Authors Note: This is written in the same style as my last fic. This
chapter is what happened the day before.
Chapter Two: A Warning
"So what do you think he wants?" James asked nervously rubbing a hand on the back of his head like he did so often when he was worried about something. Giovanni had called them up less than half an hour ago requesting to speak with them one after the other. Meowth was to wait in their cabin outside Teal Town. Teal Town was situated in a small mountain range of the Kanto region. The three members of Team Rocket had followed Ash and his friends there in hopes of stealing his electric rat. Apparently the Teal Town gym leader had wanted a battle with Ash and the young trainer had been quick to respond abandoning his journey in Johto to take the fast ship all the way to Kanto just for one battle. This didn't make sense to James. Why didn't the kid just finish with the Johto league before returning to Kanto for this one battle? That made more sense. James knew he'd never understand that boy and was sure he didn't want too.
"I don't know what he wants" Jesse snapped to James' earlier question. "But if he starts ranting about our failed mission then just blame Meowth"
"Why?" James didn't really think it fair to blame one member for all threes mistakes but he knew Meowth and Jesse always blamed him. "Because Meowth isn't here" Jesse replied. "Now come on".
She punched in the door lock code, which opened the door to the HQ in Teal Town. Teal Town was so small that James was surprised that Giovanni bothered having a Team Rocket HQ here let alone that Giovanni would fly out in his personal helicopter just to speak with them. The HQ was at the back of a shop selling winter gear to Pokemon trainers. This shop was just one of the many that hid a Team Rocket base. Jesse stepped inside first but James hesitated. The thought of being chewed out by Giovanni without Jesse to defend him frightened him. "James" her face had changed from an angry one to one of concern that James seldom saw. "Its going to be ok" Jesse said. "It always is"
"For you maybe" James replied but instantly regretted it.
"What do you mean by that?" she demanded.
"Nothing Jess" he quickly stepped passed her and led the way down the dark dimly lit passage. The HQ was rarely used and James was sure he saw a few Zubat nesting in the cracks in the walls. Jesse was silent until they got to a fork in the tunnel. One way led out and one way led to the office of Giovanni. James wanted to turn the wrong way and see if Jesse would let him go back to the cabin and make an excuse for him. This of course would not happen. James walked down the passage leading to Giovanni's office. Jesse shoved in front once they neared the doorway.
"Jessica I'm sorry," James said as she made a move to knock on the door.
She shrugged and looked away. "Don't ever imply that I am only in Team Rocket still because of my mother again James"
"I didn't mean too. It came out wrong. You know how to handle Giovanni. He always treats you with respect. He hates me" James sniffed, tears welling up in his eyes. "He's going to fire me I know it"
Jesse relented and hugged him briefly "Oh James. He knows that if you go I go. You don't have to worry"
Jesse knocked on the office door. "Who is it?" Giovanni called.
"Its Jesse and James sir. You wanted to talk to us?"
"Yes. Jessica enter. James go to the room down the hallway. Jessica will fetch you when she is done".
Jesse hugged James once more before entering the office. James hung around for a few seconds hoping to catch bits of the conversation but it was hushed that James only caught odd words. He suddenly wished that he were brave enough to defend Jesse at times. Hanging his head James walked down the passageway to the room that Giovanni had mentioned. It resembled a hospital waiting room. There was a small red sofa in one corner; an oak coffee table in front piled with magazines such as 'Pokemon Friend' and 'Pokemon champs of tomorrow'. There was also a coffee machine in one corner but on trying it James found that there was no hot water. He slumped down on the sofa and picked up an old copy of Pokemon champs of tomorrow. He mindlessly flicked through it for a few minutes before one picture caught his eye. The title of the article was 'Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu conquer the Orange League'. James tore the page out and locating a pen from behind the sofa he started to draw on the picture of Ash giving him buckteeth and a pair of glasses. James sniggered at his handwork and flicked through some of the other magazines looking for more pictures of the twerp. He didn't find any but he did find a couple of Gary Oak that he could give a make over to. James giggled and was about to look for more when Jesse came back. She looked at his artwork and laughed "Nice work James. We can put them up in the cabin. Give it a bit of colour"
James smiled and looked at her uncertainly. "He wants to see you now. Try not to worry. I think he's in a good mood for once".
James nodded and decided it wasn't a good idea to keep Giovanni waiting. He left Jesse and hurried to the office.
Jesse sat down heavily once James had gone Giovanni's conversation with her fresh in her mind. She had lied to James. The Boss was in a foul mood but she didn't want to frighten her friend. Maybe Giovanni would go easy on him. His warning had been clear. Jesse shuddered as she recalled his exact words.
"Jessica please sit down," Giovanni said almost pleasantly as she closed the office door behind her. Giovanni always insisted on calling her by her full name through the name that Jesse had given when they joined Team Rocket was Jesse. Jesse did so noting the Persian sleeping near the chair Giovanni had indicated. Jesse remembered one of the first meetings they had, had with Giovanni. James had trod on the Persian's tail by accident. It leapt up screeching and knocked over one of Giovanni's marble statues. James had been paying off the debt for two years now and still was now where near close to even paying for a third of the damage! Meowth thought what James did was hilarious but James hadn't seen it that way. That was when he first became afraid of the Boss and that was also the first time Jesse had raised her voice to Giovanni. He had been horrible to James calling him all sorts of names and then let the Persian scratch him until he was bleeding as a punishment. Jesse had snapped. "How dare you treat him like that!" she had shouted to the amazement of Giovanni and her friends. "He said he was sorry and that he would pay you for the damage done so why can't you leave it at that?"
Giovanni had been so taken aback that he called off the Persian and quietly told Jesse never to raise her voice to him again. Now careful not to upset the Persian she waited patiently for Giovanni to start speaking. "I have called you here Jessica because this has to stop" he started.
"What sir?" Jesse asked knowing full well what he meant but feigning innocence like James would.
Giovanni sighed "Jessica you have talent. The only mistake you ever made was to request James as you're partner"
"What is wrong with him?" she demanded without thinking.
"What is wrong with him? He is useless Jessica. He has messed up more missions than I can count and has cost me more money that all of my teams put together"
"With respect sir me and Meowth mess up too. You can't blame this all on James"
"I don't like you're tone Jessica. That is another issue we have to discuss. I will not have you answering me back. I am you're boss and you will treat me with respect"
"Sorry sir" Jesse said humbly knowing better than to argue.
"Now I am going to be reasonable. I understand that your relationship with James goes back way before Team Rocket. You have the rest of the day to get me a rare Pokemon or that Pikachu. Then if you can prove to me that James is worth keeping on then I will not fire him understood".
"Sir" Jesse protested "You can't fire James"
"Give me one good reason why?"
"Because…." Jesse trailed off when she saw the look on Giovanni's face.
"Jessica I am not an unreasonable man. But I have to think for the good of Team Rocket. I cannot have a team who is an embarrassment understand?"
"Yes sir"
"You have the rest of the day. Do not fail me"
Jesse nodded and turned to leave. "Send James in" Giovanni added. Jesse nodded again and left the room. Now as she sat admiring James' defacing of the twerp she felt fear for him. Giovanni would not go easy on him now.
James knocked lightly on the door hoping that Giovanni wouldn't hear him. He did and James was summoned to enter. He did so making a wide birth round the Persian who hissed angrily at him much to the amusement of its trainer. He sat down in front of the desk and gulped nervously. Giovanni stared at him coldly before speaking. "I expect you know why you are here don't you?"
"Yes sir. Is it my performance on the field sir?"
"Performance on the field" Giovanni liked this and laughed dryly. "James you're performance is terrible. You have cost me a lot of money and wasted a lot of time. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kick you off Team Rocket for good"
"I…" James stammered. The Boss was watching him expectantly. He had to give an answer. "I work hard" he offered at last. "And I never give up. Most other teams would have given up with the Pikachu mission by now if you don't mind me saying sir"
"That is true" Giovanni replied. "But trying and working hard isn't enough. I need you to succeed James. This is not a game understand. This is a serious crime organisation and I have no room for weaklings like you"
"So I'm fired?"
"No. You have the rest of today to succeed and to prove to me that I shouldn't fire you"
"Yes sir, thank you sir"
James took this as dismissal and left. He met Jesse outside the HQ.
"We have the rest of today," she said grimly.
James nodded "Jesse what if we can't do it?"
"We will" Jesse replied. "We have no choice now"
The two friends headed back to the cabin to inform Meowth of the news.
"Don't worry" Jesse repeated "I have a plan"
Chapter Two: A Warning
"So what do you think he wants?" James asked nervously rubbing a hand on the back of his head like he did so often when he was worried about something. Giovanni had called them up less than half an hour ago requesting to speak with them one after the other. Meowth was to wait in their cabin outside Teal Town. Teal Town was situated in a small mountain range of the Kanto region. The three members of Team Rocket had followed Ash and his friends there in hopes of stealing his electric rat. Apparently the Teal Town gym leader had wanted a battle with Ash and the young trainer had been quick to respond abandoning his journey in Johto to take the fast ship all the way to Kanto just for one battle. This didn't make sense to James. Why didn't the kid just finish with the Johto league before returning to Kanto for this one battle? That made more sense. James knew he'd never understand that boy and was sure he didn't want too.
"I don't know what he wants" Jesse snapped to James' earlier question. "But if he starts ranting about our failed mission then just blame Meowth"
"Why?" James didn't really think it fair to blame one member for all threes mistakes but he knew Meowth and Jesse always blamed him. "Because Meowth isn't here" Jesse replied. "Now come on".
She punched in the door lock code, which opened the door to the HQ in Teal Town. Teal Town was so small that James was surprised that Giovanni bothered having a Team Rocket HQ here let alone that Giovanni would fly out in his personal helicopter just to speak with them. The HQ was at the back of a shop selling winter gear to Pokemon trainers. This shop was just one of the many that hid a Team Rocket base. Jesse stepped inside first but James hesitated. The thought of being chewed out by Giovanni without Jesse to defend him frightened him. "James" her face had changed from an angry one to one of concern that James seldom saw. "Its going to be ok" Jesse said. "It always is"
"For you maybe" James replied but instantly regretted it.
"What do you mean by that?" she demanded.
"Nothing Jess" he quickly stepped passed her and led the way down the dark dimly lit passage. The HQ was rarely used and James was sure he saw a few Zubat nesting in the cracks in the walls. Jesse was silent until they got to a fork in the tunnel. One way led out and one way led to the office of Giovanni. James wanted to turn the wrong way and see if Jesse would let him go back to the cabin and make an excuse for him. This of course would not happen. James walked down the passage leading to Giovanni's office. Jesse shoved in front once they neared the doorway.
"Jessica I'm sorry," James said as she made a move to knock on the door.
She shrugged and looked away. "Don't ever imply that I am only in Team Rocket still because of my mother again James"
"I didn't mean too. It came out wrong. You know how to handle Giovanni. He always treats you with respect. He hates me" James sniffed, tears welling up in his eyes. "He's going to fire me I know it"
Jesse relented and hugged him briefly "Oh James. He knows that if you go I go. You don't have to worry"
Jesse knocked on the office door. "Who is it?" Giovanni called.
"Its Jesse and James sir. You wanted to talk to us?"
"Yes. Jessica enter. James go to the room down the hallway. Jessica will fetch you when she is done".
Jesse hugged James once more before entering the office. James hung around for a few seconds hoping to catch bits of the conversation but it was hushed that James only caught odd words. He suddenly wished that he were brave enough to defend Jesse at times. Hanging his head James walked down the passageway to the room that Giovanni had mentioned. It resembled a hospital waiting room. There was a small red sofa in one corner; an oak coffee table in front piled with magazines such as 'Pokemon Friend' and 'Pokemon champs of tomorrow'. There was also a coffee machine in one corner but on trying it James found that there was no hot water. He slumped down on the sofa and picked up an old copy of Pokemon champs of tomorrow. He mindlessly flicked through it for a few minutes before one picture caught his eye. The title of the article was 'Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu conquer the Orange League'. James tore the page out and locating a pen from behind the sofa he started to draw on the picture of Ash giving him buckteeth and a pair of glasses. James sniggered at his handwork and flicked through some of the other magazines looking for more pictures of the twerp. He didn't find any but he did find a couple of Gary Oak that he could give a make over to. James giggled and was about to look for more when Jesse came back. She looked at his artwork and laughed "Nice work James. We can put them up in the cabin. Give it a bit of colour"
James smiled and looked at her uncertainly. "He wants to see you now. Try not to worry. I think he's in a good mood for once".
James nodded and decided it wasn't a good idea to keep Giovanni waiting. He left Jesse and hurried to the office.
Jesse sat down heavily once James had gone Giovanni's conversation with her fresh in her mind. She had lied to James. The Boss was in a foul mood but she didn't want to frighten her friend. Maybe Giovanni would go easy on him. His warning had been clear. Jesse shuddered as she recalled his exact words.
"Jessica please sit down," Giovanni said almost pleasantly as she closed the office door behind her. Giovanni always insisted on calling her by her full name through the name that Jesse had given when they joined Team Rocket was Jesse. Jesse did so noting the Persian sleeping near the chair Giovanni had indicated. Jesse remembered one of the first meetings they had, had with Giovanni. James had trod on the Persian's tail by accident. It leapt up screeching and knocked over one of Giovanni's marble statues. James had been paying off the debt for two years now and still was now where near close to even paying for a third of the damage! Meowth thought what James did was hilarious but James hadn't seen it that way. That was when he first became afraid of the Boss and that was also the first time Jesse had raised her voice to Giovanni. He had been horrible to James calling him all sorts of names and then let the Persian scratch him until he was bleeding as a punishment. Jesse had snapped. "How dare you treat him like that!" she had shouted to the amazement of Giovanni and her friends. "He said he was sorry and that he would pay you for the damage done so why can't you leave it at that?"
Giovanni had been so taken aback that he called off the Persian and quietly told Jesse never to raise her voice to him again. Now careful not to upset the Persian she waited patiently for Giovanni to start speaking. "I have called you here Jessica because this has to stop" he started.
"What sir?" Jesse asked knowing full well what he meant but feigning innocence like James would.
Giovanni sighed "Jessica you have talent. The only mistake you ever made was to request James as you're partner"
"What is wrong with him?" she demanded without thinking.
"What is wrong with him? He is useless Jessica. He has messed up more missions than I can count and has cost me more money that all of my teams put together"
"With respect sir me and Meowth mess up too. You can't blame this all on James"
"I don't like you're tone Jessica. That is another issue we have to discuss. I will not have you answering me back. I am you're boss and you will treat me with respect"
"Sorry sir" Jesse said humbly knowing better than to argue.
"Now I am going to be reasonable. I understand that your relationship with James goes back way before Team Rocket. You have the rest of the day to get me a rare Pokemon or that Pikachu. Then if you can prove to me that James is worth keeping on then I will not fire him understood".
"Sir" Jesse protested "You can't fire James"
"Give me one good reason why?"
"Because…." Jesse trailed off when she saw the look on Giovanni's face.
"Jessica I am not an unreasonable man. But I have to think for the good of Team Rocket. I cannot have a team who is an embarrassment understand?"
"Yes sir"
"You have the rest of the day. Do not fail me"
Jesse nodded and turned to leave. "Send James in" Giovanni added. Jesse nodded again and left the room. Now as she sat admiring James' defacing of the twerp she felt fear for him. Giovanni would not go easy on him now.
James knocked lightly on the door hoping that Giovanni wouldn't hear him. He did and James was summoned to enter. He did so making a wide birth round the Persian who hissed angrily at him much to the amusement of its trainer. He sat down in front of the desk and gulped nervously. Giovanni stared at him coldly before speaking. "I expect you know why you are here don't you?"
"Yes sir. Is it my performance on the field sir?"
"Performance on the field" Giovanni liked this and laughed dryly. "James you're performance is terrible. You have cost me a lot of money and wasted a lot of time. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kick you off Team Rocket for good"
"I…" James stammered. The Boss was watching him expectantly. He had to give an answer. "I work hard" he offered at last. "And I never give up. Most other teams would have given up with the Pikachu mission by now if you don't mind me saying sir"
"That is true" Giovanni replied. "But trying and working hard isn't enough. I need you to succeed James. This is not a game understand. This is a serious crime organisation and I have no room for weaklings like you"
"So I'm fired?"
"No. You have the rest of today to succeed and to prove to me that I shouldn't fire you"
"Yes sir, thank you sir"
James took this as dismissal and left. He met Jesse outside the HQ.
"We have the rest of today," she said grimly.
James nodded "Jesse what if we can't do it?"
"We will" Jesse replied. "We have no choice now"
The two friends headed back to the cabin to inform Meowth of the news.
"Don't worry" Jesse repeated "I have a plan"