The Rocket Boss
Part 1
Jessie sighed as she twisted her engagement ring and stared at the blank page in her notebook. Hopelessly, she suggested, "We could invite Cassidy and Butch. They are our rivals, but they are the closest we have to friends."
"Are you nuts?" cried James. "If we invite them to our wedding, they would destroy it, making it the worst day of our lives."
"You're right. We need to get married with witnesses though."
"What about the twerps?" Jessie sent him a side-eye. "What? Think about it. We've managed to work together with them when it matters. If necessary, we can get along, we just choose not to most of the time."
"Very well, that is a good plan then at least someone will be at our wedding. Are you planning on inviting your parents?"
"Absolutely not!"
"I thought maybe you would, so they'd stop trying to force you to marry Jessebelle."
"Nah, I'd rather not engage with my parents at all."
Silence took over for a moment and then Jessie sighed, "I wish my mom could be there."
"You could always invite her," James added optimistically.
"I have not seen her since I was four. I do not even know if she is alive. Making contact with her is impossible. More than that though, I wish I knew my father, so he could walk me down the aisle. Instead, I must face it alone. I was always alone and now the most important day of our lives, I will be alone again."
"My dear," started James running his hand down her cheek, "you were never alone and you never will be. I will always be with you. I will be right at the end of the aisle waiting for you. Anyway, it's not for a long while, so let's not worry about the wedding right now. We need to get going, so we are not late arriving for the Team Rocket annual gathering."
"I'm not looking forward to it though."
"Why not? There is so much good food there!"
"Yes, but last time all the other members rubbed in their successes and constantly reminded us how we have always failed."
"Ok, that was pretty awful. Maybe they won't mention it this time, or we could always ditch."
"No. It is expected all members, unless on a super top priority mission, to be in attendance. It would be worse if we didn't show up. You know for sure we'd hear it from the Boss."
"Good point. We really need to get going, so we make it there by tomorrow." Jessie nodded and stood up closing her notebook and slipping it into her bag.
The next day, Giovanni was upstairs in his private office getting ready to go down to the party. His top agent was also with him, except she was pacing the room. She fretted, "She's going to be there. I've not seen her in years. How will she react? I am not ready to face what is to come. Can I not skip out on the gathering?" Giovanni shook his head. "Please! I can't handle this!"
Encouragingly, he declared, "Yes, you can. You said so yourself, it's been years, she won't even remember you. Plus, Cassidy and Butch will be there, so they will consume most of her attention. Even if she recognizes you, she will doubt herself and think she is only wishing it is you. She won't be brave enough to ask you because she will be sure she has to be wrong."
"She is brave."
"Yes, very. However, as many times as she has failed will keep her back. It makes her anxious when she thinks it's one way. She wouldn't want to risk the embarrassment of being wrong, especially at a Team Rocket party where she'd never live it down. You have nothing to fear. If you really would like, you may remain here for a little while longer, but I must get down as the guests are arriving."
"I'll be down in a few. It wouldn't be good for me to be seen entering with you." He nodded agreeing and headed out.
Jessie and James arrived after most of the other members had. Standing barely in the door, they scanned the room. There were so many Team Rocket members all over chatting, but they looked so different out of uniform. In front of the room, a large chair was resting upon a platform like a throne and there sat Giovanni. Next to him stood a lady with amethyst-colored hair. Jessie watched the two talking, but she started spacing out. James noticed immediately the far-off look in her eyes and asked, "Are you ok?" However, she didn't hear him.
Little Jessie sat on her bed with her mother brushing her hair. "Sweetheart, there's something really important I need to tell you about," stated Miyamoto, her mother. "You remember how I am a top agent at Team Rocket?" Jessie nodded. "Well, that means I get really big and challenging missions. I have been asked to record the voice of Mew. Mew is an extremely rare Pokémon, so it is going to be really difficult. I may be gone for a long while – weeks or even months. I leave tomorrow. I promise as soon as I complete my mission I will return home to you. While I am away, my sister, your aunt, Maryanne will take care of you. I will miss you, my darling."
"I don't want you to leave me for so long!" whined Jessie.
"I know, but I will come back, I promise. For now, you need to get to sleep."
"Will you be here in the morning when I wake up?"
"Most likely not. I must set off early. I love you, my darling." Miyamoto leaned down and kissed her daughter's forehead and turned the light out.
"Jessica!" hollered James and she jumped coming back into the present. Gentler, he continued, "Are you alright?" She didn't answer and glanced back only to find the agent had moved to the floor and was mingling.
Practically in a trance, Jessie walked over towards the agent. Noticing, the lady became extremely anxious, but concealed it. Jessie smiled and remarked, "What a nice celebration. I love seeing all of the members." The lady sighed in relief. "I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Jessie."
"Miyamoto." Satisfied, Jessie tried to contain the grin building. She thought the agent was her mother, but she couldn't be so bold and ask if she was wrong. Luckily, her plan worked and it was her mother.
"Do you remember me?"
Miyamoto twisted her hands together and nervously glanced around before answering, "Of course I do, I think about you every day."
With tears starting to rise, Jessie sought, "Then why did you never come home?"
"I couldn't, my darling."
"Why not?"
"It's complicated. Please just leave it at that."
"Fine. James and I are getting married, so I need to know who is my father?"
Miyamoto's breath got caught in her throat and she started to panic. Anxiously, she looked over to Giovanni with pleading eyes. She needed to find some way to escape the conversation or avoid the question. Giovanni saw the fear in her eyes and rose from the chair. At once he began heading in their direction.
Jessie seeing the Boss coming over stopped the conversation for the moment. "Are you three enjoying the party?" Jessie, James, and Miyamoto nodded. "Miya, may I speak with you it's urgent?" His top agent hurried to follow him out of the room and into his private living room. They sat down on the couches and Giovanni asked, "What happened?"
"Jessie asked about her father. I didn't feel like it was my place to tell her, or if she should know at all. I panicked. I know you understand the situation fully, which is why I looked to you. I don't know what to do."
"You made the right decision. If you would have told her, you would have only had the limited point of view. You would have missed key details, which would have dictated how she took the news. It's really a difficult decision. She deserves to know the truth about her father, but also the risk – it could destroy a lot, if not everything. I think it's a risk I am going to have to take though. I will speak with her. Go back to the party, but keep out of sight from her until I get over to her and can pull her away. If she sees you, she'll keep asking you."
Miyamoto nodded and left the room. After waiting for a few minutes, Giovanni came out. He squared his shoulders and kept his face neutral as he walked with force directly towards Jessie and James. "Jessie, I need to speak with you now," he said sternly to create the feeling of intimidation. She swallowed hard and with James at her side, started off. Giovanni came to a halt and glanced over his shoulder. "Alone."
James argued, "But we're a team!"
"Yes, but for this I cannot have you there."
"I will be fine," assured Jessie clasping his hand. "I'm sure it's nothing. I will be back in a few minutes, I promise."
"I will be right here waiting."
"I know you will." Biting his lip, James watched nervously as Jessie walked off following in the footsteps of the Boss.
Giovanni took her to the living room and gestured for her to have a seat on the couch across from him. Silence. Silence. Silence. He watched as Jessie fiddled with her fingers and listened to her shallow breaths. "As Boss, I know everything that goes on with every one of my members," he finally started.
"As you should!" cried Jessie a little too urgently.
"Yes. I know you asked Miya about your father. However, it isn't her place to tell you about him."
"Why not? Of course it's her place! She's my mother!"
"Indeed, but she doesn't know the full story, which would have created a problem."
"And as Boss, you know everything, so you know the full story?"
Giovanni nodded. "Yes, I knew your father and I will tell you everything."
"Knew? He's not alive?"
"I'm sorry, I meant to say I know. He is still alive."
"Where is he? How can I find him? Who is he?"
Giovanni held up his hand to stop her from interrogating. "You need to know your father has always loved and cared about you very deeply."
"He knew about me?" The Boss nodded. "How could he abandon me? Why would he never come to be with me, if he knew?"
"He was always there for you, but couldn't make himself known to you because it would have caused an uproar and destroyed his career. Through it all though, he was right at your side."
"How so?"
"Do you remember the beauty pageant you entered when you were a little girl?" Jessie nodded and sorrow flashed in her eyes. "You lost. Your spirit was crushed. A man approached you and said, 'Beauty on the outside hardly matters, if on the inside the heart is full of kindness, the beauty within will glow.'"
Jessie added, "He also said that I had both and that the judges were too blind to see my beauty. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me and I made sure never to forget his words."
"Well, that was your father. And on one of your first Team Rocket outings, you ended up severely injured to the point it's a miracle you even survived. You woke up in a strange place and found a man there nursing you back to health." Jessie nodded. "That was him. He also knew you were lonely and James was struggling, so he gave him the nudge in your direction. Fortunately, you two clicked so well and became best friends. If I'm being honest, I think your father cared more than your mother. When she returned from failing her mission, she didn't go home to you as she had said she would. After you succeeded and were becoming your own person, your father came to congratulate you. He remarked your mother must be so proud of you and you explained you hadn't seen her since you were a little girl. He was furious and went straight to your mother demanding she go directly to you. She never did."
"Why?"
"She used the excuse she and your father were evil and therefore you were better off without their influence, so you had a chance to grow up and be good. And you are. All you ever strive for is good. You fail every mission I give you and James because you have a good heart and that prevents you from succeeding. Anytime you saw a problem, you've stepped in to help and then prevailed."
"Ok, enough talk about me. Who is my father?"
"I am."
"You?!"
"Yes. If you need more proof think about this. What do I do to any Rocket member that continuously fails?" Jessie was too shocked to find any words, so Giovanni proceeded, "I fire them. But which group has failed every single mission I have ever assigned to them?" Jessie gulped and pointed to herself. "Exactly, but you are my daughter. I would never kick you out. You have the brains, you are a leader, you just struggle in getting things to go as planned. You are more of a behind-the-scenes person than an onstage person. I am glad for that though. When I retire, I know you will make be an excellent Rocket Boss."
"Wait, what?"
"You are my daughter, so you are the heir of Team Rocket."
"No, no, no, no!"
"You will be fine. You have what it takes. I am so proud of you. My initial hope was that you and James would succeed so much, you'd climb the ranks until you would be my top agents. Then passing the reins over to you wouldn't uproot everything. Instead, I think when the time comes, I am going to have to tell the members the truth that you are my heir. I know you will turn this company around and make Team Rocket superheroes of the world instead of the villains. Now that you know the truth, maybe I can begin showing you everything I do, so you will be ready to take over in a few years."
Jessie was shaking from being so overwhelmed. Finally she managed to choke out, "May I go and be alone? I need time to process everything." Giovanni nodded and she rose up and left.
She slipped out a backdoor and hurried off to the woods. She found a secluded hill and sat down folding her knees up to her chest. Tears fell rapidly down her cheeks until her vision was blurry.
Meanwhile, James saw Giovanni return to the party and waited for Jessie to come through the doors, but she didn't. He got caught up in pausing to eat food to have kept his eye on the door. Scanning the room, he searched for the magenta-colored hair, but couldn't spot her anywhere.
A while had passed, and members were slowly filtering out. Still there was no sign of Jessie. When there was only a handful left, James went up to the Boss. "Have you seen Jessie?" he inquired.
Giovanni answered, "Not after I talked with her. She was a little unsteady and went outside, but that is all I know."
James ran outside and scurried into the forest desperate to find his partner. "Jessie!" he shouted, but only the gentle wind replied. "Jessica!" he cried more urgently as he thundered through the trees. He stopped running the second he saw her sitting upon a hill. Steadily he climbed up. "Are you alright?" She didn't hear him though and was spaced out gazing over the town below. He kissed her cheek and she jumped. Then he noticed her red eyes and knew she had been crying. "What happened?"
"I know who my dad is," she claimed softly.
"Who?"
"Giovanni."
"Holy Shinx!" James stood there astonished unsure of what to say or how to process it. "Did you get to ask him about walking you down the aisle?"
"No. I'm a little weirded out about the idea of my Boss walking me down the aisle."
"Well, uh, he's your father too. Don't think of it like your Boss."
"He also mentioned I will be the future Rocket Boss because I'm his heir, but it's a lot of pressure."
"You will be the best boss the world has ever known!"
"Only because I will have a co-leader at my side, you." She smiled tenderly and took his hand into hers.
By the next day, Jessie felt she had enough courage to go back to headquarters and talk with her father. Jessie sat across from Giovanni and Miyamoto. She took a sip of her tea to cover the silence. Cautiously Jessie questioned, "You mentioned to me yesterday, you couldn't reveal you were my father because it'd destroy your career. But you are the Boss. You are in charge, nothing would have happened."
Giovanni replied, "I am the Boss, which means I am held to higher standards than the rest of Team Rocket. Miya has been my top agent for years. A top agent is already in the favored lighting, a relationship between them would be unprofessional."
Miyamoto added, "The members would never understand. It was bad enough when I started showing signs of carrying a child."
A member of Team Rocket walked passed Miyamoto slapping her side while sharply remarking, "Looks like you're gaining a few curves. Does the Boss keep his Pet too close that it doesn't get exercise anymore?"
Miyamoto clenched her fists and snapped, "I'm not his pet!" The lady snickered and walked off.
Another day, the same member came up to her again. "Oh look! You are even fluffier than when I left for my last mission. Gee, the Boss must never let his Pet out to play." With a smug expression, she slapped Miya's side.
"Wait, a minute!" cut in her partner. "If you tap a Snorlax, it ripples, but she didn't. I think she's carrying a child."
"I am," informed Miya.
The first lady scoffed, "Then obviously it's Giovanni's."
"What?! No! He and I would never! I am only his top agent and nothing more, I assure you."
"Alright, then tell us who is the father?" Miya looked away to avoid the question. "Well, I know it's not your partner you were assigned before coming top agent – you didn't even like him."
The second lady suggested, "Maybe it was someone she met on a mission, a regular person."
"Yeah right. An evil member of Team Rocket falling for a good guy, not possible. But evil falling for an evil Boss, now that is a possibility and a strong one at that. Now, Miya, tell us that I am correct and Giovanni is the father."
"I will never speak a lie," insisted Miya.
Across the large room, Giovanni and a few other Team Rocket members entered. "Ah, let's put the theory to a test. Bulbasaur, go!" The Pokémon jumped out of its ball and stood in front of the trio. "Bulbasaur, constrict her with your vines!" The ivy vines wrapped around Miya and each second grew tighter and tighter. "Now, I will have him release you one of two ways. The first way is simple, you tell us who the father is. The second, you send a pleading look and call Giovanni over to come save you."
"I . . . can't . . . breathe," she wheezed.
Giovanni absolutely horrified headed directly over and demanded, "Release her!" The agent sent him a look, but ignored his request. "Let her go now, that is an order!"
"Bulbasaur, stop," the trainer stated and the vines retracted. Miya collapsed into Giovanni's arms. The trainer's eyes met the Boss's and she demanded, "Are you the father of Miyamoto's child?"
"What?" he glanced down at Miya. "You're with child?" Giovanni of course knew this, but had to keep the charade up.
"Yes, I was going to tell you, eventually. I just didn't want it to prevent me from going on missions and doing my duty as part of Team Rocket." She took a deep breath, still trying to regain it from being constricted.
"Save your energy. Right now, I need to get you to a doctor because these fools all, but killed you."
With his arm wrapped around her to hold her up, he led her off. However, he took her to his private living room instead and laid her down on a couch. Many minutes he let her lie there to recover. Miya sat up when she was feeling better. "Now tell me exactly what they were saying to you," he requested. Miya explained everything that had happened. A long silent moment passed and then Giovanni declared, "You need to leave. I don't want to see you anywhere near Headquarters, not for a very long time."
"What?" she cried appalled.
"Go find a place somewhere to live, but do not come back here."
"Why? I want to be here with you."
"We need to get the suspicion of our relationship out of the members' minds and we need to get the pressure off of your shoulders. This is the only way. We can't be seen together. The story I will tell is you needed the father for strength and went off to be with him during this time. The longer you are away, the more likely this whole thing will be forgotten. I don't want you to set foot here until at least our child is born."
"But I can't go through this journey without you!"
"I never said you would. You'll find a place, and send me an anonymous letter with the address you are living within. I will escape and be with you there when I can. It will be the home you raise our child."
"Together?"
Giovanni shook his head, "It'll be hard enough going to see you there now. It will complicate things when it's you and our child. The suspicion would be too strong. I will need to be a shadow in our child's life, though I wish that wasn't the case. No one can know the truth though, or they will destroy everything I worked to build. I'm sorry, my darling, but you need to leave now. I love you."
"I love you too," she whimpered as tears threatened her eyes.
Miyamoto commented, "Your father and I truly did everything we could to protect you, Jessie. It put a lot of strain on us trying to conceal our truth, but we managed to."
Jessie snapped, "That still doesn't account for why you abandoned me!"
"Jess, I didn't want to corrupt your innocent heart with my evil ways of Team Rocket. I hated that you followed in my footsteps because this is what I was trying to avoid."
Giovanni cut in, "If you paid attention to our daughter, you would see she is nothing like you, Miya. She is the golden child we dreamed she would be."
Jessie declared, "I don't care what your excuse is, mother, you still abandoned me and it hurt."
Miya looked to Giovanni, but he snapped, "Don't look at me to save you! She's right."
"Mother, I need you to leave the room, so I can talk to just my father." Miya hesitated, until Giovanni sent her a stern look. She rose and exited the room. Jessie clutched James's hand and informed, "Dad, James and I are getting married. I was wondering would you do me the honor of walking me down the aisle?"
"It would be my greatest pleasure!" After a moment, he questioned, "Why did you need your mother to leave for that?"
"I didn't, but I do not want her at the wedding because she left me."
"Jessica, I know she hurt you, but you both can work on repairing your relationship. She will follow me to the wedding, even if I didn't tell her where I was going."
"Oh, alright." Jessie let a brief silence pass and then continued, "She can be in attendance at the wedding, but I will not mend what she broke. She has not been a mother to me since she left me as a child, so why should I now be her daughter? I never knew my father, yet you were always there supporting me. You lifted me up every time I fell and wiped away every one of my tears. I know you as a boss, but reflecting back, I know you as a father too. Thank you for being a part of my life. Why is the father side of you so much more gentle and sweet though? As Boss you always are so harsh towards James and I."
"First of all, I'm hard on you because I have always intended on you filling in my shoes. Second I couldn't be soft on you. If I would, the word would get around to the other members. It wouldn't sit well with them."
"I see your point. Why aren't you the caring person you are as my father towards everyone then?"
"I'd be too soft and nothing would get accomplished. I use my stern tone to get the members to see me as the one on top and it gives off the energy that I mean business. I've managed Team Rocket so well because I established from the start I was in control. I'm hard on everyone when they fail, so they feel it deep in their souls and strive to do their very best. You know firsthand, you and James desperately wanted to succeed to please me. Every time I confronted you both on your failures, you'd feel defeated for a few minutes, but then spring up with more determination than before to do something right."
"I never thought about that. Every time we let you down, we wanted to do better to please you."
"Now, my darling, I'm sure you have much of your wedding already planned because that's how you are when you get excited about something. I also know you and James do not have a lot of money to spare, but I do. As your father, I want to follow tradition and pay for the entire wedding. I expect it to be nothing less than your dream wedding. Pick out the finest gown and most extravagant location. Anything you desire, consider it done."
"That is so kind of you, Boss, I mean father. How should I address you now because you are still my Boss?"
"For the time being refer to me as either Giovanni or the Boss. Once I reveal to Team Rocket you, my daughter is taking over, then you may address me however you please. Until I bring it up though, it is best kept a secret." Jessie nodded understanding completely.
Part 2
The day of the wedding arrived. Jessie was in a small house near the garden the ceremony would take place. Misty was there to help her get ready. Jessie's long magenta hair was straight and hanging down in her face. Delicately, Misty curled her hair strand by strand. When all was tightly curled, Misty pinned the front few back, so they were out of Jessie's face. She then twisted pearls she used when performing as a mermaid with her sisters into Jessie's hairstyle. Jessie smiled as she observed her appearance. "I think it's time we get you into your gown," declared Misty and the bride nodded.
She unzipped it from the protective bag and held it out for Jessie to step into. Then she fastened it. "You look beautiful," she mentioned.
"Thanks," said Jessie with a faint smile.
"For it being your wedding day, you sure are quiet. Any other day you are the talkative one of the three in Team Rocket. I would think you'd be talking my ear off with excitement. Is something wrong?"
"No, of course not. It's my wedding day, the day I dreamed about since I was a child. Today I get to marry my best friend, there is nothing that could be better."
"That may be, but something is wrong, I can tell by your eyes. Is it your hairstyle? I can change it."
"No. You did an amazing job! I love my hair."
"Please tell me what the matter is. I want this day to be perfect for you."
Jessie sighed and admitted, "It's my father. He promised he'd be here, but this morning had a work emergency he had to tend to. He said he'd be back in time, but he still isn't here. I walk down the aisle in 20 minutes!"
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Misty placed her hand on Jessie's shoulder and reassured, "He'll be here."
The door opened and Miyamoto entered. She gasped, "Jess, you are gorgeous!"
"Where's dad?" whimpered Jessie.
"I don't know, sweetheart. I wouldn't worry too much though, I doubt he would miss your wedding."
"Yeah, but he's the Rocket Boss, and has to remain tending to the issue until it's resolved."
"That is true. Being on top comes with a lot of responsibilities, but in the past he has always put me first. He's not the type of person to put work over family."
"He took that risk this morning."
"I need to get back outside and make sure everything is set up. I'll see you in a few moments."
Miyamoto left the room leaving Misty alone with the bride once more. A long silent moment passed before Misty inquired, "How was your father when you were growing up? Did he put work first and miss key events?"
"He was never around unless it was an important moment. He was there to catch me every time I fell. However, I never knew he was my father until not that long ago. It was because of work he couldn't raise me in the open. He cared though and made sure to raise me up any time something bad happened."
"Then I am certain he will not miss the biggest day of your life. Your father will be here, Jessie."
"I hope you are right."
The two sat in silence waiting out the minutes. Jessie's leg was bouncing with nerves and quiet tears continued rolling down her cheek, though far slower than a few minutes ago.
A few more minutes passed before Misty commented, "It's time, but we could wait longer and I could alert the gathering we are waiting for your father to show up."
Jessie shook her head and informed, "I can't be a second late. The bell tower nearby is set to chime at the hour. We have it programmed after the bells to play a lovely melody, which I walk down the aisle to. There is no way to stop time. Remember, when the first bell chimes, Frillish must head down the aisle tossing her flower petals. Then on the third bell, you as my Maid of Honor begin down. I begin as soon as the melody starts after all 12 bells. Thank you, Misty, for helping me get ready today."
"Glad to," she responded and left the room.
Jessie took several deep breaths trying to stop herself from thinking of the missing person to avoid crying again. Just then the door flew open and Giovanni rushed in. "I am so sorry, honey!" he cried. Finally Jessie found her smile and ran to embrace him.
"I didn't think you were coming," she mumbled swallowing her tears.
"I would never miss your wedding. And I will never abandon you, Jessica." He kissed her forehead and ran his hands over her cheeks wiping away her tears. "We need to hurry before you miss your cue."
Jessie nodded and they hurried off to the garden. With her father there in time, everything went perfectly. It was the day Jessie had always dreamed of as a child.
Two years later, there was a huge Team Rocket party to celebrate Giovanni's retirement. He promised at some point in the evening to reveal who his successor would be. The only hint he gave to his curious members was that it'd be the best of the best.
Cassidy and Butch were enjoying the refreshments. After swallowing a mouthful of apple cider, Butch thought out loud, "I wonder who will take over for Giovanni."
Sharply Cassidy replied, "Probably us. We have worked so hard for years. Surely, he is going to choose us to replace him."
"I don't know, Cass. We aren't his top agents."
"He only has one top agent, Miyamoto. She's about the same age that he is. He wouldn't select someone so old for the job. He will go with a young sprite like me," she declared flipping her hair. "It's a shame that Jessie hasn't shown her face today."
"Yeah, it is odd she and James aren't here."
"I guess they didn't want to see who the Boss values because they know they're on the bottom of the list. I wish she'd be here, so I could rub it in her face. Then as Boss, I will immediately fire her and James like Giovanni should have done the same day they were hired. I wish Jessie was here, so I could see the look on her face when the Boss calls my name."
"I wonder when he will make the announcement anyway."
"Hopefully soon. I want to hear all of my members congratulating me before they dip out for the night."
Thirty minutes passed, when Giovanni made his way onto the stage and took the microphone cutting the music. "Good evening, Team Rocket! I have spent my life building this corporation. It brings a smile to my soul seeing how far we've come and how big we have grown. We have so much power and control over those around us, it's incredible. Team Rocket is so valuable to me, so I must pass it on to someone worthy. I knew from the day she was born, she would someday lead Team Rocket. I also made sure though to guide her in that direction throughout her life. She and I have been working together these last few months planning the future. She has some amazing ideas for the direction she plans to take Team Rocket. I am so excited to see them pan out. Shortly, I will call her forward to explain her changes."
Butch glanced at Cassidy curious to know if she had been keeping it a secret from him, but saw the defeated look in her eyes.
"Before I reveal her, I want to first convince everyone in this room why she is the most worthy to take my position. First of all, her mother is my top agent, Miyamoto. You all know Miya rose up because of her dedication to our mission. She spent countless hours working tirelessly to rise the ranks and to remain at the top. Well, imagine that same drive multiplied one hundred percent. That is how dedicated your new Boss already is. You may be wondering why then she isn't my top agent in place of her mother, and well there's a reason for that, but I won't get into it. Secondly, she is my daughter."
The crowd gasped and a murmur came over them. Giovanni held up his hand to silence them. "I know, I know. I never gave any indication in the past that I even had a child and that's because Miya and I agreed it was better to be kept a secret, even from my daughter. Only in recent years, did I finally tell my daughter the truth. She didn't know me as her father, but I was still in her life when it mattered. She is so brilliant and her problem solving skills are incredible. I have no doubt that she will be an even better of a Boss than I was. She is really going to do a lot for the corporation and I know she will succeed. I understand it will be quite an adjustment getting used to her running things, especially with the changes she has in mind. All I ask is you be patient with her and work with her. Right now all of you have jobs, but remember if you fail her or do not agree with her mission, she will not hesitate to fire you. From this moment forth, I step down from Team Rocket Boss and hand it to my daughter, Jessica."
From backstage, Jessie took a deep breath before making her entrance with as much confidence as she could. She wore an electric red slim gown that had a slit up to her thigh. Her hair was neatly done. Her attire told the room she had power and they were to obey every word. As she walked out, she could hear the surprised gasps and saw the questions in the members' eyes. Nervously she took the microphone and declared, "I am your new Boss and you will answer to me. As my father mentioned, there will be a lot of changes. First, I will not be alone as my father was. He got lonely, especially when he had to send my mother away in order to hide the fact he was with her. I could never. So I will be the main Boss, but I will also have a Vice Boss. My partner and my husband, James."
James came out on stage dressed nicely and took his wife's hand. Jessie continued, "You will treat us both with the same respect you had my father. Technically I am higher up than James, but you will treat him equal to me. Secondly, James and I would like to eliminate nuisances we've encountered on our journey to where we are now. Cassidy, Butch, you are no longer members of Team Rocket. Make your way to the door."
The room was completely silent and parted an aisle way for the two to walk through with all eyes upon them. "Everyone else, for now, has their jobs, but just know it could go away with one word," she continued. "Our mission and motto are also changing. Before you say anything, Giovanni approved of everything, so that means you shouldn't doubt it. Many of you teased James and I for mixing up the Team Rocket motto, but we had done so intentionally. Now it will become your new one. No longer are we going to represent evil. We are going to strive to save the world and help as many people as we can. James and I will assign missions as my father had done for larger projects. However, between missions, you are expected to help and do as much good as you possibly can. I expect reports with proof. If needed, I will call those it effected and validate you helped them. If you refuse to give up your thieving and evil ways, you will not be welcome as a Team Rocket member. If we work together, we can truly make the world a wonderful place. If you don't think you are up for it, do James and I a favor and leave now."
Jessie watched as many in the crowd left the gathering. She tried to hide her fear as more and more followed. Giovanni whispered to her seeing her wide eyes, "Don't fret. They're just nervous because change is hard. They don't trust where the corporation is going. Give it time, they will come back pleading for a job again. For now, focus all of your energy on the ones remaining. Their success will draw in the others to return and bring in new members too."
Only one-fourth of the members that had been there were left. Jessie chose not to acknowledge those that left, nor how few remained and continued, "We are going to give Team Rocket a new reputation. Together we are going to make the world a rocking place. There will be training in the following weeks to help reform everyone's mind into thinking about kindness and making the most difference. It is my honor to be the Rocket Boss."
