Respect

Today started with me feeling like the fifth wheel and by evening I am suddenly a critical member of our expedition. Go figure.

Janine went ballistic when she saw me with Sabrina. So help me I tried to hold back my anger, but I admit I barked at the kid. Sabrina promptly told us both off. That stung, but I bit my tongue and spent a restless night in my cabin.

I was up early and swung the door to the deck open and found Janine quietly standing outside.

"What do you want?" I snapped expecting abuse.

She actually looked a bit scared, "Um…Sabrina suggested I have a talk with you."

"Still punishing us, eh?" I sighed and let her in, "Say your piece and get it over with."

Janine opened her mouth, paused, frowned then looked out the cabin door at the ocean. She looked back and bit her lip and let a puff of air escape blowing a raven curl from over her right eye. "Do you know why I don't like you?" This sounded more like an accusation than a question.

"If you're like everyone else you find me brutal, cruel, angry, mouthy, pushy, vain, amoral – in a word Evil. Does that sum it up?"

The girl blanched a little and gawked at me, "I…I wouldn't go that far, you're tough and angry but…I suppose you were a thief, I don't know…" she trailed off.

"Hey, don't pity me I wouldn't do the same for you…" I stopped, thinking better of what I might say next, "Look to be perfectly honest I don't have much in the way of scruples, they were usually useless dead weight as I grew up. But my number one rule was always – 'Treat me with respect and I respect you, disrespect and hate me and it comes back on you double'".

Janine regarded me with her ebony eyes, "That's my primary rule too. Guess I'm better off not hating you."

"Not that it ever cost anybody much sleep, all my enemies are still laughing at Jess the Mess," I muttered, "Thanks anyway…I guess."

Janine took a breath and asked, "Sabrina says I can talk to you about Tech, what could you know about the place?"

"Hmph! For all the time I spent there I don't really know that much about it," I growled, "I was sent there as something of a legacy on some money my long gone mom left in some special bank account. I bombed the entrance exam after partying the night before with James, the Headmistress' daughter and her boyfriend. Those two passed but James and I went out on our ears.  Not that it mattered – Butch and Cassidy dropped out a year later."

"Was Cassidy a blonde girl?" Janine asked.

"Yeah, how'd you know that?"

"Her mom still has her picture on her desk. How do you know she dropped out?"

"Because she wound up in Team Rocket too, she's still there for all I know, may she rot," I groused.

"I'm guessing Cassidy disrespects and hates you," Janine said with a trace of a smile.

"Oh yeah, that she does," I replied, "Good guess kid."

"Janine will do," she smirked, "You must care a lot about Sabrina to leave your boyfriend for a long trip."

"James is more than a 'boyfriend' and yeah I care about Sabrina. She's one of very few people who understand me and forgive me my sins."

"Sabrina was right about you."

"Right about what?"

"You're a human being, not a harpy. I guess I can get along with you after all," she admitted.

"Thanks kid," I mumbled feeling a bit funny in the pit of my stomach.

"Janine will do."

"Janine it is."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

When we docked in Mandarin City that afternoon we went right away to the Naranjo Charter Company to book a boat to Shamouti Island. If Lorelei Kanna was anywhere it was Ice Island right next to Shamouti. Sabrina asked me to do the honours.

I strode up to the desk and batted my eyes at the handsome young fellow at the counter, "When can we pick up the next charter to Shamouti? My friends and I want to go see the temple and take in the sights."

"That's not possible Miss," he said, "All our charters have been booked by a single group."

"What?" I barked losing the charm, "What are we supposed to do? Why can't you fit us in on one of those boats? Surely this outfit can't be that exclusive?"

"I'm sorry Miss. They were a large group and they insisted on an exclusive charter. The woman who arranged it stipulated it and the gravel-voiced guy with her backed her up."

"What?" I shouted making him jump, "This gal wouldn't have been a blonde with ponytails, and triangle earrings, would she?"

"How the heck did you know?" he stammered.

"I keep crossing paths with that one. It didn't require much of a guess," I replied, "What are the chances of scoring a boat in the next day or so?"

"Not with us, but why don't you try Millie Misako at Fisherman's Pier on Long Wharf?"

"Thanks for nothing pretty boy," I muttered and returned to my companions.

"Looks like Team Rocket's got its sites set on Shamouti – who knows why, but I'm not betting against going after Legendary Birds."

Sabrina looked briefly fearful, then she regained her composure, "This complicates matters doesn't it? We are indeed fortunate you came along Jessie if we must deal with Team Rocket. Are you ready for a fight Jess?"

"Anytime Sabrina, anytime," I answered trying to sound calm.