Chapter 17: Choices
At the same time that Cally left the Pokemon Centre Jesse and Cassidy were on their way back from the Slowpoke Well. "Well that was a big waste of time" Jesse snapped. She knew it wasn't Cassidy's fault really and that she should be making an effort to get along with her but Jesse had been fighting back tears since they left the well finding nothing but Slowpoke and if she didn't get angry then she would break down and cry.
"This towns too small anyway" Cassidy said giving Jesse a dirty look "Maybe Meowth was lying to us" Jesse frowned at the mention of the cat. She had been so horrible to him before. Meowth was just trying to protect her. He didn't understand that she was trying to protect James. Jesse still was a little angry with him for lying to her but she still loved James and she knew she would do almost anything to find him. "Where next?" she wondered looking round.
"There isn't anywhere" Cassidy bit back a sob "They're gone"
"No" Jesse happened to glance in the direction of the Ilex Forest. Quickly she pulled herself and Cassidy behind the wall of the Pokemon Centre.
"Ow that hurt" Cassidy complained "I really wish you'd stop dragging me about Jess"
"Shut your mouth" Jesse hissed nodding in the direction of the forest.
"That little cheater" Cassidy whispered furiously.
Even Jesse couldn't believe what she was seeing. Meowth and Cally. That cat was working with the cops all along! Jesse couldn't believe that two friends had betrayed her now. That bitter feeling in the pit of her stomach was back now. James is all I have left she realised and I may loose him too. Jesse looked at Cassidy. The young woman had Butch and that was all. For the first time Jesse thought about how Team Rocket disbanding affected the other pair. Cassidy had nothing but Butch and he was her world as James was Jesse's. I will find you Jesse said to herself. Even if it takes forever James I'll get you back.
"Come on" Cassidy said as Cally and Meowth walked into the forest. The two set off after them.
Meowth didn't get a wink of sleep all night he tossed and turned worrying about his friends. Meowth knew once morning had come he was going back to the shrine. True he felt getting the police was the best option but he couldn't sit round and wait. He had to know if James was all right. Meowth knew also that it would haunt him forever if something happened to his friend. It would be all his fault. The cat got up and made his way out of the Pokemon Centre. To his disbelief Cally was sitting on a bench opposite it. "What are yous doing here?" he cried partly in anger and partly in fear. Had something terrible happened to his friends? Cally started and then relaxed realising that it was Meowth. "I needed some time to think," she said allowing Meowth to sit beside her.
"Yous haven't told da police yet?"
"No" Cally looked almost guilty of this "I don't know if I should. You guys mean more to me than my job. If I tell my sister the location then James and Butch could be killed if this gang flee. You and Jesse were right. Gangs kill when they're scared."
"Den what are yous doing here?" Meowth cried.
"I was going to go to the Darkness myself" Cally admitted.
"What?"
"I know its stupid but on my own I might be able to reach them. Don't tell Jesse. I don't want her or Cassidy getting hurt either" Meowth didn't know what to say to this. He had hated Cally for lying to them and now he only felt admiration. She was going to risk her life to rescue her friends even through they had turned against her. "Are yous armed?" he asked at length
"Yeah" Cally held up a gun that looked almost identical to the old one. "They took the one I did have but I have connections. It was easy to get a replacement"
"I'm coming with yous," Meowth decided not knowing why he said that.
Finding the shrine again proved to be a problem. Cally had never been to the place before and Meowth having only been there once had to rely on his memory to get them there. He also had a feeling that they were being followed. Meowth knew however when they reached the clearing where the shrine was because he felt evil round it if that was at all possible. Cally had her gun out and had slowed down. "Dares a trap door in da shrine," Meowth explained.
"Ok" Cally took a deep breath and went inside, Meowth behind her.
Cassidy and Jesse paused as they saw Cally and Meowth enter the shrine. "That's the secret HQ?" Cassidy whispered, shocked to say the least.
They had to stay well back from the others as Meowth at least would be able to sense them if they weren't careful. Not that it mattered now. Jesse waited until she was sure that Cally and Meowth were not coming out of the shrine before making a move towards it.
"Jesse wait" Cassidy said
"What? Don't tell me you're getting cold feet?" Jesse snapped irritably wishing that she were with anyone but Cassidy.
"We have to come up with a plan" Cassidy snapped back "We aren't even armed and you want to take on an entire gang?"
"I wasn't really armed last time" Jesse argued even through she knew that Cassidy had raised a valid point.
"That knife saved your life" Cassidy said, "All we have is Cally's gun and it isn't even loaded!"
"Well what do you suggest then?"
"That is so typical of you" Cassidy said
"Me? What have I done?"
"You won't listen to anyone else! I think we should go back and get some bullets don't you?"
"And where are we going to get bullets from? You can't exactly buy them in your local Pokemart Cassidy"
Cassidy sighed angrily "You are so.." She broke off when a man lunged at her from behind a bush knocking her down.
"What the hell.?" Jesse broke off as the man grabbed hold of Cassidy's arm.
"Over here!" the man yelled
"Move!" Cassidy shouted punching the man in the jaw and scrambling to her feet.
"Who is that?" Jesse cried as they started running away from the shrine.
"I don't know" Cassidy cried as the man gave chase along with two more carrying guns. Jesse looked back over her shoulder trying to get a glimpse of their attackers. This was a mistake, as she didn't see the other man step out from the shadows of the trees. "Got ya," he growled as Jesse ran right into him. Jesse cried out in anger as he got a grip on her arm twisting it painfully behind her back. Jesse knew him to be one of the guys that had kidnapped Butch. Cassidy turned round when she saw that Jesse was no longer with her. "Run!" Jesse yelled seeing her hesitate. Cassidy shook her head. She and Jesse weren't friends but surely Jesse couldn't expect her to abandon her like this? "James" Jesse mouthed that one word as she continued to struggle in vain as the men with the guns came nearer. Cassidy knew what she was saying. If she let herself get caught too then what of James and Butch? Jesse gazed pleadingly at her. Cassidy bit her lip and with one last look at her old friend she turned and ran. Shouts rang out across the clearing as she ran and Cassidy could hear them following her. She ran faster knowing she could not be caught. Jesse depended on her as well as the others. Cassidy was on her own now.
She had been on her way down to Butch's room again. The boy was weakening under the pain the last half an hour and Amber knew that now he would agree to her every command. Garret was preparing things in the lab. The scientist had James unconscious but wanted to wait until the male awoke before beginning things. Garret did have an evilness about him that Amber liked. Still Amber liked many things and that didn't stop her getting rid of them when they ceased being useful and Garret would be no exception. Once he had the data they needed then he would die. Changing her direction Amber headed up to the main operations room of the HQ. "What is going on?" she demanded of the man there.
"Burt and Derek were on guard duty Madame. They spotted two intruders; a young woman and a cat Pokemon. The Pokemon escaped but we have the woman. I ordered that they do a scout of the area and they found two other women sneaking about. They captured one but the other got away"
"Does she know where the HQ is?"
The man hesitated and Amber reached for her gun "More than likely Madame" he stammered. Amber swore to herself "You idiots! I cannot have Pokemon running round my HQ! You will find that cat and kill it understand!"
"What of the woman?"
"Do I have to tell you everything? Send out every spare man and woman to tear that forest apart. I want her found and dealt with."
"Everyone? That will leave the base undefended." the man started but a single gun shot silenced him. Amber glared at the terrified co-worker
"You heard my orders now go"
He nodded and fled the room. Amber smiled to herself. She had to hand it to them. Those ex rockets were determined and loyal to each other, Unfortunately in this case they were just helping her. With all the men and women out of the HQ it would make Marcus's assassination easier.
Meowth listened from his hiding place under a desk. He and Cally had been spotted as soon as they entered the base. They must have doubled the security Meowth thought bitterly. Cally had managed to kill three guards before they caught her. Meowth had only managed to escape because he was faster than the men. Dis is a nightmare I have no weapons and dey've caught all my friends. How da hell am I gonna get out of dis? Meowth had no idea and when the coast was clear he hurried back down the corridor searching for someone, anyone. He paused by the first door that he came too. He could hear voices from inside the room. One was older and more threatening and the other was male again and younger. Meowth's heart skipped a beat, he knew that voice. "Jimmy" he whispered.
At the same time that Cally left the Pokemon Centre Jesse and Cassidy were on their way back from the Slowpoke Well. "Well that was a big waste of time" Jesse snapped. She knew it wasn't Cassidy's fault really and that she should be making an effort to get along with her but Jesse had been fighting back tears since they left the well finding nothing but Slowpoke and if she didn't get angry then she would break down and cry.
"This towns too small anyway" Cassidy said giving Jesse a dirty look "Maybe Meowth was lying to us" Jesse frowned at the mention of the cat. She had been so horrible to him before. Meowth was just trying to protect her. He didn't understand that she was trying to protect James. Jesse still was a little angry with him for lying to her but she still loved James and she knew she would do almost anything to find him. "Where next?" she wondered looking round.
"There isn't anywhere" Cassidy bit back a sob "They're gone"
"No" Jesse happened to glance in the direction of the Ilex Forest. Quickly she pulled herself and Cassidy behind the wall of the Pokemon Centre.
"Ow that hurt" Cassidy complained "I really wish you'd stop dragging me about Jess"
"Shut your mouth" Jesse hissed nodding in the direction of the forest.
"That little cheater" Cassidy whispered furiously.
Even Jesse couldn't believe what she was seeing. Meowth and Cally. That cat was working with the cops all along! Jesse couldn't believe that two friends had betrayed her now. That bitter feeling in the pit of her stomach was back now. James is all I have left she realised and I may loose him too. Jesse looked at Cassidy. The young woman had Butch and that was all. For the first time Jesse thought about how Team Rocket disbanding affected the other pair. Cassidy had nothing but Butch and he was her world as James was Jesse's. I will find you Jesse said to herself. Even if it takes forever James I'll get you back.
"Come on" Cassidy said as Cally and Meowth walked into the forest. The two set off after them.
Meowth didn't get a wink of sleep all night he tossed and turned worrying about his friends. Meowth knew once morning had come he was going back to the shrine. True he felt getting the police was the best option but he couldn't sit round and wait. He had to know if James was all right. Meowth knew also that it would haunt him forever if something happened to his friend. It would be all his fault. The cat got up and made his way out of the Pokemon Centre. To his disbelief Cally was sitting on a bench opposite it. "What are yous doing here?" he cried partly in anger and partly in fear. Had something terrible happened to his friends? Cally started and then relaxed realising that it was Meowth. "I needed some time to think," she said allowing Meowth to sit beside her.
"Yous haven't told da police yet?"
"No" Cally looked almost guilty of this "I don't know if I should. You guys mean more to me than my job. If I tell my sister the location then James and Butch could be killed if this gang flee. You and Jesse were right. Gangs kill when they're scared."
"Den what are yous doing here?" Meowth cried.
"I was going to go to the Darkness myself" Cally admitted.
"What?"
"I know its stupid but on my own I might be able to reach them. Don't tell Jesse. I don't want her or Cassidy getting hurt either" Meowth didn't know what to say to this. He had hated Cally for lying to them and now he only felt admiration. She was going to risk her life to rescue her friends even through they had turned against her. "Are yous armed?" he asked at length
"Yeah" Cally held up a gun that looked almost identical to the old one. "They took the one I did have but I have connections. It was easy to get a replacement"
"I'm coming with yous," Meowth decided not knowing why he said that.
Finding the shrine again proved to be a problem. Cally had never been to the place before and Meowth having only been there once had to rely on his memory to get them there. He also had a feeling that they were being followed. Meowth knew however when they reached the clearing where the shrine was because he felt evil round it if that was at all possible. Cally had her gun out and had slowed down. "Dares a trap door in da shrine," Meowth explained.
"Ok" Cally took a deep breath and went inside, Meowth behind her.
Cassidy and Jesse paused as they saw Cally and Meowth enter the shrine. "That's the secret HQ?" Cassidy whispered, shocked to say the least.
They had to stay well back from the others as Meowth at least would be able to sense them if they weren't careful. Not that it mattered now. Jesse waited until she was sure that Cally and Meowth were not coming out of the shrine before making a move towards it.
"Jesse wait" Cassidy said
"What? Don't tell me you're getting cold feet?" Jesse snapped irritably wishing that she were with anyone but Cassidy.
"We have to come up with a plan" Cassidy snapped back "We aren't even armed and you want to take on an entire gang?"
"I wasn't really armed last time" Jesse argued even through she knew that Cassidy had raised a valid point.
"That knife saved your life" Cassidy said, "All we have is Cally's gun and it isn't even loaded!"
"Well what do you suggest then?"
"That is so typical of you" Cassidy said
"Me? What have I done?"
"You won't listen to anyone else! I think we should go back and get some bullets don't you?"
"And where are we going to get bullets from? You can't exactly buy them in your local Pokemart Cassidy"
Cassidy sighed angrily "You are so.." She broke off when a man lunged at her from behind a bush knocking her down.
"What the hell.?" Jesse broke off as the man grabbed hold of Cassidy's arm.
"Over here!" the man yelled
"Move!" Cassidy shouted punching the man in the jaw and scrambling to her feet.
"Who is that?" Jesse cried as they started running away from the shrine.
"I don't know" Cassidy cried as the man gave chase along with two more carrying guns. Jesse looked back over her shoulder trying to get a glimpse of their attackers. This was a mistake, as she didn't see the other man step out from the shadows of the trees. "Got ya," he growled as Jesse ran right into him. Jesse cried out in anger as he got a grip on her arm twisting it painfully behind her back. Jesse knew him to be one of the guys that had kidnapped Butch. Cassidy turned round when she saw that Jesse was no longer with her. "Run!" Jesse yelled seeing her hesitate. Cassidy shook her head. She and Jesse weren't friends but surely Jesse couldn't expect her to abandon her like this? "James" Jesse mouthed that one word as she continued to struggle in vain as the men with the guns came nearer. Cassidy knew what she was saying. If she let herself get caught too then what of James and Butch? Jesse gazed pleadingly at her. Cassidy bit her lip and with one last look at her old friend she turned and ran. Shouts rang out across the clearing as she ran and Cassidy could hear them following her. She ran faster knowing she could not be caught. Jesse depended on her as well as the others. Cassidy was on her own now.
She had been on her way down to Butch's room again. The boy was weakening under the pain the last half an hour and Amber knew that now he would agree to her every command. Garret was preparing things in the lab. The scientist had James unconscious but wanted to wait until the male awoke before beginning things. Garret did have an evilness about him that Amber liked. Still Amber liked many things and that didn't stop her getting rid of them when they ceased being useful and Garret would be no exception. Once he had the data they needed then he would die. Changing her direction Amber headed up to the main operations room of the HQ. "What is going on?" she demanded of the man there.
"Burt and Derek were on guard duty Madame. They spotted two intruders; a young woman and a cat Pokemon. The Pokemon escaped but we have the woman. I ordered that they do a scout of the area and they found two other women sneaking about. They captured one but the other got away"
"Does she know where the HQ is?"
The man hesitated and Amber reached for her gun "More than likely Madame" he stammered. Amber swore to herself "You idiots! I cannot have Pokemon running round my HQ! You will find that cat and kill it understand!"
"What of the woman?"
"Do I have to tell you everything? Send out every spare man and woman to tear that forest apart. I want her found and dealt with."
"Everyone? That will leave the base undefended." the man started but a single gun shot silenced him. Amber glared at the terrified co-worker
"You heard my orders now go"
He nodded and fled the room. Amber smiled to herself. She had to hand it to them. Those ex rockets were determined and loyal to each other, Unfortunately in this case they were just helping her. With all the men and women out of the HQ it would make Marcus's assassination easier.
Meowth listened from his hiding place under a desk. He and Cally had been spotted as soon as they entered the base. They must have doubled the security Meowth thought bitterly. Cally had managed to kill three guards before they caught her. Meowth had only managed to escape because he was faster than the men. Dis is a nightmare I have no weapons and dey've caught all my friends. How da hell am I gonna get out of dis? Meowth had no idea and when the coast was clear he hurried back down the corridor searching for someone, anyone. He paused by the first door that he came too. He could hear voices from inside the room. One was older and more threatening and the other was male again and younger. Meowth's heart skipped a beat, he knew that voice. "Jimmy" he whispered.