THE RETURN OF TEAM ROCKET

Part 5

"It's a beautiful morning, James," Jessie said as she
stepped off the back porch of their home in the
Seafoam Islands. They had moved there with Meowth
after getting married six months before.

"Yes, it is," James said. He picked a rose from his
rose garden and brought it to Jessie. "But not as
beautiful as you."

"Oh, James, you say the sweetest things," Jessie said.
They kissed.

"Oh, how sweet," said a familiar voice. They turned.
Butch and Cassidy pointed guns at them.

"Butch! Cassidy!" James looked startled. "But--"

"We thought you were in jail," Jessie said.

"We're free now," Cassidy said. "And you're not."

"The Boss wants to see you," Giovanni said. "He knows
you ratted on him and got him arrested. Boy, is he
mad!"

"Meowth!" James called. "Help us, Meowth!"

"Don't bother calling Meowth," Butch said. He held up
a Pokeball. "Your precious Meowth won't come out. We
told him we would shoot you if he tried anything."

"And you know we always do what we say," Cassidy
added.

"What do you want with us?" Jessie asked.

"Oh, it's the Boss who wants you," Cassidy said. "He
just sent us to get you." She took Meowth's Pokeball
from Butch. "If you know what's good for your
precious Meowth, you'll do exactly what we tell you to
do." Jessie and James nodded. Butch and Cassidy led
them through the cottage to a van parked outside.
They all got in the back. Butch and Cassidy tied
Jessie and James, then Butch got in front, leaving
Cassidy to guard Jessie and James. She kept Meowth's
Pokeball on her lap.

Just past Pallet town Butch got in back with Jessie
and James, and Cassidy went up front to drive. She
drove most of the day. Finally early that evening
they pulled into a garage. Butch and Cassidy, aided
by several men in Team Rocket uniforms, untied Jessie
and James and took them to Giovanni's office.

"Well, the traitors are finally here," Giovanni said
coldly as Jessie and James were pushed into the room.

"Here's their Meowth, Sir," Butch said, putting the
Pokeball on Giovanni's desk.

"Very good work," Giovanni said. "Now leave us."
Butch, Cassidy, and the other Team Rocket members
left.

"How did you get out of jail?" Jessie asked.

"Several loyal Team Rocket members helped me,"
Giovanni said. "Some people aren't traitors. Now, I
remember telling you there is no quitting Team Rocket.
You both tried to quit."

"That's because we won't work for someone who tried to
kill an innocent child," James said angrily.

"He was in the way. I wanted Pikachu," Giovanni said.
"As for you two, not only did you try to quit Team
Rocket, you also turned me in. I spent three years in
prison at hard labor because of you."

"You deserved it for what you did," Jessie said.
"You're a monster."

"I am not a monster!" Giovanni roared, furious. He
slapped Jessie as hard as he could. She cried out in
surprise. Giovanni pushed a button on his desk. Two
men in Team Rocket uniforms entered.

"Yes, Boss?" one of the men asked.

"Take him to a cell," Giovanni said, pointing at
James. "Leave the girl here."

"No!" James cried. "Take her instead! Please don't
hurt Jessie!" The men ignored James' pleading,
dragging him from Giovanni's office.

"So, Jessie, you think I am a monster." Giovanni
stepped toward Jessie. He slapped her again, hard,
and kept beating her until she lost consciousness.
Giovanni rang for his men.

"Take her to a cell," he said. The men picked up
Jessie and left. Giovanni sat at his desk, regarding
Meowth's Pokeball thoughtfully. After a minute or two
he released the cat Pokemon.

"What -- what am I doing here?" Meowth asked. He saw
Giovanni and stepped backward in shock. "What are you
doing out of jail?"

"Never mind that, Meowth," Giovanni said. "How would
you like to be top cat again? You can have all the
luxuries those idiot traitors Jessie and James can
never give you."

"Never! Jessie and James are my friends," Meowth
said. "Besides, I don't wanna be top cat to a
murdering monster like you!"

"Attempted murder, Meowth," Giovanni said smoothly.
"No one died, remember? The brat and his friends all
lived."

"It's still murder to me!" Meowth cried angrily. "I
won't ever be your top cat again!"

"You'll regret it, Meowth," Giovanni said, pulling
Meowth back into the Pokeball. The little cat wasn't
expecting to be pulled back in and had no chance to
fight the beam.

End Part 5

To Be continued