Title: Explanations and Expectations - Part 2
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: This part is worse than the first part! HA!
~*~*~*~*~
"Cassidy, please, if you've never listened to me before, listen to me now. Try something new."
"No way!" Cassidy grasped onto her pigtails defensively.
"You've had the same hair style since you were seven!"
"Five."
"All the more reason to try something new," Jessie said, gently taking the pigtails from Cassidy's hands and looking at them curiously. "Could you hand me those scissors?"
"NO!!!!!"
"Calm down, I'm not going to cut them!" Jessie rolled her eyes.
"Why don't you cut *your* hair?"
"Because I'm setting a fashion statement," Jessie said. "You're just dressing like a seven year old."
"Five year old."
"Whatever!" Jessie sighed. "If you'd just let me try something ..."
"No way, Jessie, I know you and your experiments. I'll end up looking like something out of Rocky Horror Picture Show!"
"At least it'll be better than looking like Sailor Moon."
"I do not look like Sailor Moon!" Cassidy grabbed her hair back definantely. "I refuse to change my hair in any way, shape, or form."
"Could you at least wear it down?" Jessie sighed, obviously aggrivated. Cassidy rolled her eyes, blaming herself for giving in.
"Fine, fine. I'll wear it down. But you have to wear your hair down too ... with no hairspray!"
"No hairspray?" Jessie looked shocked, then smiled. "I guess I can live one evening. And you can too."
"Right," Cassidy said, taking down her pigtails carefully, then brushing her hair out.
"See? You look great," Jessie swung her chair around to face a mirror. Cassidy seemed less than pleased, but then smiled slightly.
"It'll do. For one evening."
"Right," Jessie took the brush and brushed out her own hair. She paused, obviously discouraged by her looks, then grabbed the scissors and chopped off nearly two feet of her hair.
"Jessie!" Cassidy looked at her strangely.
"It's time for a change," She grinned. "You want to see my dress?"
She didn't wait for an answer, but ran to her closet and pulled out her dress. It was a mint green dress, tiny flowers gracing the bottom, with thin spagetti straps.
"Like it?"
"It's beautiful!" Cassidy said. "And now, my dress."
Cassidy ran over to the closet and pulled out her own dress, a pale pink spagetti strap, with butterflies decorating the front.
"You actually picked out something nice," Jessie said matter-of-factly, smiling to let Cassidy know she was just kidding.
"Oh, sure!" Cassidy rolled her eyes. "We should finish getting ready ... you realize we have ten minutes before the guys come?"
Jessie's eyes flew to the clock, then she gasped and grabbed her dress.
"Geez, we need to hurry!"
***
"I haven't eaten at a place this fancy in ages," Jessie said, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Wait ... make that never."
"Me neither," Cassidy admitted, taking her chances and slipping her arm into Butch's. He looked down at her, chuckling softly.
"A little early, don't you think?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, a little too early in the evening."
"It's never too early," Cassidy grinned.
"See? Why can't we be like that," Jessie rolled her eyes, folding her arms and staring at James expectantly.
"What?" James blushed, and Jessie's face softened.
"They are cute, though, don't you think?" She asked, turning back to look at Butch and Cassidy.
"Definitely," James smiled at her.
"Not for long," Cassidy answered. "We still have a little mission we have to do ... find that stupid little school. How pointless."
"But that can wait," Butch flashed her a smile, then deciding to take chances of his own, kissed the top of her head lightly.
"You never kiss *me*!" Jessie kicked James in the leg under the table.
"If he did, you two would probably be on the floor making out," Cassidy said, trying to hold back her laughter.
"Not so!"
"Besides," Cassidy shrugged. "We're cute together."
"Pigtailed or not," Butch said, brushing his hand through Cassidy's hair. "Jessie finally convinced you to take those down?"
"Yeah!" Jessie stuck out her tongue at Cassidy.
"Whatever," Cassidy ignored Jessie. "So what mission are you guys on?"
Jessie and James exchanged nervous glances, and Jessie bit her lip.
"Well ... I think the boss gave up on us with the Pikachu case," Jessie said, looking at the table. "We haven't really gotted reassigned yet, so we were considering ..."
"Quiting?"
"Still finishing my sentences, just like you used to."
"Seriously? You're seriously considering quiting?"
"Well, haven't you considered it?" Jessie asked her sincerely. "I mean, really ... if I were you two, I'd certainly be tired of getting thrown into jail over and over again ..."
"At least Officer Jenny knows us by name!" Butch smiled. "Or at least ... by number ..."
"Shut up!" Cassidy laughed, nudging him slightly. "But yeah, Jess, I guess you're right ... I mean, I haven't ever really considered quiting, but ..."
"Why don't you? I mean, haven't you wondered what life is like outside of Team Rocket?"
"Boring."
"Not any more boring than being thrown into jail repeatedly."
"Right again," Cassidy sighed, then looked up at Butch. "What about you?"
"I'll go with whatever you want to do."
"But I don't know," Cassidy said, wishing she had her pigtails to tug like she always did when she was nervous.
"It might be interesting," James put in.
"You're right ... both of you are right ..."
"But really Cassidy, what have you got to lose? Besides your jail numbers, of course ..."
"She's right again," Butch quickly replied before Cassidy could open her mouth.
"Well ... alright. It's time for a career change. That is," Cassidy looked up at Butch. "If you're coming with me ... I could never leave without you ..."
"Of course I'd come with you!"
"There's only one problem we can think of," Jessie sighed. "Meowth."
"Meowth? What about him?"
"Well ..." Jessie looked at James expectantly.
"He's a friend, and we can't very well just leave him," James said.
"Then take him with you," Cassidy said. "If that's the only problem ..."
"But he wants to stay with Team Rocket. He wants to be the top cat."
"Then give him a choice, big deal," Cassidy snuggled closer to Butch and sighed, content.
"Should we talk to Meowth tomorrow?" Jessie asked James, subconsciously scooting an inch or two closer to him.
"Yeah," James smiled.
"But for now, let's just relax," Jessie said, looking at him seductively, then kissing him softly.
"Whoa," Cassidy snickered. "Maybe we better leave, Butch ..."
"Yeah, we might end up on the floor making out," Jessie said sarcastically.
"At least you're making some progress," Cassidy said. Jessie kicked her underneath the table.
"Tomorrow, Meowth," She said looking up at James. "But that's tomorrow ..."
***
"You mean to tell me that all of yous want to quit the team?" Meowth said, his high pitched voice in an annoyed tone as he looked at the four Rocket members in front of him.
"Well, yes Meowth, that's what we've been thinking about," Jessie said nervously.
"Did yous think of what Meowth wants?"
"Yes ..."
"I wanna be top cat," Meowth said, his eyes narrowing. "And yous expect me to just quit with you?"
"Meowth, you know we're you friends," James began, but Jessie placed a warning hand over his mouth.
"I've always just wanted one thing ..." Meowth looked to the ground. "To be top cat ..."
He paused, his eyes fixiated on the ground. Jessie slipped her hand into James', and they both gave each other an encouraging nod.
"I used to be top cat," Meowth began, then laughed, as if it were an absurd idea. "Yeah, I was the favorite. Until that Persian came along. Then it was out with the old cat, and in with the new. And I was stuck with the highest ranked team of the time, which was yous two. I wasn't too happy, but I eventually got used to you. And you know ... I may seem mad or ungrateful at time, but really, yous two are the only two friends I have. If I stayed in Team Rocket, I would just get shuffled around from team to team for the rest of my life. If I go with you, I can live in pleasure with my best friends for the rest of my life, and my eight other ones ..."
He looked up, then smirked.
"What've got to lose?" He shrugged. "Count me in."
A look of relief washed over everyone's faces, as Jessie and James bent down to give their old friend a hug and a scratch behind the ears.
"Just don't get all huggy kissy on me!" Meowth pushed them away and folded his arms, though he couldn't help but grin.
"Now that you've convinced Meowth, we can go talk to Giovanni," Cassidy said confidently.
"Right," Jessie said with an air of arrogance in her voice. "Come on James, don't wimp out on me now!"
"But Jessie, what if this doesn't work?"
"Stop whining! If there's one thing I hate, it's whiners!"
"Shall we lead the way?" Butch laughed at the other duo, then held out his hand to Cassidy.
"I believe so," Cassidy placed a delicate hand in Butch's, and the two began the walk towards the headquarters. Jessie soon followed, a fan in one hand and James in the other, followed by a confident Meowth, all ready for a change in their life.
Something they would, one way or another, most certainly get.
~*~*~*~*~
"Cassidy you do it ... he likes you ..."
"Me? No way, he's hated me since the breeding center scandal ..."
"Wasn't it a secret?"
"It was a scandal, James, any fool could realize that."
"'Cept James, you mean ..."
Butch, Cassidy, James, Jessie, and Meowth all waited for their appointment with Giovanni outside the huge office, a large red 'R' gleaming on the wall behind them. Jessie paced back and forth, more out of anxiety than nervousness. James, terrified, sat in a chair biting his lip. Cassidy stood next to Butch, tugging her pigtails so hard she thought she'd pull them out. Meowth was the only calm one, quietly sipping a cup of water and looking generally bored.
"I guess I could do it ..." Cassidy took a deep breath.
"I think you'd do the best out of all of us," Butch said, giving her a reassuring hug and a kiss on her neck.
"I'll certainly try ... you'll all have to back me up ..."
"Sure, fine," Jessie said, obviously distracted with her own thoughts.
"Just so long as I don't do the talkin', I'll go with any plan," Meowth said, finishing his water and tossing the cup into a nearby trash can.
"Stand up, James," Jessie ordered sharply. Her face suddenly softened, and she came over and wrapped her hands around his neck.
"We can do this," She said quietly. "Together."
"Ladies? Gentlemen? ...And cat?"
The five Rocket members looked up into the face of the secretary, a clipboard in her hand and a pencil over her ear.
"The boss will see you now," She said, motioning towards the large, looming doors. All five held their breath as Cassidy stepped forward and opened the door.
Not a shed of light emerged from inside the door. Only one light shined, a tiny desk lamp, slightly illuminating a chair where a man sat, his hand softly stroking the head of a sleek Persian. Meowth clenched his fists, but a gentle tap from James reminded them they weren't there to fight, but to reason.
"S-sir?" Cassidy's voice wavered slightly, and sounded more like a squeak than her normal voice.
"Cassidy, dear, what brings you here?" His voice was syrupy sweet, as mysterious as his face.
"W-well, I'm not the only one here," She scooted over slightly. The half face that shown from the light frowned.
"Jessie and James? You two idiots come crawling back again? And you, Meowth ... how dare you show your face in this room," He smirked. "Besides, I thought you swore you wouldn't set foot in this room again unless you were top cat ..."
"It's all different now," Meowth said coldly.
"Yes, yes," He said. "Anyway, Cassidy, my dear, what brings yourself and your partner here? I'm glad to see you didn't get stuck in an awful jail cell ... but didn't I already reassign you to a new mission?"
"Well ..." Cassidy gulped. "You see, us five, we came here to ask you ... well ... we wanted to ask you, or rather, tell you that we've decided to quit Team Rocket."
Giovanni jumped back slightly, his jaw dropped. The Persian hissed, more upset that his petting was being neglected, and spat at the group.
"You do realize, of course," Giovanni said after some time. "No one has ever *quit* Team Rocket before. No one's even tried ... except for one member ... but we solved that matter ..."
"Who?" Jessie asked without hesitation. Giovanni seemed to chuckle to himself, a grin appearing on his face.
"My dear mother worked with her for quite a long time. Yes, but this particular member wanted to spend more 'family time' ... Madame Boss was furious, so she decided to send her on her last mission ... one of you knows her quite well ..."
Jessie's eyes grew wide, and her face stern.
"Yes, Jessica ... it was Miyamato ... your mother ..."
"You can't just kill people like that!" Jessie screamed. "It was Madame Boss ... if she hadn't sent my mother on that mission, she'd still be alive today ..."
Struggling to hold back tears, she stepped back, holding onto James. He held her shaking hand as Cassidy stepped forward again.
"But sir ... wouldn't you rather have several new members who were willing to work rather than five old members who don't enjoy what they're doing, so therefore, they don't do a good job?"
"Hmmm ... no."
"Sir ..." Cassidy lowered her eyes and smirked. "Let's face it. Butch and I have been thrown in jail more times than I can count, and Jessie, James, and Meowth have spent over a year chasing after a ten year old with a rat. We're not exactly the most ... reliable members."
"Yes, my Cassidy, that's true, but you have something other members don't have ..." Giovanni stood, walking slowly towards the group, still remaining hidden in the shadows. "You have a spunk, a certain attitude towards your work. You're not quiters."
"But, sir, we will be! We don't enjoy what we're doing anymore ..."
"You also have something else. Experience."
"But sir ..."
"But sir nothing," Giovanni held up a hand. "The subject is closed. You're staying with Team Rocket."
"Ha, that's what you think ... c'mon boys and girls, we're breaking out of this hell," Jessie grabbed James by the shoulder and stormed out of the room.
"Try to quit ... I ensure you, you won't suceed ..."
He watched them go, his face unreadable. He slowly walked up to his desk, and picked up the phone.
"Sercurity? Yes, check for all Ids at every door. If you find a Butch, Cassidy, Jessie, or James, you are under orders to eliminate them ... and yes, if you find a lone Meowth, get rid of him as well," He smiled. "It's one less rodent in this world ... what? A cat's not a rodent? Hmm," He hung up the phone. "I guess you learn something new every day."
~*~*~*~*~
"We'll just leave," Jessie fumed, storming down the hall. "If we go and don't come back, they'll never find us."
"You don't think?" Meowth asked, struggling to keep up with the humans.
"Of course not."
"There's the back door, just up ahead," James said. "If we can sneak out there without being noticed, we're practically free."
"That shouldn't be too hard," Cassidy said simply, as they approached door.
"Freeze!"
Six black uniformed Rocket members jumped in front of them, holding up weapons.
"We have been ordered to check all Ids," One said.
"Well I left mine in the jeep," Jessie lied without hesitation.
"Then I'm under orders to kill you."
Jessie groaned and handed over her Id.
"Jessie?" The member looked up.
"Yeah, that's my name."
"I'm under orders to kill you."
"Well isn't that just peachy," Jessie hissed, pushing the Rocket past her and taking a step towards the door. The members lunged and grabbed her, pulling her arms behind her back and tying her hands together.
"Here kitty ..." One grabbed Meowth by his tail and placed him in a cage, locking the door.
A member grabbed Butch, pulling his arms behind his back.
"Cassidy, run!" He shouted. "I'll meet up with you later."
Cassidy bit her lip, but followed the urgency in his voice and shot off down the hall.
"You, go get that girl," The first member pointed at two other Rockets, who followed Cassidy. A remaining Rocket grabbed James, but luckily he twisted out of the Rocket's grasp.
"James, go on, I'll find you later ... me and Butch will come out. Just keep up with Cassidy!"
James nodded, then ran off down the hall, leaving only a single rose in his place.
***
"She went that way ..."
The Rocket members took off towards the east, the leaves crunching underneath their feet. After what seemed like an eternity, Cassidy peeked out from behind the tree where she was hiding.
"They're gone," She reassured herself, then looked around at her surroundings. "Where the heck am I? I didn't know there were any woods around here ..."
She shrugged, then started walking in what she thought was the direction she came from, finding nothing around her but woods and more woods. She couldn't help but notice the bud of hunger growing in her stomach. A tiny Rattata scurried past her feet, happily chasing a friend in the woods.
"I wonder where the Headquarters is from here ..."
She stopped abruptly. Where was Butch? Back at the Headquarters with the others, but what were they doing with him?
***
"The cat? .... Yes, do bring him in."
The cage was slapped down upon the desk, and Giovanni gently opened the door. The creature inside opened its eyes, shook his head, and yawned.
"What?" He looked around, then walked out. "Where's Jess an' James?"
"Never mind them," Giovanni smiled. "Persian isn't here either."
Meowth looked at him curiously.
"You see, Meowth ... you're a very lucky cat. I'm giving you a wonderful oppurtunity," He smiled. "You could be my top cat again."
"Top cat?" Meowth said the words with curiousity, his eyes begining to sparkle with temptation.
"Yes ... if you could turn your friends in, testify against them ... you see, we have to have what we like to call a little 'court' to decide what to do with them, and we need someone to testify against them. And that someone is ..." Giovanni gently pressed his finger on Meowth's charm. "You."
"Me?"
"That's right. Just tell your story as it is, against those two numbskulls ..."
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: This part is worse than the first part! HA!
~*~*~*~*~
"Cassidy, please, if you've never listened to me before, listen to me now. Try something new."
"No way!" Cassidy grasped onto her pigtails defensively.
"You've had the same hair style since you were seven!"
"Five."
"All the more reason to try something new," Jessie said, gently taking the pigtails from Cassidy's hands and looking at them curiously. "Could you hand me those scissors?"
"NO!!!!!"
"Calm down, I'm not going to cut them!" Jessie rolled her eyes.
"Why don't you cut *your* hair?"
"Because I'm setting a fashion statement," Jessie said. "You're just dressing like a seven year old."
"Five year old."
"Whatever!" Jessie sighed. "If you'd just let me try something ..."
"No way, Jessie, I know you and your experiments. I'll end up looking like something out of Rocky Horror Picture Show!"
"At least it'll be better than looking like Sailor Moon."
"I do not look like Sailor Moon!" Cassidy grabbed her hair back definantely. "I refuse to change my hair in any way, shape, or form."
"Could you at least wear it down?" Jessie sighed, obviously aggrivated. Cassidy rolled her eyes, blaming herself for giving in.
"Fine, fine. I'll wear it down. But you have to wear your hair down too ... with no hairspray!"
"No hairspray?" Jessie looked shocked, then smiled. "I guess I can live one evening. And you can too."
"Right," Cassidy said, taking down her pigtails carefully, then brushing her hair out.
"See? You look great," Jessie swung her chair around to face a mirror. Cassidy seemed less than pleased, but then smiled slightly.
"It'll do. For one evening."
"Right," Jessie took the brush and brushed out her own hair. She paused, obviously discouraged by her looks, then grabbed the scissors and chopped off nearly two feet of her hair.
"Jessie!" Cassidy looked at her strangely.
"It's time for a change," She grinned. "You want to see my dress?"
She didn't wait for an answer, but ran to her closet and pulled out her dress. It was a mint green dress, tiny flowers gracing the bottom, with thin spagetti straps.
"Like it?"
"It's beautiful!" Cassidy said. "And now, my dress."
Cassidy ran over to the closet and pulled out her own dress, a pale pink spagetti strap, with butterflies decorating the front.
"You actually picked out something nice," Jessie said matter-of-factly, smiling to let Cassidy know she was just kidding.
"Oh, sure!" Cassidy rolled her eyes. "We should finish getting ready ... you realize we have ten minutes before the guys come?"
Jessie's eyes flew to the clock, then she gasped and grabbed her dress.
"Geez, we need to hurry!"
***
"I haven't eaten at a place this fancy in ages," Jessie said, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "Wait ... make that never."
"Me neither," Cassidy admitted, taking her chances and slipping her arm into Butch's. He looked down at her, chuckling softly.
"A little early, don't you think?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, a little too early in the evening."
"It's never too early," Cassidy grinned.
"See? Why can't we be like that," Jessie rolled her eyes, folding her arms and staring at James expectantly.
"What?" James blushed, and Jessie's face softened.
"They are cute, though, don't you think?" She asked, turning back to look at Butch and Cassidy.
"Definitely," James smiled at her.
"Not for long," Cassidy answered. "We still have a little mission we have to do ... find that stupid little school. How pointless."
"But that can wait," Butch flashed her a smile, then deciding to take chances of his own, kissed the top of her head lightly.
"You never kiss *me*!" Jessie kicked James in the leg under the table.
"If he did, you two would probably be on the floor making out," Cassidy said, trying to hold back her laughter.
"Not so!"
"Besides," Cassidy shrugged. "We're cute together."
"Pigtailed or not," Butch said, brushing his hand through Cassidy's hair. "Jessie finally convinced you to take those down?"
"Yeah!" Jessie stuck out her tongue at Cassidy.
"Whatever," Cassidy ignored Jessie. "So what mission are you guys on?"
Jessie and James exchanged nervous glances, and Jessie bit her lip.
"Well ... I think the boss gave up on us with the Pikachu case," Jessie said, looking at the table. "We haven't really gotted reassigned yet, so we were considering ..."
"Quiting?"
"Still finishing my sentences, just like you used to."
"Seriously? You're seriously considering quiting?"
"Well, haven't you considered it?" Jessie asked her sincerely. "I mean, really ... if I were you two, I'd certainly be tired of getting thrown into jail over and over again ..."
"At least Officer Jenny knows us by name!" Butch smiled. "Or at least ... by number ..."
"Shut up!" Cassidy laughed, nudging him slightly. "But yeah, Jess, I guess you're right ... I mean, I haven't ever really considered quiting, but ..."
"Why don't you? I mean, haven't you wondered what life is like outside of Team Rocket?"
"Boring."
"Not any more boring than being thrown into jail repeatedly."
"Right again," Cassidy sighed, then looked up at Butch. "What about you?"
"I'll go with whatever you want to do."
"But I don't know," Cassidy said, wishing she had her pigtails to tug like she always did when she was nervous.
"It might be interesting," James put in.
"You're right ... both of you are right ..."
"But really Cassidy, what have you got to lose? Besides your jail numbers, of course ..."
"She's right again," Butch quickly replied before Cassidy could open her mouth.
"Well ... alright. It's time for a career change. That is," Cassidy looked up at Butch. "If you're coming with me ... I could never leave without you ..."
"Of course I'd come with you!"
"There's only one problem we can think of," Jessie sighed. "Meowth."
"Meowth? What about him?"
"Well ..." Jessie looked at James expectantly.
"He's a friend, and we can't very well just leave him," James said.
"Then take him with you," Cassidy said. "If that's the only problem ..."
"But he wants to stay with Team Rocket. He wants to be the top cat."
"Then give him a choice, big deal," Cassidy snuggled closer to Butch and sighed, content.
"Should we talk to Meowth tomorrow?" Jessie asked James, subconsciously scooting an inch or two closer to him.
"Yeah," James smiled.
"But for now, let's just relax," Jessie said, looking at him seductively, then kissing him softly.
"Whoa," Cassidy snickered. "Maybe we better leave, Butch ..."
"Yeah, we might end up on the floor making out," Jessie said sarcastically.
"At least you're making some progress," Cassidy said. Jessie kicked her underneath the table.
"Tomorrow, Meowth," She said looking up at James. "But that's tomorrow ..."
***
"You mean to tell me that all of yous want to quit the team?" Meowth said, his high pitched voice in an annoyed tone as he looked at the four Rocket members in front of him.
"Well, yes Meowth, that's what we've been thinking about," Jessie said nervously.
"Did yous think of what Meowth wants?"
"Yes ..."
"I wanna be top cat," Meowth said, his eyes narrowing. "And yous expect me to just quit with you?"
"Meowth, you know we're you friends," James began, but Jessie placed a warning hand over his mouth.
"I've always just wanted one thing ..." Meowth looked to the ground. "To be top cat ..."
He paused, his eyes fixiated on the ground. Jessie slipped her hand into James', and they both gave each other an encouraging nod.
"I used to be top cat," Meowth began, then laughed, as if it were an absurd idea. "Yeah, I was the favorite. Until that Persian came along. Then it was out with the old cat, and in with the new. And I was stuck with the highest ranked team of the time, which was yous two. I wasn't too happy, but I eventually got used to you. And you know ... I may seem mad or ungrateful at time, but really, yous two are the only two friends I have. If I stayed in Team Rocket, I would just get shuffled around from team to team for the rest of my life. If I go with you, I can live in pleasure with my best friends for the rest of my life, and my eight other ones ..."
He looked up, then smirked.
"What've got to lose?" He shrugged. "Count me in."
A look of relief washed over everyone's faces, as Jessie and James bent down to give their old friend a hug and a scratch behind the ears.
"Just don't get all huggy kissy on me!" Meowth pushed them away and folded his arms, though he couldn't help but grin.
"Now that you've convinced Meowth, we can go talk to Giovanni," Cassidy said confidently.
"Right," Jessie said with an air of arrogance in her voice. "Come on James, don't wimp out on me now!"
"But Jessie, what if this doesn't work?"
"Stop whining! If there's one thing I hate, it's whiners!"
"Shall we lead the way?" Butch laughed at the other duo, then held out his hand to Cassidy.
"I believe so," Cassidy placed a delicate hand in Butch's, and the two began the walk towards the headquarters. Jessie soon followed, a fan in one hand and James in the other, followed by a confident Meowth, all ready for a change in their life.
Something they would, one way or another, most certainly get.
~*~*~*~*~
"Cassidy you do it ... he likes you ..."
"Me? No way, he's hated me since the breeding center scandal ..."
"Wasn't it a secret?"
"It was a scandal, James, any fool could realize that."
"'Cept James, you mean ..."
Butch, Cassidy, James, Jessie, and Meowth all waited for their appointment with Giovanni outside the huge office, a large red 'R' gleaming on the wall behind them. Jessie paced back and forth, more out of anxiety than nervousness. James, terrified, sat in a chair biting his lip. Cassidy stood next to Butch, tugging her pigtails so hard she thought she'd pull them out. Meowth was the only calm one, quietly sipping a cup of water and looking generally bored.
"I guess I could do it ..." Cassidy took a deep breath.
"I think you'd do the best out of all of us," Butch said, giving her a reassuring hug and a kiss on her neck.
"I'll certainly try ... you'll all have to back me up ..."
"Sure, fine," Jessie said, obviously distracted with her own thoughts.
"Just so long as I don't do the talkin', I'll go with any plan," Meowth said, finishing his water and tossing the cup into a nearby trash can.
"Stand up, James," Jessie ordered sharply. Her face suddenly softened, and she came over and wrapped her hands around his neck.
"We can do this," She said quietly. "Together."
"Ladies? Gentlemen? ...And cat?"
The five Rocket members looked up into the face of the secretary, a clipboard in her hand and a pencil over her ear.
"The boss will see you now," She said, motioning towards the large, looming doors. All five held their breath as Cassidy stepped forward and opened the door.
Not a shed of light emerged from inside the door. Only one light shined, a tiny desk lamp, slightly illuminating a chair where a man sat, his hand softly stroking the head of a sleek Persian. Meowth clenched his fists, but a gentle tap from James reminded them they weren't there to fight, but to reason.
"S-sir?" Cassidy's voice wavered slightly, and sounded more like a squeak than her normal voice.
"Cassidy, dear, what brings you here?" His voice was syrupy sweet, as mysterious as his face.
"W-well, I'm not the only one here," She scooted over slightly. The half face that shown from the light frowned.
"Jessie and James? You two idiots come crawling back again? And you, Meowth ... how dare you show your face in this room," He smirked. "Besides, I thought you swore you wouldn't set foot in this room again unless you were top cat ..."
"It's all different now," Meowth said coldly.
"Yes, yes," He said. "Anyway, Cassidy, my dear, what brings yourself and your partner here? I'm glad to see you didn't get stuck in an awful jail cell ... but didn't I already reassign you to a new mission?"
"Well ..." Cassidy gulped. "You see, us five, we came here to ask you ... well ... we wanted to ask you, or rather, tell you that we've decided to quit Team Rocket."
Giovanni jumped back slightly, his jaw dropped. The Persian hissed, more upset that his petting was being neglected, and spat at the group.
"You do realize, of course," Giovanni said after some time. "No one has ever *quit* Team Rocket before. No one's even tried ... except for one member ... but we solved that matter ..."
"Who?" Jessie asked without hesitation. Giovanni seemed to chuckle to himself, a grin appearing on his face.
"My dear mother worked with her for quite a long time. Yes, but this particular member wanted to spend more 'family time' ... Madame Boss was furious, so she decided to send her on her last mission ... one of you knows her quite well ..."
Jessie's eyes grew wide, and her face stern.
"Yes, Jessica ... it was Miyamato ... your mother ..."
"You can't just kill people like that!" Jessie screamed. "It was Madame Boss ... if she hadn't sent my mother on that mission, she'd still be alive today ..."
Struggling to hold back tears, she stepped back, holding onto James. He held her shaking hand as Cassidy stepped forward again.
"But sir ... wouldn't you rather have several new members who were willing to work rather than five old members who don't enjoy what they're doing, so therefore, they don't do a good job?"
"Hmmm ... no."
"Sir ..." Cassidy lowered her eyes and smirked. "Let's face it. Butch and I have been thrown in jail more times than I can count, and Jessie, James, and Meowth have spent over a year chasing after a ten year old with a rat. We're not exactly the most ... reliable members."
"Yes, my Cassidy, that's true, but you have something other members don't have ..." Giovanni stood, walking slowly towards the group, still remaining hidden in the shadows. "You have a spunk, a certain attitude towards your work. You're not quiters."
"But, sir, we will be! We don't enjoy what we're doing anymore ..."
"You also have something else. Experience."
"But sir ..."
"But sir nothing," Giovanni held up a hand. "The subject is closed. You're staying with Team Rocket."
"Ha, that's what you think ... c'mon boys and girls, we're breaking out of this hell," Jessie grabbed James by the shoulder and stormed out of the room.
"Try to quit ... I ensure you, you won't suceed ..."
He watched them go, his face unreadable. He slowly walked up to his desk, and picked up the phone.
"Sercurity? Yes, check for all Ids at every door. If you find a Butch, Cassidy, Jessie, or James, you are under orders to eliminate them ... and yes, if you find a lone Meowth, get rid of him as well," He smiled. "It's one less rodent in this world ... what? A cat's not a rodent? Hmm," He hung up the phone. "I guess you learn something new every day."
~*~*~*~*~
"We'll just leave," Jessie fumed, storming down the hall. "If we go and don't come back, they'll never find us."
"You don't think?" Meowth asked, struggling to keep up with the humans.
"Of course not."
"There's the back door, just up ahead," James said. "If we can sneak out there without being noticed, we're practically free."
"That shouldn't be too hard," Cassidy said simply, as they approached door.
"Freeze!"
Six black uniformed Rocket members jumped in front of them, holding up weapons.
"We have been ordered to check all Ids," One said.
"Well I left mine in the jeep," Jessie lied without hesitation.
"Then I'm under orders to kill you."
Jessie groaned and handed over her Id.
"Jessie?" The member looked up.
"Yeah, that's my name."
"I'm under orders to kill you."
"Well isn't that just peachy," Jessie hissed, pushing the Rocket past her and taking a step towards the door. The members lunged and grabbed her, pulling her arms behind her back and tying her hands together.
"Here kitty ..." One grabbed Meowth by his tail and placed him in a cage, locking the door.
A member grabbed Butch, pulling his arms behind his back.
"Cassidy, run!" He shouted. "I'll meet up with you later."
Cassidy bit her lip, but followed the urgency in his voice and shot off down the hall.
"You, go get that girl," The first member pointed at two other Rockets, who followed Cassidy. A remaining Rocket grabbed James, but luckily he twisted out of the Rocket's grasp.
"James, go on, I'll find you later ... me and Butch will come out. Just keep up with Cassidy!"
James nodded, then ran off down the hall, leaving only a single rose in his place.
***
"She went that way ..."
The Rocket members took off towards the east, the leaves crunching underneath their feet. After what seemed like an eternity, Cassidy peeked out from behind the tree where she was hiding.
"They're gone," She reassured herself, then looked around at her surroundings. "Where the heck am I? I didn't know there were any woods around here ..."
She shrugged, then started walking in what she thought was the direction she came from, finding nothing around her but woods and more woods. She couldn't help but notice the bud of hunger growing in her stomach. A tiny Rattata scurried past her feet, happily chasing a friend in the woods.
"I wonder where the Headquarters is from here ..."
She stopped abruptly. Where was Butch? Back at the Headquarters with the others, but what were they doing with him?
***
"The cat? .... Yes, do bring him in."
The cage was slapped down upon the desk, and Giovanni gently opened the door. The creature inside opened its eyes, shook his head, and yawned.
"What?" He looked around, then walked out. "Where's Jess an' James?"
"Never mind them," Giovanni smiled. "Persian isn't here either."
Meowth looked at him curiously.
"You see, Meowth ... you're a very lucky cat. I'm giving you a wonderful oppurtunity," He smiled. "You could be my top cat again."
"Top cat?" Meowth said the words with curiousity, his eyes begining to sparkle with temptation.
"Yes ... if you could turn your friends in, testify against them ... you see, we have to have what we like to call a little 'court' to decide what to do with them, and we need someone to testify against them. And that someone is ..." Giovanni gently pressed his finger on Meowth's charm. "You."
"Me?"
"That's right. Just tell your story as it is, against those two numbskulls ..."