grabbed my shoulders again, "What on Earth is going on?!"

My vision was already dimming, "I'll explain… when… I wake… up…" I lost consciousness.

Opening my eyes in a void of blending colors, I saw some glowing orbs, six in total, floating next to me.

It is time to send you. His attention is elsewhere right now, so there will never be another opportunity.

"You couldn't have waited just a bit longer?"

No. I need to send you in now. Brace yourself.

The orbs attached to my belt, becoming Poké Balls, and I was suddenly rushing forward. As I moved forward, a small, black hole came into my vision. Getting closer, I noticed that it wasn't small, but rather large. Cracks surrounded it, and small pieces of the colorful landscape seemed to be caving in, expanding the hole as it ate up more space.

"You're going to send me through there?!"

This is the only way to get you through without his notice. His own damage will be used against him. I'll guide you through to, hopefully, arrive in the right dimension.

"'Hopefully'?!"

Relax, I'm keeping a tether on you in case you get lost. If you do, then it'll pull your spirit back to your body. But I'll only get one shot at this. Your Pokémon should adjust, but as a human, you don't belong there, so you'll retain your spirit form.

"What is this about? Why are you doing this?"

You wanted a chance to be more than an observer, and I'm trying to tip the odds in that world's favor. That's why I found your friend and sent him there. He wanted to repent, and he already had something key to turning the tide of that world's fate.

Before I could open my mouth, to ask more, the voice cut me off.

Enough questions. This window of opportunity will only last as long as the current night in that world does. I must get you through before daybreak.

I was pushed forward at a faster rate and felt only a slight tug as I was shoved through the hole. A white barrier appeared around me, and I felt my flight being guided in several odd directions, even looping around sometimes. As time passed, a light started appearing, the force guiding me pulled me towards it and I was blinded as I got closer, having adjusted to the darkness. I felt a breeze and heard ocean waves as I stood on a beach. As I looked around I noticed it getting lighter, and turned around, seeing the sun rise over the horizon.