Chapter 11: Betrayal
"You're a what?" Jesse shouted. She wasn't hearing this. Cally was her friend. Jesse had trusted her and all the time she was working for the police.
"Can we talk about this later?" Cally asked irritably. "My arm is killing me ok?"
"No we can't!" Jesse shouted angrily. "You can't drop something like that on me and then give me no explanation"
"Oh shut up Jesse! What do you want me to tell you? That even through this is a job I still like you? Or would you rather I say that I didn't ever give a damn about you and Jim?"
Jesse sobbed slightly and turned away. "I can't believe you betrayed us like that".
"Jess wait!" Cally shouted as she started to walk away. "Where are you going?"
"To find Cassidy," Jesse yelled back. "We don't need you're help anymore. This is Team Rocket business and we'll deal with it in our own way. Come on Meowth" There was no reply from in the jeep. "Meowth?" Jesse called racing back and opening the door. He was gone. "Meowth!" Jesse shouted at the empty street. "Come on Meowth where are you?" Cally frowned remembering the blur of white that had shot passed her moments before the van drove off.
"Jesse" she said taking a deep breath "I think Meowth went after Butch"
Meowth landed hard in the back of the van. He was lucky as the thump when he landed was disguised when the engine started. Meowth whimpered as he pulled out a piece of glass from the window in his paw and then looked round for something to staunch the bleeding. He found a rag of cloth and wrapped it tightly round his paw before looking around for Butch. The male was lying unconscious and bound a few centimetres from where Meowth was sitting. "Hey Butch" Meowth hissed shaking him "Get up" Butch didn't reply. Meowth tried waking him for a few more minutes before giving up and turning to the ropes that bound his wrists together. Meowth tugged at them but the rope was too tight so he set about trying to gnaw the ropes off. Meowth's reasons for diving into the van at the last minute were simple. These men were most likely the ones who took James and if Meowth went with Butch then he would be led to where James was. The cat couldn't honestly say he cared what happened to Butch. He still hated the duo for what they did to him and for telling Giovanni what James could do. But Meowth reasoned that if he helped Butch get away then they could both look for James. The rope round Butch's wrists was so thick however that Meowth had only made a slight dent in the material before the van stopped. Meowth was gripped by panic as he heard the men getting out and coming round to open the back doors. There was nowhere for him to hide! So Meowth did the only thing he could think of doing. He curled up beside Butch meowing softly in the hopes that they would assume that Meowth was Butch's Pokemon. The men opened the doors and stared hard at Meowth. "Meowth" Meowth meowed and when one man went to drag Butch out Meowth hissed and swiped at him.
"Looks like we got one of his Pokemon too Burt" one man said. The one called Burt chuckled in reply and seized Meowth by the scruff of the neck. "Mangy Meowth shoo" he flung Meowth down on the ground and kicked at him. Meowth wasn't hurt just angry. These guys were monsters. "Meowth" he cried looking pleadingly at them as one of them scooped Butch up in his powerful arms and they started walking away. "Hey Burt I think the cat wants to come with his trainer"
"Let him then. Through Amber will have a mental when she sees him". Meowth followed the men, who he'd discovered now didn't have too many brain cells between them, and realised that he was in Vermilion City. The harbour appeared deserted otherwise Meowth reasoned the men would not be able to carry Butch around in daylight. They walked to the waters edge where the SS Aqua was readying to sail to Olivine City. The men boarded the ship and were greeted by the captain. He'll stop them Meowth thought but the man called Burt produced a couple of £50 notes and handed them too the captain. "You didn't see anything right?" he said. The captain nodded and told them that their cabin was 15b on the starboard side. Meowth chose not to go with them to the cabin and the men didn't seem to give a damn anyway. Meowth wanted to remain hidden so Butch didn't even know he was here. Things would be easier that way Meowth thought. Anyway they were on a boat so there was nowhere to go. Meowth curled up by the ships anchor and fell asleep.
There was silence in the flat apart from Cassidy's sobbing. They had gone back there to talk over what to do next but so far Jesse had chosen to comfort her rival rather than talk over anything with Cally. "We'll get them back," Jesse repeated over and over as Cassidy sobbed. Jesse was amazed at how much compassion she felt towards Cassidy. Normally Jesse felt nothing but hatred for her. It's because we've both lost someone we love she realised. And what of Meowth? The Darkness wanted to use James for future sight but Meowth. Jesse knew that the cat was streetwise and smart but could he take on a whole gang? No Jesse decided. She would not let Meowth face this alone. She was going to go after them. "Come on" she said to Cassidy. "We're going to Johto. We might be able to find a clue to where the Darkness is hiding. We'll rescue Meowth, James and Butch"
"I can't let you do that" Cally spoke up suddenly. "I have my orders to protect you Jesse. I can't let you go"
"What are you going to do Cally?" Jesse shouted enraged. "Arrest me?" Cally met Jesse's gaze and stood so both women were facing each other fists balled tightly. It looked as if they would actually get into a fight and both were more than happy too. "If I have too" Cally replied. "You're safety is my number one concern"
"What about James?" Jesse demanded suddenly. "Surely you were supposed to be protecting him too? Look what happened with police protection! James could die because of you! And you didn't do a very good job saving Butch and Meowth either!"
"We didn't know what was going to happen to Jim" Cally snapped
"Don't call him that! We are not your friends Cally! And don't give me all that we didn't know what was going to happen to him crap! Officer Jenny told us that she knew about those agents going missing and then being killed. You don't know anything. My James could be lying dead in an alley somewhere and you could have stopped that from happening!"
Cassidy let out a wail of despair at hearing this. "Butch could be killed too!" she sobbed. Cally knew that Jesse was right but that made her angrier. Jesse had no idea how tough being the misfit in a family could be! Cally wanted to do as well as her sisters and cousins but she just didn't measure up to them! She sobbed slightly as the pain in her arm grew worse. Cally was aware of the whole room spinning before she fell to the ground.
When Cally woke she found herself lying in a bed. The bed was uncomfortable and the springs from the mattress dug into her back. Cassidy was sitting on a fold up chair next to her reading a magazine. Cally could tell that she wasn't really concentrating on it through. Cally also found that her arm had been neatly bandaged. She sat up shakily and addressed Cassidy. "What happened?" she asked.
"You fainted" was the curt reply. "Jesse and I carried you up here. Jess then removed the bullet and bandaged you up"
"Why would you help me?" Cally asked recalling Jesse talking about her medical training.
"We are not heartless cop" Cassidy snapped she was just as angry as Jesse was now. "You did save my life even through you failed to save Butch" she broke off as fresh tears threatened to fall.
"I was out numbered" Cally replied. "Where is Jesse now?"
"She's gone to get us some transport. We're going out to Johto and don't think you can stop us" Cassidy help up Cally's badge and radio communicator. "I did want to tie you up and leave you to die but Jess thought that would make us as bad as you are"
"I didn't mean for Butch to get hurt and as for James. No one could have predicted that the Darkness would come after him. It was his own fault!"
"How do you work that one out cop?"
"James lied to you all. He still has future sight. If we had known then my sister would never have let you go alone. None of us would have" Cassidy took a moment to think this through. Jesse must be hurting that James lied to her. If Butch lied to Cassidy about something as important as future sight then it would kill her to think that he couldn't trust her. "Cassidy" Cally said softly. "I didn't mean to hurt you or Jesse. I know how badly she is hurting"
"You betrayed her. Jesse thought you were a friend and all this time you were pretending. I've hurt Jess in a similar way and believe me even through we have our differences it is something that I am not proud of" Cally knew that Cassidy was right again. Jesse had believed that she was really a friend and to find out that it had all been pretence like that was a terrible blow for her. Jesse had told Cally things. Private things that she didn't even tell James thinking that Cally was a friend. Jesse must also feel humiliated by this. But Cally did honestly like Jesse, James and Meowth. She had never had many friends and loved them all in that year she got to know them. Cally loved all the girl talks she and Jesse had and was soon to discover that Jesse had never had a girl to talk to when she was younger. Cally had the same problem and when Jesse first described Cassidy as a 'back stabbing bitch' she had reminded Cally of the girls she knew. Her 'friends' had only wanted to use her and Cally had let them. She and Jesse had a lot in common. Cally liked James for different reasons. He was so kind and gentle still despite all he had been through (Jenny had informed Cally of everything that went on long before Jesse told her). James never let what happened make him bitter towards anyone. Cally used to go to see James when she felt like just relaxing and talking about anything. James was that sort of friend and plus he was cute. She would never make a move on him for real. Apart from the fact that it would screw her job up Cally would not do that to Jesse or anyone for that matter. Still it was nice to dream.And Meowth was a great friend too. He may be a Pokemon but he still made Cally feel welcome. The cat cared deeply for Jesse and James but he liked Cally as much as they did. Cally would go to the game corner and she had Meowth would play on the slots together except he wouldn't really be watching because he would be trying to catch the eye of the pretty female Meowth that came in sometimes. "I never meant for this to happen" she called as Cassidy got tired of sitting at her bedside and got up to leave. "I have my reasons you know." Cassidy ignored her and went into the front room. Jesse was waiting for her. "She's awake," Cassidy said. "I do feel kind of sorry for her though"
"I don't" Jesse snapped. "She betrayed us Cass. I managed to get us a car," she added. "It wasn't easy"
Cassidy sighed. "What about her? We can't leave her here"
"Why not"
"Jesse think for a minute. She knows we're going to Johto. When she gets out of here then she'll tell the rest of the cops. Then what? They'll go crawling over Johto looking for the Darkness. The leader may well kill James, Butch and Meowth and do a runner."
"Then what do you suggest?" Jesse demanded. "We take her with us?"
Five minutes later Cassidy, Jesse and Cally were getting into the red ford that Jesse had 'borrowed' from the Celadon City car park. Before leaving they replaced the number plate with the one from the jeep so that the car couldn't be traced. Cally had been very quiet since they told her that she was coming with them. "We'll drive to Pallet down and then cross to Johto" Jesse said. "That way we can start in New Bark town and go up through as if we were competing in the Johto League"
"I just hope we don't run into that little twerp friend of yours" Cassidy muttered starting up the car engine. "He is not our friend" Jesse said a little annoyed. "Anyway the last me and James heard he's still trying to get to the Johto league HQ. He's been wandering round the forest for months"
Cassidy sniggered "That'll be right. Honestly that twerp is a dim-witted as a Psyduck" The drive was silent for a while. Jesse was in the passenger side and a subdued Cally was in the back. "Jesse can I explain a few things?" Cally spoke at last.
"Nothing to explain" Jesse replied curtly "You betrayed us"
"Can I at least tell you why?" Cally asked.
"Go ahead then" Jesse sighed.
"I suppose you can see the resemblance now between me and the Officer Jenny's?" Cally asked. Jesse looked behind her and stared at Cally for a few minutes. She was younger than the Jenny's and her face was much more delicate and her eyes were a shade lighter and so was her hair. Cally did not look like a typical Officer Jenny. "You do look a little like one" Jesse allowed.
"I'm the Jenny who works in Viridian's younger sister. I do not look like a Jenny so my mother named me Cally instead. It was hard growing up when all my sisters and cousins looked alike and went into the police force. I wanted to work there too and my sister hired me as an undercover agent. I had it tough from the beginning not looking like the other Jenny's and all. I was so happy when my sister gave me the mission of looking after you guys"
"You were happy?" Jesse echoed. "I bet you were. You used me and what was worse you lied to me. Your mother isn't dead is she?" Cally hung her head in shame.
"You used my mother's death to get me to trust you!" Jesse shouted hot tears stinging her eyes. How could Cally do something like that to them? "My sister knew that you would never accept a police officer watching you. This was the kinder way" Cally said trying to make herself feel better
"The kinder way!" Jesse shouted. "That was not kind in any form. It was cruel"
"Can you shut up?" Cassidy shouted breaking them up. "I am trying to drive and your arguing is giving me a headache"
"I thought you were on my side?" Jesse demanded. Cassidy was but she didn't want this fight to go any further. "Look we just need to get to Pallet town ok. So can we just stop this?" Jesse and Cally shut up but Jesse kept giving her dirty looks in the car mirror until they arrived in Pallet Town.
Meowth was woken by the sound of the horn as the ship docked in Olivine City. Instantly he kept alert for the men with Butch. It was early morning now so Meowth had been asleep for most of the night and afternoon before. The men were easy to spot as they left the ship last Meowth followed close behind but not close enough to give away that he was still following them. Butch was still unconscious and Meowth doubted that he had been for this amount of time so the men had obviously drugged him again for the journey into Johto. The men walked quickly and because it was early morning there were few people about and the ones that were did not pay them any attention. The men walked hurriedly to a van that was waiting for them near the lighthouse. Meowth knew then that he would have to give away his presence unless he wanted to be left behind in Olivine. These men could be taking Butch anywhere. "Meowth!" he cried bounding up as the men threw Butch rather roughly into the back of their new van.
"Hey Derek its that Meowth again" the one called Burt called out when he saw Meowth.
"Meowth" Meowth cried again looking sadly in Butch's direction.
"Damn that is one loyal cat" Derek muttered. He didn't raise objection when Meowth climbed in beside Butch and once more curled up beside him. "What do we do about it?" Burt asked.
"Leave it" Derek replied. "It can follow us to Azalea Town and then we'll ditch it. Meowth's aren't too smart and it'll find a new trainer soon enough". Meowth bristled when he heard that remark. Ha someday he'd show those two clowns just how smart a Meowth could be. He heard them get in the front and start the engine once again. So they were going to Azalea Town? Meowth recalled journeying there on the trail of the twerps shortly before the Future Sight disaster. They got attacked by all those creepy bug Pokemon in the Azalea gym. Meowth shuddered remembering how terrified they all were. But what was in Azalea Town? Meowth sighed and tried to think. They hadn't really stopped to see the sights the last time as they had been after Pikachu but from what he could remember Azalea Town was where the Slowpoke well was and the Ilex Forest were. Meowth remembered what happened in the Slowpoke well too. There was nothing of interest to a criminal gang in Azalea Town. Then Meowth felt movement next to him. Butch groaned and moved slightly just raising his head and opening his eyes. Meowth could tell that he wasn't fully conscious and whatever it was that they had given him was still in his bloodstream. "Meowth?" Butch asked weakly. "Where am I?" Meowth didn't know how to answer this without alarming him. "Dem men took ya remember?" he said at last. Butch frowned his eyelids slowly falling shut again. "I.don't remember." he sighed slumping back down. Meowth suddenly felt pity for the other male. He had forgotten how scared Butch must be even if had been unconscious most of the time. "It'll be ok" Meowth said more to himself than Butch. "Meowth will get ya out of dis don't worry". But Meowth was worried. What on earth did these men and the Darkness want with Butch?
The van finally stopped and the men opened the back doors to haul Butch out. Meowth took this opportunity to jump out first and bound away into some bushes so he could observe from a distance where they were taking Butch. To Meowth's surprise they started to take him into the Ilex Forest. Butch had since come too and was walking between the men through they were holding onto his arms to keep him on his feet. "What da hell is going on?" Meowth asked himself as they continued deep into the forest until they reached the shrine to the forests protector. They paused and Burt held onto Butch tightly as Derek climbed inside the shrine. Meowth wanted to go nearer but that would be giving himself away. As he watched Burt pushed Butch inside the shrine before going in himself. Meowth waited for twenty minutes but no one came out. Finally out of concern he padded over to the shrine and climbed inside. To Meowth's shock there was a trap door almost invisible to a human eye in the floor of the shrine. Meowth had found the Darkness's hideout.
Authors Notes: I know several of you want to know what happened to James and you will know soon (hopefully in the next chapter) but the last two chapters are important to the plot and I felt if it were switching scenes to much it would get confusing. I am working on the next chapter and it should be finished soon. If you've read this and liked it please leave a review to brighten up my day ^_^
~Shari~
"You're a what?" Jesse shouted. She wasn't hearing this. Cally was her friend. Jesse had trusted her and all the time she was working for the police.
"Can we talk about this later?" Cally asked irritably. "My arm is killing me ok?"
"No we can't!" Jesse shouted angrily. "You can't drop something like that on me and then give me no explanation"
"Oh shut up Jesse! What do you want me to tell you? That even through this is a job I still like you? Or would you rather I say that I didn't ever give a damn about you and Jim?"
Jesse sobbed slightly and turned away. "I can't believe you betrayed us like that".
"Jess wait!" Cally shouted as she started to walk away. "Where are you going?"
"To find Cassidy," Jesse yelled back. "We don't need you're help anymore. This is Team Rocket business and we'll deal with it in our own way. Come on Meowth" There was no reply from in the jeep. "Meowth?" Jesse called racing back and opening the door. He was gone. "Meowth!" Jesse shouted at the empty street. "Come on Meowth where are you?" Cally frowned remembering the blur of white that had shot passed her moments before the van drove off.
"Jesse" she said taking a deep breath "I think Meowth went after Butch"
Meowth landed hard in the back of the van. He was lucky as the thump when he landed was disguised when the engine started. Meowth whimpered as he pulled out a piece of glass from the window in his paw and then looked round for something to staunch the bleeding. He found a rag of cloth and wrapped it tightly round his paw before looking around for Butch. The male was lying unconscious and bound a few centimetres from where Meowth was sitting. "Hey Butch" Meowth hissed shaking him "Get up" Butch didn't reply. Meowth tried waking him for a few more minutes before giving up and turning to the ropes that bound his wrists together. Meowth tugged at them but the rope was too tight so he set about trying to gnaw the ropes off. Meowth's reasons for diving into the van at the last minute were simple. These men were most likely the ones who took James and if Meowth went with Butch then he would be led to where James was. The cat couldn't honestly say he cared what happened to Butch. He still hated the duo for what they did to him and for telling Giovanni what James could do. But Meowth reasoned that if he helped Butch get away then they could both look for James. The rope round Butch's wrists was so thick however that Meowth had only made a slight dent in the material before the van stopped. Meowth was gripped by panic as he heard the men getting out and coming round to open the back doors. There was nowhere for him to hide! So Meowth did the only thing he could think of doing. He curled up beside Butch meowing softly in the hopes that they would assume that Meowth was Butch's Pokemon. The men opened the doors and stared hard at Meowth. "Meowth" Meowth meowed and when one man went to drag Butch out Meowth hissed and swiped at him.
"Looks like we got one of his Pokemon too Burt" one man said. The one called Burt chuckled in reply and seized Meowth by the scruff of the neck. "Mangy Meowth shoo" he flung Meowth down on the ground and kicked at him. Meowth wasn't hurt just angry. These guys were monsters. "Meowth" he cried looking pleadingly at them as one of them scooped Butch up in his powerful arms and they started walking away. "Hey Burt I think the cat wants to come with his trainer"
"Let him then. Through Amber will have a mental when she sees him". Meowth followed the men, who he'd discovered now didn't have too many brain cells between them, and realised that he was in Vermilion City. The harbour appeared deserted otherwise Meowth reasoned the men would not be able to carry Butch around in daylight. They walked to the waters edge where the SS Aqua was readying to sail to Olivine City. The men boarded the ship and were greeted by the captain. He'll stop them Meowth thought but the man called Burt produced a couple of £50 notes and handed them too the captain. "You didn't see anything right?" he said. The captain nodded and told them that their cabin was 15b on the starboard side. Meowth chose not to go with them to the cabin and the men didn't seem to give a damn anyway. Meowth wanted to remain hidden so Butch didn't even know he was here. Things would be easier that way Meowth thought. Anyway they were on a boat so there was nowhere to go. Meowth curled up by the ships anchor and fell asleep.
There was silence in the flat apart from Cassidy's sobbing. They had gone back there to talk over what to do next but so far Jesse had chosen to comfort her rival rather than talk over anything with Cally. "We'll get them back," Jesse repeated over and over as Cassidy sobbed. Jesse was amazed at how much compassion she felt towards Cassidy. Normally Jesse felt nothing but hatred for her. It's because we've both lost someone we love she realised. And what of Meowth? The Darkness wanted to use James for future sight but Meowth. Jesse knew that the cat was streetwise and smart but could he take on a whole gang? No Jesse decided. She would not let Meowth face this alone. She was going to go after them. "Come on" she said to Cassidy. "We're going to Johto. We might be able to find a clue to where the Darkness is hiding. We'll rescue Meowth, James and Butch"
"I can't let you do that" Cally spoke up suddenly. "I have my orders to protect you Jesse. I can't let you go"
"What are you going to do Cally?" Jesse shouted enraged. "Arrest me?" Cally met Jesse's gaze and stood so both women were facing each other fists balled tightly. It looked as if they would actually get into a fight and both were more than happy too. "If I have too" Cally replied. "You're safety is my number one concern"
"What about James?" Jesse demanded suddenly. "Surely you were supposed to be protecting him too? Look what happened with police protection! James could die because of you! And you didn't do a very good job saving Butch and Meowth either!"
"We didn't know what was going to happen to Jim" Cally snapped
"Don't call him that! We are not your friends Cally! And don't give me all that we didn't know what was going to happen to him crap! Officer Jenny told us that she knew about those agents going missing and then being killed. You don't know anything. My James could be lying dead in an alley somewhere and you could have stopped that from happening!"
Cassidy let out a wail of despair at hearing this. "Butch could be killed too!" she sobbed. Cally knew that Jesse was right but that made her angrier. Jesse had no idea how tough being the misfit in a family could be! Cally wanted to do as well as her sisters and cousins but she just didn't measure up to them! She sobbed slightly as the pain in her arm grew worse. Cally was aware of the whole room spinning before she fell to the ground.
When Cally woke she found herself lying in a bed. The bed was uncomfortable and the springs from the mattress dug into her back. Cassidy was sitting on a fold up chair next to her reading a magazine. Cally could tell that she wasn't really concentrating on it through. Cally also found that her arm had been neatly bandaged. She sat up shakily and addressed Cassidy. "What happened?" she asked.
"You fainted" was the curt reply. "Jesse and I carried you up here. Jess then removed the bullet and bandaged you up"
"Why would you help me?" Cally asked recalling Jesse talking about her medical training.
"We are not heartless cop" Cassidy snapped she was just as angry as Jesse was now. "You did save my life even through you failed to save Butch" she broke off as fresh tears threatened to fall.
"I was out numbered" Cally replied. "Where is Jesse now?"
"She's gone to get us some transport. We're going out to Johto and don't think you can stop us" Cassidy help up Cally's badge and radio communicator. "I did want to tie you up and leave you to die but Jess thought that would make us as bad as you are"
"I didn't mean for Butch to get hurt and as for James. No one could have predicted that the Darkness would come after him. It was his own fault!"
"How do you work that one out cop?"
"James lied to you all. He still has future sight. If we had known then my sister would never have let you go alone. None of us would have" Cassidy took a moment to think this through. Jesse must be hurting that James lied to her. If Butch lied to Cassidy about something as important as future sight then it would kill her to think that he couldn't trust her. "Cassidy" Cally said softly. "I didn't mean to hurt you or Jesse. I know how badly she is hurting"
"You betrayed her. Jesse thought you were a friend and all this time you were pretending. I've hurt Jess in a similar way and believe me even through we have our differences it is something that I am not proud of" Cally knew that Cassidy was right again. Jesse had believed that she was really a friend and to find out that it had all been pretence like that was a terrible blow for her. Jesse had told Cally things. Private things that she didn't even tell James thinking that Cally was a friend. Jesse must also feel humiliated by this. But Cally did honestly like Jesse, James and Meowth. She had never had many friends and loved them all in that year she got to know them. Cally loved all the girl talks she and Jesse had and was soon to discover that Jesse had never had a girl to talk to when she was younger. Cally had the same problem and when Jesse first described Cassidy as a 'back stabbing bitch' she had reminded Cally of the girls she knew. Her 'friends' had only wanted to use her and Cally had let them. She and Jesse had a lot in common. Cally liked James for different reasons. He was so kind and gentle still despite all he had been through (Jenny had informed Cally of everything that went on long before Jesse told her). James never let what happened make him bitter towards anyone. Cally used to go to see James when she felt like just relaxing and talking about anything. James was that sort of friend and plus he was cute. She would never make a move on him for real. Apart from the fact that it would screw her job up Cally would not do that to Jesse or anyone for that matter. Still it was nice to dream.And Meowth was a great friend too. He may be a Pokemon but he still made Cally feel welcome. The cat cared deeply for Jesse and James but he liked Cally as much as they did. Cally would go to the game corner and she had Meowth would play on the slots together except he wouldn't really be watching because he would be trying to catch the eye of the pretty female Meowth that came in sometimes. "I never meant for this to happen" she called as Cassidy got tired of sitting at her bedside and got up to leave. "I have my reasons you know." Cassidy ignored her and went into the front room. Jesse was waiting for her. "She's awake," Cassidy said. "I do feel kind of sorry for her though"
"I don't" Jesse snapped. "She betrayed us Cass. I managed to get us a car," she added. "It wasn't easy"
Cassidy sighed. "What about her? We can't leave her here"
"Why not"
"Jesse think for a minute. She knows we're going to Johto. When she gets out of here then she'll tell the rest of the cops. Then what? They'll go crawling over Johto looking for the Darkness. The leader may well kill James, Butch and Meowth and do a runner."
"Then what do you suggest?" Jesse demanded. "We take her with us?"
Five minutes later Cassidy, Jesse and Cally were getting into the red ford that Jesse had 'borrowed' from the Celadon City car park. Before leaving they replaced the number plate with the one from the jeep so that the car couldn't be traced. Cally had been very quiet since they told her that she was coming with them. "We'll drive to Pallet down and then cross to Johto" Jesse said. "That way we can start in New Bark town and go up through as if we were competing in the Johto League"
"I just hope we don't run into that little twerp friend of yours" Cassidy muttered starting up the car engine. "He is not our friend" Jesse said a little annoyed. "Anyway the last me and James heard he's still trying to get to the Johto league HQ. He's been wandering round the forest for months"
Cassidy sniggered "That'll be right. Honestly that twerp is a dim-witted as a Psyduck" The drive was silent for a while. Jesse was in the passenger side and a subdued Cally was in the back. "Jesse can I explain a few things?" Cally spoke at last.
"Nothing to explain" Jesse replied curtly "You betrayed us"
"Can I at least tell you why?" Cally asked.
"Go ahead then" Jesse sighed.
"I suppose you can see the resemblance now between me and the Officer Jenny's?" Cally asked. Jesse looked behind her and stared at Cally for a few minutes. She was younger than the Jenny's and her face was much more delicate and her eyes were a shade lighter and so was her hair. Cally did not look like a typical Officer Jenny. "You do look a little like one" Jesse allowed.
"I'm the Jenny who works in Viridian's younger sister. I do not look like a Jenny so my mother named me Cally instead. It was hard growing up when all my sisters and cousins looked alike and went into the police force. I wanted to work there too and my sister hired me as an undercover agent. I had it tough from the beginning not looking like the other Jenny's and all. I was so happy when my sister gave me the mission of looking after you guys"
"You were happy?" Jesse echoed. "I bet you were. You used me and what was worse you lied to me. Your mother isn't dead is she?" Cally hung her head in shame.
"You used my mother's death to get me to trust you!" Jesse shouted hot tears stinging her eyes. How could Cally do something like that to them? "My sister knew that you would never accept a police officer watching you. This was the kinder way" Cally said trying to make herself feel better
"The kinder way!" Jesse shouted. "That was not kind in any form. It was cruel"
"Can you shut up?" Cassidy shouted breaking them up. "I am trying to drive and your arguing is giving me a headache"
"I thought you were on my side?" Jesse demanded. Cassidy was but she didn't want this fight to go any further. "Look we just need to get to Pallet town ok. So can we just stop this?" Jesse and Cally shut up but Jesse kept giving her dirty looks in the car mirror until they arrived in Pallet Town.
Meowth was woken by the sound of the horn as the ship docked in Olivine City. Instantly he kept alert for the men with Butch. It was early morning now so Meowth had been asleep for most of the night and afternoon before. The men were easy to spot as they left the ship last Meowth followed close behind but not close enough to give away that he was still following them. Butch was still unconscious and Meowth doubted that he had been for this amount of time so the men had obviously drugged him again for the journey into Johto. The men walked quickly and because it was early morning there were few people about and the ones that were did not pay them any attention. The men walked hurriedly to a van that was waiting for them near the lighthouse. Meowth knew then that he would have to give away his presence unless he wanted to be left behind in Olivine. These men could be taking Butch anywhere. "Meowth!" he cried bounding up as the men threw Butch rather roughly into the back of their new van.
"Hey Derek its that Meowth again" the one called Burt called out when he saw Meowth.
"Meowth" Meowth cried again looking sadly in Butch's direction.
"Damn that is one loyal cat" Derek muttered. He didn't raise objection when Meowth climbed in beside Butch and once more curled up beside him. "What do we do about it?" Burt asked.
"Leave it" Derek replied. "It can follow us to Azalea Town and then we'll ditch it. Meowth's aren't too smart and it'll find a new trainer soon enough". Meowth bristled when he heard that remark. Ha someday he'd show those two clowns just how smart a Meowth could be. He heard them get in the front and start the engine once again. So they were going to Azalea Town? Meowth recalled journeying there on the trail of the twerps shortly before the Future Sight disaster. They got attacked by all those creepy bug Pokemon in the Azalea gym. Meowth shuddered remembering how terrified they all were. But what was in Azalea Town? Meowth sighed and tried to think. They hadn't really stopped to see the sights the last time as they had been after Pikachu but from what he could remember Azalea Town was where the Slowpoke well was and the Ilex Forest were. Meowth remembered what happened in the Slowpoke well too. There was nothing of interest to a criminal gang in Azalea Town. Then Meowth felt movement next to him. Butch groaned and moved slightly just raising his head and opening his eyes. Meowth could tell that he wasn't fully conscious and whatever it was that they had given him was still in his bloodstream. "Meowth?" Butch asked weakly. "Where am I?" Meowth didn't know how to answer this without alarming him. "Dem men took ya remember?" he said at last. Butch frowned his eyelids slowly falling shut again. "I.don't remember." he sighed slumping back down. Meowth suddenly felt pity for the other male. He had forgotten how scared Butch must be even if had been unconscious most of the time. "It'll be ok" Meowth said more to himself than Butch. "Meowth will get ya out of dis don't worry". But Meowth was worried. What on earth did these men and the Darkness want with Butch?
The van finally stopped and the men opened the back doors to haul Butch out. Meowth took this opportunity to jump out first and bound away into some bushes so he could observe from a distance where they were taking Butch. To Meowth's surprise they started to take him into the Ilex Forest. Butch had since come too and was walking between the men through they were holding onto his arms to keep him on his feet. "What da hell is going on?" Meowth asked himself as they continued deep into the forest until they reached the shrine to the forests protector. They paused and Burt held onto Butch tightly as Derek climbed inside the shrine. Meowth wanted to go nearer but that would be giving himself away. As he watched Burt pushed Butch inside the shrine before going in himself. Meowth waited for twenty minutes but no one came out. Finally out of concern he padded over to the shrine and climbed inside. To Meowth's shock there was a trap door almost invisible to a human eye in the floor of the shrine. Meowth had found the Darkness's hideout.
Authors Notes: I know several of you want to know what happened to James and you will know soon (hopefully in the next chapter) but the last two chapters are important to the plot and I felt if it were switching scenes to much it would get confusing. I am working on the next chapter and it should be finished soon. If you've read this and liked it please leave a review to brighten up my day ^_^
~Shari~