Last Blast Off: After Team Rocket, part 1
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Three figures walked nervously down the hall, trying to brace themselves for what was coming. In the door just ahead, they would certainly be punished somehow.
"If we get one more pay cut...Oh, I can't take another! I mean, we get paid dirt as it is," Jessie whined, glancing at her two companions.
James shrugged. "We don't have to pay for our supplies, though...all you do with your paycheck is buy more clothes."
Jessie blushed. "Well, so? I've gotta wear *something*" At this, James blushed.
"Maybe it's not a pay cut, guys," Meowth cut in, "I mean, I know we really screwed up this time, but the Boss can't cut our pay any more than it already has been. It's like mowing asphalt." His human companions shrugged.
"Well then," James said, "What will he do? We've messed up so many times, heh, we're definitely in for something. Why else would the Boss call for us?"
"Of course, but let's just hope it's nothing too bad," Jessie said.
The three had come to the door now, their insides twirling. They stopped there, but none of them reached for the knob.
They all exchanged nervous glances, and a moment later, two pairs of eyes landed on James. He sighed, wanting almost to protest, but he didn't. His trembling hand lowered and twisted the knob.
Giovanni's office was dark as usual, shadows falling over the face of Team Rocket's leader. As the three entered the room, they could hear the steady purring of a Persian, which was lying on contentedly on Giovanni's lap. Meowth winced.
Silence hung in the air as the three Rockets stood before their boss. Then, James' unsteady voice: "B...boss?"
Giovanni moved slightly, stroking the Persian's head. "Your here. I'm surprised that you are at least faithful enough to come when your called."
All three companions gulped. Things didn't look good so far.
"Er, Boss, sir--why *have* you called us here?" Jessie questioned cautiously.
Giovanni laughed shortly. "Why have I? No...the question is, why *shouldn't* I call you? I think it should be obvious."
"Um..." Jessie was unsure what to say out of embarrassment and downright nervousness.
"Oh, so you need a little recap to remind you? Very well, then."
Giovanni opened a drawer and drew from it a large stack of paper, then set it heavily on the desk.
"Go on...take it. Look it over," Giovanni gestured.
The three Rockets carefully came closer, not sure of what was going on. Jessie lifted the stack of paper and began looking over with her Team mates.
"Need a hint?" asked Giovanni. "Ok, then, I'll tell you exactly what it is. On these sheets of paper, every mistake, failure, and mishap you three have ever been the cause of are listed. Quite a hefty stack, isn't it? I actually lost count of them all, but these are the most recent--and a good few of them."
Jessie, James and Meowth looked horrified. Skimming through the many pages, they realized that all the mistakes listed had really happened, thanks to them.
"Do you three know what this means?" Giovanni asked softly, like the calm before a storm. He looked them over, then continued more sternly.
"First off, a terrible loss to Team Rocket. Financially, the money wasted with all of this can't even begin to be paid by all of your salaries put together. We have lost dignity because of your immense stupidity and repetitive failure. You have wasted time and supplies, and therefore, are useless, if not a nuisance, to the Team."
Jessie and James looked at each other, terrified.
"There is more I could say of the shame you have brought to Team Rocket, but I don't want to waste anymore time. Besides, I'm sure you already know. I have been too lenient on you three, and I'm done being Mister Nice Guy."
With that, he slammed his fist to the desk. "I ask you to get one Pikachu, just a harmless Pikachu from a bunch of little kids and you fail at that! And after I told you to stop with that, you still tried and failed. You make anyone on the team look good. A Psyduck with a hangover could do better than you!"
Giovanni was shaking with rage. "I think it's obvious what your punishment is this time," he hissed.
"A...a pay cut?" offered James.
"NO! YOU FOOLS! YOUR ALL FIRED! FIRED, YOU HEAR? OFF THE TEAM FOR GOOD!"
Jessie and James stood straight, their mouths opened, forgetting to breathe. Meowth had been knocked onto the floor. None of them could speak.
"Ahem. As I was saying--your off the team. No second chances, no deals, no buts. I should have done this long ago..." his voice bellowed on, "You have 24 hours to get the hell out of Team Rocket!"
James and Jessie were both opening and closing their mouths, but no words came.
"Not a word about Team Rocket to anyone once you leave. If you say a thing about our plans or anything to _anyone_ you die instantly. Understood? And don't doubt me."
Meowth had struggled to his feet, and was also struck dumb.
"Out! OUT! Go to your dorm, take your things, and get out of here before I change my mind and kill you instead!"
Stiff and unable to speak, the white-faced companions clumsily stumbled out of the office.
~To be continued...
~~~
~~~
Three figures walked nervously down the hall, trying to brace themselves for what was coming. In the door just ahead, they would certainly be punished somehow.
"If we get one more pay cut...Oh, I can't take another! I mean, we get paid dirt as it is," Jessie whined, glancing at her two companions.
James shrugged. "We don't have to pay for our supplies, though...all you do with your paycheck is buy more clothes."
Jessie blushed. "Well, so? I've gotta wear *something*" At this, James blushed.
"Maybe it's not a pay cut, guys," Meowth cut in, "I mean, I know we really screwed up this time, but the Boss can't cut our pay any more than it already has been. It's like mowing asphalt." His human companions shrugged.
"Well then," James said, "What will he do? We've messed up so many times, heh, we're definitely in for something. Why else would the Boss call for us?"
"Of course, but let's just hope it's nothing too bad," Jessie said.
The three had come to the door now, their insides twirling. They stopped there, but none of them reached for the knob.
They all exchanged nervous glances, and a moment later, two pairs of eyes landed on James. He sighed, wanting almost to protest, but he didn't. His trembling hand lowered and twisted the knob.
Giovanni's office was dark as usual, shadows falling over the face of Team Rocket's leader. As the three entered the room, they could hear the steady purring of a Persian, which was lying on contentedly on Giovanni's lap. Meowth winced.
Silence hung in the air as the three Rockets stood before their boss. Then, James' unsteady voice: "B...boss?"
Giovanni moved slightly, stroking the Persian's head. "Your here. I'm surprised that you are at least faithful enough to come when your called."
All three companions gulped. Things didn't look good so far.
"Er, Boss, sir--why *have* you called us here?" Jessie questioned cautiously.
Giovanni laughed shortly. "Why have I? No...the question is, why *shouldn't* I call you? I think it should be obvious."
"Um..." Jessie was unsure what to say out of embarrassment and downright nervousness.
"Oh, so you need a little recap to remind you? Very well, then."
Giovanni opened a drawer and drew from it a large stack of paper, then set it heavily on the desk.
"Go on...take it. Look it over," Giovanni gestured.
The three Rockets carefully came closer, not sure of what was going on. Jessie lifted the stack of paper and began looking over with her Team mates.
"Need a hint?" asked Giovanni. "Ok, then, I'll tell you exactly what it is. On these sheets of paper, every mistake, failure, and mishap you three have ever been the cause of are listed. Quite a hefty stack, isn't it? I actually lost count of them all, but these are the most recent--and a good few of them."
Jessie, James and Meowth looked horrified. Skimming through the many pages, they realized that all the mistakes listed had really happened, thanks to them.
"Do you three know what this means?" Giovanni asked softly, like the calm before a storm. He looked them over, then continued more sternly.
"First off, a terrible loss to Team Rocket. Financially, the money wasted with all of this can't even begin to be paid by all of your salaries put together. We have lost dignity because of your immense stupidity and repetitive failure. You have wasted time and supplies, and therefore, are useless, if not a nuisance, to the Team."
Jessie and James looked at each other, terrified.
"There is more I could say of the shame you have brought to Team Rocket, but I don't want to waste anymore time. Besides, I'm sure you already know. I have been too lenient on you three, and I'm done being Mister Nice Guy."
With that, he slammed his fist to the desk. "I ask you to get one Pikachu, just a harmless Pikachu from a bunch of little kids and you fail at that! And after I told you to stop with that, you still tried and failed. You make anyone on the team look good. A Psyduck with a hangover could do better than you!"
Giovanni was shaking with rage. "I think it's obvious what your punishment is this time," he hissed.
"A...a pay cut?" offered James.
"NO! YOU FOOLS! YOUR ALL FIRED! FIRED, YOU HEAR? OFF THE TEAM FOR GOOD!"
Jessie and James stood straight, their mouths opened, forgetting to breathe. Meowth had been knocked onto the floor. None of them could speak.
"Ahem. As I was saying--your off the team. No second chances, no deals, no buts. I should have done this long ago..." his voice bellowed on, "You have 24 hours to get the hell out of Team Rocket!"
James and Jessie were both opening and closing their mouths, but no words came.
"Not a word about Team Rocket to anyone once you leave. If you say a thing about our plans or anything to _anyone_ you die instantly. Understood? And don't doubt me."
Meowth had struggled to his feet, and was also struck dumb.
"Out! OUT! Go to your dorm, take your things, and get out of here before I change my mind and kill you instead!"
Stiff and unable to speak, the white-faced companions clumsily stumbled out of the office.
~To be continued...
~~~