Chapter 8: The truth about the gift
Giovanni sighed angrily as he watched James lying still on the cold floor of the prison. He knew using a pathetic weak boy like James was a mistake but he was so sure the male would do as he said. If Giovanni had known that James would be difficult then he might of thought twice before picking him for it. Well that was no matter now. James must think his gift to be special. Giovanni chuckled to himself. There was nothing `special' about James Morgan. He just happened to be the boy that Giovanni selected to be a lab ratatta. That day Giovanni saw Jesse and James in the training camp he had known right from the start that they would be failures. Also that day he knew that James would be the one to have the experiment done on. This was Giovanni's first dabble into science and the technology was not 100% safe. Nowadays the Team Rocket scientists had got better and knew more about the effects their messing would have on humans and Pokemon. Giovanni had known from the start that
the experiment might not work and when he was told it had failed he was very disappointed. About a few months after that the Mewtwo project began. That was to end up as one of the biggest mess ups in Team Rocket history. Mewtwo had been foolish enough to think that he could do whatever he pleased and escaped. James could not be allowed to think this. James was his only hope of taking over the world now. He had to be controlled. Giovanni had thought threatening to kill Jesse and Meowth would be enough but now James was claiming that he couldn't do what Giovanni asked of him. Well this would make sure he did not dare disobey Giovanni in the future. The rocket Boss snapped his fingers and the guard next to him kicked James hard in the ribs. He moaned and opened his eyes. The other guard had removed Talia from the cell. The last thing Giovanni wanted was that girl knowing what was going on. He would have to deal with her soon too. He didn't even know why he was keeping her alive
for so long any way. Talia had been a good agent at one time. She had just mixed with the wrong sort of people. Nadine and Taylor were trouble for Team Rocket from the start. It was time to end this now.
"I don't want Talia coming back" he whispered to the guard as he was dismissed.
"Yes sir"
Giovanni turned his attention back to James. The male was sitting up trembling in fear. He didn't look very well either. His eyes looked dull and he was too pale for Giovanni's liking. But Giovanni's concern was selfish. If James got sick then he would not get the information that he wanted. He would have to send the HQ doctor in to see him later
"I was not pleased with you this morning James" Giovanni started off by saying.
"I'm sorry sir...The amount of viewings was too much. Maybe tomorrow I could..."
"Tomorrow isn't good enough! I need the answers today! I am going to go through the gyms in the Orange Islands tomorrow!"
"Sir I just need to rest then I can tell you" James pleaded.
Giovanni paused to consider this. Maybe the boy was telling the truth? But the plan had to go ahead on schedule. "You aren't listening to me James" Giovanni hissed.
"I am sir but..."
"You think this gift makes you special don't you?"
James nodded thinking it better to agree whilst the Boss was in this mood.
"Well it does not James. This `gift' is not a gift at all you know that?"
"Sir?"
"Cast you're mind back James to when you and Jesse were in my training camp. You never finished the course did you? Do you remember why that was James?"
"Yes I was sick and I..." James broke off realising what Giovanni was going to tell him but not wanting to believe it.
"You were not sick James. My men took you from the training camp and back to the labs as a lab ratatta for my first dabble in science"
"I was sick," James said. "I remember Lillian taking care of me. Jesse came to visit. She stayed with me and that was why she missed the exams too"
"We erased you're memories after the experiment failed. The set of memories we gave you made you believe that you were ill for two weeks"
"You're lying. Jesse would have told me!"
"Jessica thinks you were ill too. We only allowed her to see you for a few minutes between our experiment"
"No" James repeated. Giovanni was lying he had to be. Those memories of being sick. They had to be real. The future sight was his gift. It was what made him some one. Giovanni was a liar. The experiment didn't work so Giovanni was lying.
"I thought you might say that James" Giovanni continued. James' eyes widened when he saw the needle in his Boss's hand. "This serum was invented by my scientists to react with the drug that we gave you to replace you're real memories of those 2 weeks with the fake ones. It will restore you're real memories"
"Those are my real memories" James shouted backing away. "Leave me alone"
Giovanni advanced towards him. "You are a fool James. Now let me do this or Jesse and Meowth will suffer"
"You can't keep blackmailing me sir"
"Oh but I think I can James" Giovanni had James backed up as far as he could go now.
He grabbed James' wrist. "Sir please" James begged knowing already that it was too late. Giovanni injected the stuff into a vein in his wrist. James whimpered as an icy pain shot through his body. He sank down breathing heavily. Giovanni stood and walked from the prison. When you come round you will know it he thought to himself.
"James Morgan?" the black rocket enquired disturbing James from his sleep. He nodded and quickly got up. With just 2 weeks to go before their training was complete James knew that he couldn't afford to mess up. "You have to report to the main building in an hour," the black rocket said handing James a piece of paper with some instructions on it.
"Why?" he asked the rocket nervously.
"Just be there" was the sharp reply then the rocket was gone. James looked down at the paper and frowned. The orders were simple but they didn't make sense. He had to tell the instructor for his group that he didn't feel well and then, when the others started the exams, go to the main building. He wasn't allowed to tell any one where he was going or what it was for. James sighed he had always known that he wasn't cut out for Team Rocket. He only joined because of Jesse. But he supposed now they were planning on kicking him out. James heard the other males coming back from the breakfast tent and climbed back into his bed. The training camp was in the middle of the woods and thus most of the different sections were just huge tents like out door caters used. The accommodation areas were two log cabins, one for the males and one for the females. The women's section was in a different clearing some ten minutes away. James only saw Jesse when she and her friend Cassidy sneaked
over to visit him and Cassidy's friend Butch. James couldn't honestly say he liked Butch. The guy annoyed the hell out of him most of the time. But James had to admit that the only reason he hadn't been beaten up 100 times already was because Butch was around. If any guy gave him a hard time Butch gave them an even harder time. James knew he should be thankful but he just wished Butch would leave him alone. He didn't even know why Butch watched out for him. He guessed it was because Butch's best friend was friends with Jesse. James could hear the other males getting closer now. He pulled the duvet over himself and waited remembering what the instructions had said. "What you doing still in bed?" Butch asked. He didn't sound as through he cared and James wasn't sure whether this was a good thing or not.
"Lazy little bastard. Get up" one of the other males shouted.
"I don't feel well" James muttered choosing to ignore the others insults.
"What is it?"
"Flu I guess"
"Ok I'll tell the instructor your sick" Butch said at last. James was sure that Butch knew he was lying but that didn't matter now. "Thanks" James said coughing weakly to try and back up what he was saying. The other males were gone pretty quickly after that. James waited an hour before getting dressed and making his way over to the main building. He was frightened but he didn't understand why. Maybe it was the fact that he was going to be kicked out and prove every one right when they said what a failure he was. "Yes" the woman behind the desk as he entered the main building, asked. The main building was the place where the infirmary was along with a few indoor training courses. It also was where the hall was if the instructors needed to call for a meeting. James had met the Boss of Team Rocket in that hall a few months back. He hardly remembered what his future Boss was talking about, as he was so nervous. Giovanni had a presence that set him apart for his agents. James
knew then that Giovanni was truly evil.
"I was told to report here this morning," James said in reply to the woman. She looked down her nose through her black framed glasses at him and rolled her eyes. "Ok then what's you're name?"
"James Morgan"
"ID number?"
"77628"
"Right you have to go to the hall. The Boss will meet you there shortly"
"Do you know why?"
"Look kid. Do I look like I know? I just looked you're name and number up on the computer. I'm sure the Boss will explain"
James knew she wasn't going to be any help and made his way to the hall. That feeling of dread he had when the black rocket handed him the piece of paper was surfacing again. James sat down in one of the wooden chairs when he reached the hall and sighed loudly. It was deserted and for that he was glad. James glanced out of the window and could hear the voices of the other trainees. The first exam must be starting. James briefly wondered if he would have a chance to make the exam up. He thought back to the timetable he had been given. He was missing the written paper on weaponry. James wished he could miss the practical exam in that field too. It was just clay Pidgeys they were shooting at but the thought of firing at any thing always made James feel nauseous. During that month of training he had let all the other guys do it for him. But the practical exams were all next week.
"James Morgan?"
"Yes?" James looked away from the window. He was expecting to see his Boss and not the tall thin woman in a lab coat standing in front of him. Her dark brown hair was in a neat bun on the top of her head, she wore glasses like the woman in the reception and they covered a pair of sharp black eyes.
"Good you're on time. Now please follow me"
She didn't even both to introduce herself so James had a look at the white nametag pinned to her coat. Jill Andrews it said. Then there was a number underneath it. James kept close behind her all the way until they reached the infirmary not wanting to get into trouble. It appeared deserted. James wondered where Lillian, the doctor for the training camp was. He liked Lillian. James had only met her once when one of the other guys in his group had an accident with the guns. He accidentally shot himself in the leg. Lillian had to be called out. James and Butch were with the guy at the time. Lillian was had a quick temper and had clear opinions on things. James had thought that when they first met. She couldn't be more than 20 years old with her bright orange hair that she wore loose down her back, which matched a pair of warm brown eyes. Lillian was a very compassionate person too. Lillian was angry that Giovanni had allowed them to train with guns so early in the course. It
was rumoured that Lillian and Giovanni did not see eye to eye with how the camp was run. Lillian seemed to care about all of them. The instructors just cared about as many of them as possible passing these exams.
"James" Jill said sharply "Were you listening?"
"No" he replied blushing because of the fact that he hadn't.
"Well I'll say it again then. Giovanni is running late so we will have to start the procedure without him"
"Procedure? What are you talking about? I thought I was getting kicked out?"
Jill rolled her eyes "James you really are as stupid as Giovanni said you were. Look he doesn't feel you are going to be of much use to Team Rocket how you are so we have come up with a way for us all to get what we want"
"I don't understand"
"I wouldn't expect you too. Now all you have to do it lie down on the bed and don't make a fuss" Jill pointed with a hand to the small bed in the corner of the infirmary. "Ok" James replied walking slowly over to the bed. This was getting weirder and weirder. The bed had no sheets or a duvet on it. Just one pillow and the under sheet. James then hesitated slightly "What are you going to do?"
"James it's better if you don't ask questions at this stage. Giovanni will have a talk with you a bit later. But I think he would prefer it if you did as you are told" Jill's voice had an almost threatening tone to it. James didn't want to do as she was telling him without some explanation but he did not want to get on the wrong side of the Boss. He lay down and sighed unhappily. Could this day get much worse? In short yes. Jill now had a syringe filled with some blue coloured liquid. "What is that for?" James asked nervously. "Just a little some thing to make you sleep" Jill replied advancing with it.
James sat up "I have a phobia of needles"
"Just stop whining" Jill snapped whilst grabbing James' wrist and locating the vein. "This won't hurt a bit"
She was right. James didn't feel very much pain just immense fatigue. He remembered sinking back down but after that nothing...
"Is he out still?"
"I think so sir...no I think he's coming round"
"We need more time Jill"
"We can't give him any more sedatives. I suggest we wait until morning"
"We can't wait. This flu story won't stand up for much longer"
"Sir I would advise against it"
"We are doing this now Jill damn it!"
James opened his eyes. The room was blurred and spinning round slowly. He wanted to move but the drugs prevented it. "Sir he's waking up. To do it now would be inhuman!"
"DO IT JILL OR HE WILL BE THE LAST THING YOU SEE!"
James flinched at the shouting. It was his Boss but what were they talking about? James tried to speak but he couldn't seem to concentrate of what he wanted to say. Instead he tried to move. But a pair of hands held him down. "James stay still" Jill commanded. James didn't understand. What was going on? He could feel her by his side now. Then he felt a sharp pain where the needle had dug in before. He whimpered and tried to look round at the thing that had hurt him but it was impossible. James was still too weak. "Sir he's almost fully awake" Jill protested again "I really advise that you wait"
"I have been waiting almost a week Jill! We do this now!"
A week? He had been asleep for a week? Why? What was happening to him? This had to be a dream. He was dreaming. "Ok sir"
James was first aware of his wrist going numb. Then the numbness spread up his arm until it reached his chest. He was starting to panic as the numbness gripped his heart and lungs making it hard to breathe. James gasped and struggled in terror as his breathing became even more laboured. Jill was holding him down but she didn't understand. He couldn't breath! What was this? Why were they doing this to him? James could also feel a strange buzzing in his head. It was increasing by the second and becoming so loud that it hurt. He uttered a barely audible cry of pain and looked despairingly at the woman who was doing this to him. She could help him if she wanted to she could take the pain away. James, with the last of his strength grabbed the thing in his wrist that was causing the pain. If he ripped it out then maybe the pain would stop. He did this quickly before his Boss or Jill could react. The pain didn't stop. It magnified by ten. James screamed and knew no more...
"How is he Lillian?"
"Still very weak. The flu has really taken it out of him"
"But he'll be ok right?"
"He'll be fine after a good rest"
"The exams...I know I shouldn't worry but if we miss them..."
"Giovanni tells me that you and James won't need to take them"
"Jesse?"
"James? It's going to be ok" Jesse cried.
"No" he whispered the pain tearing through his body by the second "They've done some thing to me. This thing..." he gripped the line in his wrist that was connected up to some sort of machine with a blue liquid inside.
"James don't touch that," Lillian said firmly "Last time you nearly killed yourself. This is a new drug we developed to combat you're strain of the flu" she prized his weakened fingers from it as she spoke.
"Jesse" James whimpered "You have to help me. They're doing some thing to me"
"James your sick" Jesse whispered grasping his hand in her own. "It'll be alright. Lillian says that you just have to rest"
"No" James shouted tears in his eyes "Jesse you don't understand"
"Jessica I think you should leave us for a while" Jill said as she entered the room.
"He's not making any sense at the moment. It's the flu talking. Come back this afternoon"
"Jesse" James cried clinging to her hand in vain. "Don't leave me I'm begging you"
"James it's the flu talking" Jesse said releasing her grip on her best friend.
"If you leave then some thing will happen" James begged.
"Yeah we're taking the line out" Jill said, a little bit ticked off now.
"James I promise you that nothing will happen to you" Jesse said as she turned to leave. Then looking back just once whispered, thinking that he couldn't hear her "I love you"
Then her footsteps faded away. James looked up at Jill. She had transformed into a different person. She sneered down at him as Lillian did indeed take the line from his wrist. Jill wrapped the sore area up in a bandage before speaking. "James sit up and put this on" she tossed him some clothes "Giovanni will be here soon"
"The Boss? What for?" James asked weakly. Even now the pain was gone the minute the line was he still had that faint buzzing in his head and the sickness had not yet passed.
"Just get changed" was the harsh reply. Then James was left alone. He heard a key turning in the lock as the door was slammed. There was no way out. James decided he might as well get changed. The clothes that Jill had given him consisted of a thin cotton shirt and white trousers. There was no pattern on them save for on the top left corner of the shirt there was a small red R embroidered on there.
James folded his training uniform up and put it under the bed. He then looked round for a possible way out. There was none, even the windows were locked. James noticed a clipboard set down next to the machine that he had been hooked up too for what must have been the last week. Ignoring the dizziness he picked it up and scanned through it:
TM future sight experiment subject number 2b19. James paled as he read the rest. Ever since TM's were created Giovanni has sort to find a way to transfer the essence of the TM future sight into a human being. Attempts to unlock this secret have failed up until a few weeks ago when the late scientist Marlene's notebook was discovered. The traitor had been hiding this technology from Giovanni but now she was gone there was nothing to stop us testing her theory. She had found a way too transform the TM into a liquid form that could be fed into a person via a vein in their wrist. But the liquid form was more than that. Because the TM had to be changed many times the liquid form could not allow the human it was used on to use the attack future sight. Instead the liquid form allowed the specimen to view the future at any given point in time. The specimen could view whatever they wanted. Giovanni wanted his specimen to be able to view every thing but if that were so then the
specimen would view every little detail of every possible future there is and eventually would die from the strain. This was the chosen subject can concentrate on a certain piece of the future and learn what is going to be. As it is this technology is not certain and the specimen may reject the TM form and die.
"I see you have already read my little introduction"
James slammed the clipboard down and turned to face the evil rocket Boss.
"This?" he pointed to the machine, the blue liquid emptied from it was now in his blood going round his body. If he rejected the TM he would die. James sank to his knees tears in his eyes. What had he done to deserve this? "It will kill me?"
"You have been sedated for the week whilst the TM is absorbed into you're blood stream however you woke too soon and this last dose had to be administrated whilst you were awake" Giovanni stepped towards his subject "But you do not look dead James. I think you will be just fine"
"Why are you here?"
"James you were given this gift for a reason. You will remain at my side serving me and doing with you're power what I wish"
"I don't have any power" James replied.
"We'll see" Giovanni sat down on the bed. "James I am going to run a few tests of my own. You don't have to be scared. I know this last week has frightened you and for that I apologise"
"Tests? What sort of tests?"
"Well I am going into battle against another gym leader lately. As the Viridian gym leader mind, not as Team Rockets leader. I want you to view the outcome for me James. Just close you're eyes and focus. Tell me what you see. The match will take place at my gym in an hour's time. I am starting off the battle with Golem"
"I want to see Jesse"
"You will after this James"
"Sir I don't understand?"
"Just close you're eyes and tell me what you see"
James did as he said but all he could see where the little flickers of colour dancing before his eyes when he had them shut for too long. "Nothing" James whispered afraid of what his Boss might do.
"That's ok James" Giovanni said almost kindly. "You are tired. I will come back tomorrow"
As he said this Jill returned. Giovanni went up to her and whispered some thing. Jill nodded and Giovanni left. "Why did you do this?" James asked her.
"I have my reasons" Jill said taking a fresh syringe. "He was right you do look tired. Get back into bed"
"What is that for?" James demanded but doing as she said.
"This?" Jill asked as she injected him. "Just a little flu bug. We can't have you're friend guessing the real reason. It will give you a mild temperature and fever. I don't expect you to be very awake the next time the Boss comes"
She was right. The next few days seemed to pass by in a foggy haze. James remembered Jesse coming. He tried to get her to help him but she wouldn't listen. "It's the infection talking James" she would repeat over and over. "I'm here James. You don't have to be afraid"
But he was afraid. Giovanni came every afternoon and tried to get him to see what he could not. James tried but he didn't know what Giovanni was asking of him. His Boss was nice about it at first but his patience warned and he became angry. James could recall him striking him once across the face. There would have been more blows but Jill stopped him. "If you hit him then there will be marks" she shouted. "How will we explain that?"
Then one day Giovanni didn't come. James was feeling better and was thinking of means of escape when Jill entered the room. "The experiment is over" she said simply.
"Over?"
"Marlene was a fool and we should never have believed her"
"You'll let me go"
"In a while yes. Just sleep James. When you wake this nightmare will be over"
James did sleep and when he woke Jesse was with him. "How are you feeling now?" she asked gently.
It was funny James didn't feel sick at all. He couldn't believe he had missed all those exams. They would be kicked out for sure now. "Better" he said sitting up. Lillian was smiling kindly at them both.
"You had us worried for a while James" she said softly.
James frowned he remembered being taken ill but for some reason the memories didn't quite fit.
"The Boss said we're in Team Rocket any way," Jesse said as if guessing his concerns about the exams.
"Giovanni thinks you will be fine agents" Lillian added
"We're in?" James asked not believing what they were telling him.
"Yes silly" Jesse smiled. "Now come on. They're throwing a party in the main hall"
The 2 friends hurried from the room. The 2 weeks of nightmares not even a distant memory.
Giovanni sighed angrily as he watched James lying still on the cold floor of the prison. He knew using a pathetic weak boy like James was a mistake but he was so sure the male would do as he said. If Giovanni had known that James would be difficult then he might of thought twice before picking him for it. Well that was no matter now. James must think his gift to be special. Giovanni chuckled to himself. There was nothing `special' about James Morgan. He just happened to be the boy that Giovanni selected to be a lab ratatta. That day Giovanni saw Jesse and James in the training camp he had known right from the start that they would be failures. Also that day he knew that James would be the one to have the experiment done on. This was Giovanni's first dabble into science and the technology was not 100% safe. Nowadays the Team Rocket scientists had got better and knew more about the effects their messing would have on humans and Pokemon. Giovanni had known from the start that
the experiment might not work and when he was told it had failed he was very disappointed. About a few months after that the Mewtwo project began. That was to end up as one of the biggest mess ups in Team Rocket history. Mewtwo had been foolish enough to think that he could do whatever he pleased and escaped. James could not be allowed to think this. James was his only hope of taking over the world now. He had to be controlled. Giovanni had thought threatening to kill Jesse and Meowth would be enough but now James was claiming that he couldn't do what Giovanni asked of him. Well this would make sure he did not dare disobey Giovanni in the future. The rocket Boss snapped his fingers and the guard next to him kicked James hard in the ribs. He moaned and opened his eyes. The other guard had removed Talia from the cell. The last thing Giovanni wanted was that girl knowing what was going on. He would have to deal with her soon too. He didn't even know why he was keeping her alive
for so long any way. Talia had been a good agent at one time. She had just mixed with the wrong sort of people. Nadine and Taylor were trouble for Team Rocket from the start. It was time to end this now.
"I don't want Talia coming back" he whispered to the guard as he was dismissed.
"Yes sir"
Giovanni turned his attention back to James. The male was sitting up trembling in fear. He didn't look very well either. His eyes looked dull and he was too pale for Giovanni's liking. But Giovanni's concern was selfish. If James got sick then he would not get the information that he wanted. He would have to send the HQ doctor in to see him later
"I was not pleased with you this morning James" Giovanni started off by saying.
"I'm sorry sir...The amount of viewings was too much. Maybe tomorrow I could..."
"Tomorrow isn't good enough! I need the answers today! I am going to go through the gyms in the Orange Islands tomorrow!"
"Sir I just need to rest then I can tell you" James pleaded.
Giovanni paused to consider this. Maybe the boy was telling the truth? But the plan had to go ahead on schedule. "You aren't listening to me James" Giovanni hissed.
"I am sir but..."
"You think this gift makes you special don't you?"
James nodded thinking it better to agree whilst the Boss was in this mood.
"Well it does not James. This `gift' is not a gift at all you know that?"
"Sir?"
"Cast you're mind back James to when you and Jesse were in my training camp. You never finished the course did you? Do you remember why that was James?"
"Yes I was sick and I..." James broke off realising what Giovanni was going to tell him but not wanting to believe it.
"You were not sick James. My men took you from the training camp and back to the labs as a lab ratatta for my first dabble in science"
"I was sick," James said. "I remember Lillian taking care of me. Jesse came to visit. She stayed with me and that was why she missed the exams too"
"We erased you're memories after the experiment failed. The set of memories we gave you made you believe that you were ill for two weeks"
"You're lying. Jesse would have told me!"
"Jessica thinks you were ill too. We only allowed her to see you for a few minutes between our experiment"
"No" James repeated. Giovanni was lying he had to be. Those memories of being sick. They had to be real. The future sight was his gift. It was what made him some one. Giovanni was a liar. The experiment didn't work so Giovanni was lying.
"I thought you might say that James" Giovanni continued. James' eyes widened when he saw the needle in his Boss's hand. "This serum was invented by my scientists to react with the drug that we gave you to replace you're real memories of those 2 weeks with the fake ones. It will restore you're real memories"
"Those are my real memories" James shouted backing away. "Leave me alone"
Giovanni advanced towards him. "You are a fool James. Now let me do this or Jesse and Meowth will suffer"
"You can't keep blackmailing me sir"
"Oh but I think I can James" Giovanni had James backed up as far as he could go now.
He grabbed James' wrist. "Sir please" James begged knowing already that it was too late. Giovanni injected the stuff into a vein in his wrist. James whimpered as an icy pain shot through his body. He sank down breathing heavily. Giovanni stood and walked from the prison. When you come round you will know it he thought to himself.
"James Morgan?" the black rocket enquired disturbing James from his sleep. He nodded and quickly got up. With just 2 weeks to go before their training was complete James knew that he couldn't afford to mess up. "You have to report to the main building in an hour," the black rocket said handing James a piece of paper with some instructions on it.
"Why?" he asked the rocket nervously.
"Just be there" was the sharp reply then the rocket was gone. James looked down at the paper and frowned. The orders were simple but they didn't make sense. He had to tell the instructor for his group that he didn't feel well and then, when the others started the exams, go to the main building. He wasn't allowed to tell any one where he was going or what it was for. James sighed he had always known that he wasn't cut out for Team Rocket. He only joined because of Jesse. But he supposed now they were planning on kicking him out. James heard the other males coming back from the breakfast tent and climbed back into his bed. The training camp was in the middle of the woods and thus most of the different sections were just huge tents like out door caters used. The accommodation areas were two log cabins, one for the males and one for the females. The women's section was in a different clearing some ten minutes away. James only saw Jesse when she and her friend Cassidy sneaked
over to visit him and Cassidy's friend Butch. James couldn't honestly say he liked Butch. The guy annoyed the hell out of him most of the time. But James had to admit that the only reason he hadn't been beaten up 100 times already was because Butch was around. If any guy gave him a hard time Butch gave them an even harder time. James knew he should be thankful but he just wished Butch would leave him alone. He didn't even know why Butch watched out for him. He guessed it was because Butch's best friend was friends with Jesse. James could hear the other males getting closer now. He pulled the duvet over himself and waited remembering what the instructions had said. "What you doing still in bed?" Butch asked. He didn't sound as through he cared and James wasn't sure whether this was a good thing or not.
"Lazy little bastard. Get up" one of the other males shouted.
"I don't feel well" James muttered choosing to ignore the others insults.
"What is it?"
"Flu I guess"
"Ok I'll tell the instructor your sick" Butch said at last. James was sure that Butch knew he was lying but that didn't matter now. "Thanks" James said coughing weakly to try and back up what he was saying. The other males were gone pretty quickly after that. James waited an hour before getting dressed and making his way over to the main building. He was frightened but he didn't understand why. Maybe it was the fact that he was going to be kicked out and prove every one right when they said what a failure he was. "Yes" the woman behind the desk as he entered the main building, asked. The main building was the place where the infirmary was along with a few indoor training courses. It also was where the hall was if the instructors needed to call for a meeting. James had met the Boss of Team Rocket in that hall a few months back. He hardly remembered what his future Boss was talking about, as he was so nervous. Giovanni had a presence that set him apart for his agents. James
knew then that Giovanni was truly evil.
"I was told to report here this morning," James said in reply to the woman. She looked down her nose through her black framed glasses at him and rolled her eyes. "Ok then what's you're name?"
"James Morgan"
"ID number?"
"77628"
"Right you have to go to the hall. The Boss will meet you there shortly"
"Do you know why?"
"Look kid. Do I look like I know? I just looked you're name and number up on the computer. I'm sure the Boss will explain"
James knew she wasn't going to be any help and made his way to the hall. That feeling of dread he had when the black rocket handed him the piece of paper was surfacing again. James sat down in one of the wooden chairs when he reached the hall and sighed loudly. It was deserted and for that he was glad. James glanced out of the window and could hear the voices of the other trainees. The first exam must be starting. James briefly wondered if he would have a chance to make the exam up. He thought back to the timetable he had been given. He was missing the written paper on weaponry. James wished he could miss the practical exam in that field too. It was just clay Pidgeys they were shooting at but the thought of firing at any thing always made James feel nauseous. During that month of training he had let all the other guys do it for him. But the practical exams were all next week.
"James Morgan?"
"Yes?" James looked away from the window. He was expecting to see his Boss and not the tall thin woman in a lab coat standing in front of him. Her dark brown hair was in a neat bun on the top of her head, she wore glasses like the woman in the reception and they covered a pair of sharp black eyes.
"Good you're on time. Now please follow me"
She didn't even both to introduce herself so James had a look at the white nametag pinned to her coat. Jill Andrews it said. Then there was a number underneath it. James kept close behind her all the way until they reached the infirmary not wanting to get into trouble. It appeared deserted. James wondered where Lillian, the doctor for the training camp was. He liked Lillian. James had only met her once when one of the other guys in his group had an accident with the guns. He accidentally shot himself in the leg. Lillian had to be called out. James and Butch were with the guy at the time. Lillian was had a quick temper and had clear opinions on things. James had thought that when they first met. She couldn't be more than 20 years old with her bright orange hair that she wore loose down her back, which matched a pair of warm brown eyes. Lillian was a very compassionate person too. Lillian was angry that Giovanni had allowed them to train with guns so early in the course. It
was rumoured that Lillian and Giovanni did not see eye to eye with how the camp was run. Lillian seemed to care about all of them. The instructors just cared about as many of them as possible passing these exams.
"James" Jill said sharply "Were you listening?"
"No" he replied blushing because of the fact that he hadn't.
"Well I'll say it again then. Giovanni is running late so we will have to start the procedure without him"
"Procedure? What are you talking about? I thought I was getting kicked out?"
Jill rolled her eyes "James you really are as stupid as Giovanni said you were. Look he doesn't feel you are going to be of much use to Team Rocket how you are so we have come up with a way for us all to get what we want"
"I don't understand"
"I wouldn't expect you too. Now all you have to do it lie down on the bed and don't make a fuss" Jill pointed with a hand to the small bed in the corner of the infirmary. "Ok" James replied walking slowly over to the bed. This was getting weirder and weirder. The bed had no sheets or a duvet on it. Just one pillow and the under sheet. James then hesitated slightly "What are you going to do?"
"James it's better if you don't ask questions at this stage. Giovanni will have a talk with you a bit later. But I think he would prefer it if you did as you are told" Jill's voice had an almost threatening tone to it. James didn't want to do as she was telling him without some explanation but he did not want to get on the wrong side of the Boss. He lay down and sighed unhappily. Could this day get much worse? In short yes. Jill now had a syringe filled with some blue coloured liquid. "What is that for?" James asked nervously. "Just a little some thing to make you sleep" Jill replied advancing with it.
James sat up "I have a phobia of needles"
"Just stop whining" Jill snapped whilst grabbing James' wrist and locating the vein. "This won't hurt a bit"
She was right. James didn't feel very much pain just immense fatigue. He remembered sinking back down but after that nothing...
"Is he out still?"
"I think so sir...no I think he's coming round"
"We need more time Jill"
"We can't give him any more sedatives. I suggest we wait until morning"
"We can't wait. This flu story won't stand up for much longer"
"Sir I would advise against it"
"We are doing this now Jill damn it!"
James opened his eyes. The room was blurred and spinning round slowly. He wanted to move but the drugs prevented it. "Sir he's waking up. To do it now would be inhuman!"
"DO IT JILL OR HE WILL BE THE LAST THING YOU SEE!"
James flinched at the shouting. It was his Boss but what were they talking about? James tried to speak but he couldn't seem to concentrate of what he wanted to say. Instead he tried to move. But a pair of hands held him down. "James stay still" Jill commanded. James didn't understand. What was going on? He could feel her by his side now. Then he felt a sharp pain where the needle had dug in before. He whimpered and tried to look round at the thing that had hurt him but it was impossible. James was still too weak. "Sir he's almost fully awake" Jill protested again "I really advise that you wait"
"I have been waiting almost a week Jill! We do this now!"
A week? He had been asleep for a week? Why? What was happening to him? This had to be a dream. He was dreaming. "Ok sir"
James was first aware of his wrist going numb. Then the numbness spread up his arm until it reached his chest. He was starting to panic as the numbness gripped his heart and lungs making it hard to breathe. James gasped and struggled in terror as his breathing became even more laboured. Jill was holding him down but she didn't understand. He couldn't breath! What was this? Why were they doing this to him? James could also feel a strange buzzing in his head. It was increasing by the second and becoming so loud that it hurt. He uttered a barely audible cry of pain and looked despairingly at the woman who was doing this to him. She could help him if she wanted to she could take the pain away. James, with the last of his strength grabbed the thing in his wrist that was causing the pain. If he ripped it out then maybe the pain would stop. He did this quickly before his Boss or Jill could react. The pain didn't stop. It magnified by ten. James screamed and knew no more...
"How is he Lillian?"
"Still very weak. The flu has really taken it out of him"
"But he'll be ok right?"
"He'll be fine after a good rest"
"The exams...I know I shouldn't worry but if we miss them..."
"Giovanni tells me that you and James won't need to take them"
"Jesse?"
"James? It's going to be ok" Jesse cried.
"No" he whispered the pain tearing through his body by the second "They've done some thing to me. This thing..." he gripped the line in his wrist that was connected up to some sort of machine with a blue liquid inside.
"James don't touch that," Lillian said firmly "Last time you nearly killed yourself. This is a new drug we developed to combat you're strain of the flu" she prized his weakened fingers from it as she spoke.
"Jesse" James whimpered "You have to help me. They're doing some thing to me"
"James your sick" Jesse whispered grasping his hand in her own. "It'll be alright. Lillian says that you just have to rest"
"No" James shouted tears in his eyes "Jesse you don't understand"
"Jessica I think you should leave us for a while" Jill said as she entered the room.
"He's not making any sense at the moment. It's the flu talking. Come back this afternoon"
"Jesse" James cried clinging to her hand in vain. "Don't leave me I'm begging you"
"James it's the flu talking" Jesse said releasing her grip on her best friend.
"If you leave then some thing will happen" James begged.
"Yeah we're taking the line out" Jill said, a little bit ticked off now.
"James I promise you that nothing will happen to you" Jesse said as she turned to leave. Then looking back just once whispered, thinking that he couldn't hear her "I love you"
Then her footsteps faded away. James looked up at Jill. She had transformed into a different person. She sneered down at him as Lillian did indeed take the line from his wrist. Jill wrapped the sore area up in a bandage before speaking. "James sit up and put this on" she tossed him some clothes "Giovanni will be here soon"
"The Boss? What for?" James asked weakly. Even now the pain was gone the minute the line was he still had that faint buzzing in his head and the sickness had not yet passed.
"Just get changed" was the harsh reply. Then James was left alone. He heard a key turning in the lock as the door was slammed. There was no way out. James decided he might as well get changed. The clothes that Jill had given him consisted of a thin cotton shirt and white trousers. There was no pattern on them save for on the top left corner of the shirt there was a small red R embroidered on there.
James folded his training uniform up and put it under the bed. He then looked round for a possible way out. There was none, even the windows were locked. James noticed a clipboard set down next to the machine that he had been hooked up too for what must have been the last week. Ignoring the dizziness he picked it up and scanned through it:
TM future sight experiment subject number 2b19. James paled as he read the rest. Ever since TM's were created Giovanni has sort to find a way to transfer the essence of the TM future sight into a human being. Attempts to unlock this secret have failed up until a few weeks ago when the late scientist Marlene's notebook was discovered. The traitor had been hiding this technology from Giovanni but now she was gone there was nothing to stop us testing her theory. She had found a way too transform the TM into a liquid form that could be fed into a person via a vein in their wrist. But the liquid form was more than that. Because the TM had to be changed many times the liquid form could not allow the human it was used on to use the attack future sight. Instead the liquid form allowed the specimen to view the future at any given point in time. The specimen could view whatever they wanted. Giovanni wanted his specimen to be able to view every thing but if that were so then the
specimen would view every little detail of every possible future there is and eventually would die from the strain. This was the chosen subject can concentrate on a certain piece of the future and learn what is going to be. As it is this technology is not certain and the specimen may reject the TM form and die.
"I see you have already read my little introduction"
James slammed the clipboard down and turned to face the evil rocket Boss.
"This?" he pointed to the machine, the blue liquid emptied from it was now in his blood going round his body. If he rejected the TM he would die. James sank to his knees tears in his eyes. What had he done to deserve this? "It will kill me?"
"You have been sedated for the week whilst the TM is absorbed into you're blood stream however you woke too soon and this last dose had to be administrated whilst you were awake" Giovanni stepped towards his subject "But you do not look dead James. I think you will be just fine"
"Why are you here?"
"James you were given this gift for a reason. You will remain at my side serving me and doing with you're power what I wish"
"I don't have any power" James replied.
"We'll see" Giovanni sat down on the bed. "James I am going to run a few tests of my own. You don't have to be scared. I know this last week has frightened you and for that I apologise"
"Tests? What sort of tests?"
"Well I am going into battle against another gym leader lately. As the Viridian gym leader mind, not as Team Rockets leader. I want you to view the outcome for me James. Just close you're eyes and focus. Tell me what you see. The match will take place at my gym in an hour's time. I am starting off the battle with Golem"
"I want to see Jesse"
"You will after this James"
"Sir I don't understand?"
"Just close you're eyes and tell me what you see"
James did as he said but all he could see where the little flickers of colour dancing before his eyes when he had them shut for too long. "Nothing" James whispered afraid of what his Boss might do.
"That's ok James" Giovanni said almost kindly. "You are tired. I will come back tomorrow"
As he said this Jill returned. Giovanni went up to her and whispered some thing. Jill nodded and Giovanni left. "Why did you do this?" James asked her.
"I have my reasons" Jill said taking a fresh syringe. "He was right you do look tired. Get back into bed"
"What is that for?" James demanded but doing as she said.
"This?" Jill asked as she injected him. "Just a little flu bug. We can't have you're friend guessing the real reason. It will give you a mild temperature and fever. I don't expect you to be very awake the next time the Boss comes"
She was right. The next few days seemed to pass by in a foggy haze. James remembered Jesse coming. He tried to get her to help him but she wouldn't listen. "It's the infection talking James" she would repeat over and over. "I'm here James. You don't have to be afraid"
But he was afraid. Giovanni came every afternoon and tried to get him to see what he could not. James tried but he didn't know what Giovanni was asking of him. His Boss was nice about it at first but his patience warned and he became angry. James could recall him striking him once across the face. There would have been more blows but Jill stopped him. "If you hit him then there will be marks" she shouted. "How will we explain that?"
Then one day Giovanni didn't come. James was feeling better and was thinking of means of escape when Jill entered the room. "The experiment is over" she said simply.
"Over?"
"Marlene was a fool and we should never have believed her"
"You'll let me go"
"In a while yes. Just sleep James. When you wake this nightmare will be over"
James did sleep and when he woke Jesse was with him. "How are you feeling now?" she asked gently.
It was funny James didn't feel sick at all. He couldn't believe he had missed all those exams. They would be kicked out for sure now. "Better" he said sitting up. Lillian was smiling kindly at them both.
"You had us worried for a while James" she said softly.
James frowned he remembered being taken ill but for some reason the memories didn't quite fit.
"The Boss said we're in Team Rocket any way," Jesse said as if guessing his concerns about the exams.
"Giovanni thinks you will be fine agents" Lillian added
"We're in?" James asked not believing what they were telling him.
"Yes silly" Jesse smiled. "Now come on. They're throwing a party in the main hall"
The 2 friends hurried from the room. The 2 weeks of nightmares not even a distant memory.