Chapter 24

AN: Finally, as this story wraps up, we learn a little about Jim's past and family, and a lot about the history of Team Rocket.

They threw us in the back of a huge truck, tied by our hands and feet. It was the trailer where they were keeping all the gene-Pokemon that hadn't been sent to the island with the rest.

"Holy... what's that smell?" asked Steve.

"It smells like—" began Isaac.

"Don't finish that," said Natalie, covering his mouth.

I nodded to the nearest stall and whistled. A gray horse reared its head, black flames making up its mane. "It's those Dark Rapidash that stink so bad."

So there we were, bound and gagging, surrounded by psychotic animals. Hoping the air was more breathable on the other side of the car, we hopped and crab-walked to the other side, bindings rubbing our wrists raw. I noticed some strange creatures as we moved: an Ivysaur with luminous, orange eyes and a thorny, blood-red blossom, a Krabby with extremely jagged pincers, and a Beedrill with very obviously dangerous poison dripping from its stingers.

"Uh, Jim?" asked Flame. "I thought you got Giovanni put in jail. Where'd he come from?"

"I don't know... Cos must've busted him out after the Snorlax killed Sabrina," I replied. "He may have needed someone else to publicly run Team Rocket, so as to keep himself hidden."

"So... did Cos actually start Team Rocket?" asked Carol.

There was an unfamiliar pang of almost hatred in my chest as I replied. "No," I said darkly, "he didn't. I don't really wanna talk about who really did."

"What do you mean, Jim?" asked Maya, who was sitting back-to-back with me.

"I know a little more of the Rockets' history than I'd care to." I knew who had started up the entire organization, the entire evil that I had battled for so long.

Before they could ask more, the truck threw on its brakes, and we lurched forward into the front wall. "Everyone all right?" I yelled. They moaned their responses. Nothing serious, just a few bumps and cuts.

Outside, the backup police that had been called had surrounded the truck and the rest of the vans that Rockets had piled into. A voice, amplified through a bullhorn, broke through the confusion. "Jim Hawkwind and company, step out of the trailer." When the cords prevented our complying, they broke down the door to get us. We gasped for the fresh air and stretched out our cramped limbs.

Ten minutes later, all the Rockets were being carted away and the gene-Pokemon were being loaded onto a large transport, headed for the harbor and ultimately the island with their brethren. The Snorlax was sent to Professor Oak to be studied, as it was possible the most powerful Psychic-type on the planet.

On the trip home, everyone fell asleep, but I couldn't. It had been ten years. I had been four when they caught him. I barely even remembered him. I just remembered that he was rarely home; he was always working. I didn't find out what he did until I was eight or nine. My mom finally told me: Dad was the leader of an international corporation of Pokemon thieves. Then he failed at what Giovanni succeeded in, capturing a city, and was sent to jail. I hadn't realized how long it had been, didn't realize I'd survived ten years without a father.

As these thoughts haunted me, darkness of sleep overtook me, my head lighting on Maya's, which was on my shoulder.

* * *

That was the only sleep I got for the remainder of the day. Nighttime and home just brought more restlessness.

I got up, put some clothes on, and quietly slipped out of the house. Wandering around aimlessly near diverse and familiar places in the city, I found myself on the sandy shoreline.

I noticed someone else had the same idea.

"Where's the lizard?" I asked, sitting down next to her.

"She's at home, asleep," Maya replied. "I don't tell her when I go out here, when I can't sleep."

"Why can't you sleep?"

"I keep having these weird dreams."

"Like what?"

"They don't make any sense. It's all of us, in some weird place. And we're all arguing, fighting. Then, I see these older people that come in and join the fight. Over to the side, someone stands, uninvolved. I recognize their shape, but darkness covers them, so I can't place who it is."

"That is weird."

We sat there for a few minutes, looking out at the waves. I put my arm around her in the chilly breeze, and she leaned close. Large waves broke on the shore. "You look as troubled as the sea," said Maya. "What's wrong?"

I hesitated to tell her, but I figured she was one of few that I could tell, should tell.

"My dad was released from prison today."

The End.

AN: Okay, that's it. Review if you wanna see more. Next: revision of the Dark Plot.