Part Four: Death

"There are six of them…"

"So I noticed. Is that enough?"

"No, no, it's just perfect. Six of them is more than enough. But who would have thought…"

"That a secret this powerful would be kept all the way down here? Yes, it's very marvelous. The boss will be… most pleased when he sees this."

"That old man certainly came in handy, showing us the way to this treasure of his. Now that we found it, we…"

"Just stay silent. Who knows who's listening. Once we return to base, we can do anything we like. For now, let's make sure they're all salvaged."

"Yeah, and the sooner the better. I don't like being cramped up in here for long."

"Don't worry, we'll have plenty of freedom soon…"

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The silvery-haired Lenneth happily led Brock through the large interior design of the Dreadnaught Euphrates, a constant smile on her face as she gave him the extended tour. Brock didn't know whether to be interested in the surrounding area or Lenneth herself--both were a wonder to behold. It was true that the vessel was magnificent, a model of superior technological advancement and years ahead of the modern age, but Lenneth was also a radiant beauty.

Brock shared his vision with both of them as he followed the shorter, sunny girl through the Dreadnaught. After emerging from the war room, they found themselves in the main hallway, where dozens of doors that connected to every lair of the ship were positioned. Lenneth first took Brock to the nearest one on the left, and opened the door to show him what was inside. It led to a large hangar where many things were under repair, including parts of the ship.

In another room much further down, Lenneth showed Brock the medical ward, where Nurse Joyleen greeted them with a happy smile. Across from there was the kitchen and the large mess hall, which could seat about 250 people at a time. There were also miniature factories that made guns, ammunition, parts, and other necessities for the rest of the ship. Lenneth also showed Brock the security ward, with Officer Jennifer giving them a sharp salute as she looked over some reports.

"This is just the basic layout of the ship," said Lenneth as she took Brock to another level. "If I wanted to give you a thorough tour, we'd need to pack for the journey since the ship is so big. You can get a pretty good idea of what's around here if I just give you the abbreviated version of the tour."

"Oh, I don't care if it takes a long time, just as long as I can spend it with a lovely young lady like yourself!" Lenneth giggled and smiled broadly, giving Brock a very obvious sign that she (unlike 99% of his potential love interests) actually liked being complimented and swooned over.

"You're sweet," she said with a grin, making Brock blush only more. Both of them cleared up as a crewmember emerged from a nearby door and walked past them, and resumed the tour. "Anyway," resumed Lenneth, "the sleeping quarters, game rooms, bar, and community rooms are in the lower level, and the observation and technical rooms are further up above. The Euphrates has three basic levels, and the designers were very keen with dividing everything up evenly so the ship would have a good weight distribution."

"This is a fascinating place!" exclaimed Brock. "But I'm still afraid to get lost around here."

"That's okay," she said with a smile. "It took me awhile to get used to this place as well. Don't worry, that's why we have those floating objects hovering around, so you don't get lost." Brock noticed one of the Voltorb-like creatures flying around in the distance, and remembered what happened in the war room.

"Oh, okay. Say Lenneth, would you like to have lunch with me? I'd certainly like to get to know you better!"

"Really?" she grinned. "Wow, you don't waste any time! Well, I don't think we have much of a choice when it comes to who we eat with. The mess hall's a big place, but I'd love to sit with you and your friends! The Captain doesn't like us eating in-between meals, so we can't get something right now, but I'm sure it'll be that time soon!" Brock took a glance at his watch, and found it to be almost suppertime.

"Wow, yeah, you're right! Gosh, how long have we been doing this tour?"

"You said you left Pallet Town around early afternoon, which I guess is one. You then walked until four in the afternoon, and the tour only takes about another hour, so yes… I suppose that's where all the time went." Brock nodded his head and blew out a big gust of air as he considered everything that had happened to him just in the past day.

It had been less than a month ago when Team Rocket finally gained the advantage they needed to monopolize the world of Pokemon, and perhaps two months ago when Jessie and James were fired from that very organization. Since then, they had proved themselves to be good friends, and the world was flung into horror as Team Rocket finally flexed its muscles. A new movement to counter this act of terrorism had begun, and already things were beginning to move.

Ash, Brock, Gary, James, Jessie, and Misty had all agreed to team up in order to take down the organization once and for all, but there were still many steps that had to be taken for everything to work. Finding a person who loaned them the Dreadnaught was a blessing, and even though the Captain of said vessel was a wild card, his alliance with the six companions was equally important. Officer Jennifer and Nurse Joyleen seemed eager to help as much as they could, and then there was Lenneth…

That made a perfect Ten!

Still, Brock was in the dark about a few things. He still didn't know how Captain Thatcher was going to help them take down Team Rocket, even though the addition of the Dreadnaught was a huge help. There was also the sheer size of Rocket's organization to figure in. Even if the base were destroyed, there would still probably be several loyal followers to the cause who would just resurrect another chapter of their former organization, then the whole thing would begin again. Jessie and James were willing to help, but there was always their archrivals Butch and Cassidy to consider, and of course there was the even more dangerous duo of Marion and Morrison to deal with.

And then there was Lenneth… Brock couldn't get the sunny, silvery-haired girl out of his mind, not that he necessarily wanted to. Even as she led him around the Euphrates and spoke of how the vessel worked and what each room was for, Brock mostly paid attention to her voice and not what she was saying. It had a melodic tone to it, with a degree of maturity and sophistication not found in many other women. She was definitely a pretty girl, with a sunny face and light-blue eyes, wearing a heavy robe of dark blue, brown, violet, and gold, and her braided hair waved hypnotically like a pendulum whenever she walked.

So why was such a sunny, beautiful, and elegant lady in the company of (for lack of a better description) pirates? For that matter, why was she taking such a fond interest in Brock? She couldn't have been truly interested in him…

Could she?

"Hey, Lenneth…" Brock just had to make sure.

"Yes?"

"Um, I was just wondering…" Before he could speak, though, a soft chiming sound could be heard across the ship, signaling that something or other was about to happen.

"Oh, Brock, I hate to interrupt you, but it seems that the Captain is calling everybody to the mess hall!"

"Was that the dinner bell?" he asked. Lenneth nodded her head.

"Yes. You do remember where it is, don't you? Well, whatever question you may have for me, it can wait until dinner. It's much more fun to talk to somebody during a meal, and we can consider it a date, too, if you want!" She smiled at him merrily, but Brock had her beat with the radiance and width of his own ecstatic grin. He actually cheered and jumped in the air as Lenneth gave him that offer.

"R-REALLY?? I… I'm going on a date?! …YAHOO!!" Lenneth couldn't help but laugh out loud as Brock yelped with joy, and together, they took each other by the hand and ran as fast as they could to the mess hall.

"Hey, Nurse Joyleen! I have a question!"

"Hmm? What is it, Gary?" As the crew and passengers were waiting to be served their evening meals, Gary threw a question out to the nearest person he recognized, the pretty and intelligent Nurse Joyleen.

"If the world's in such a crisis, then why hasn't the Euphrates lifted off yet? Wouldn't it make more sense to go as quickly as possible?"

"Oh, well yes it would, but the ship's not ready yet. It still has a few minor repairs to undergo, and a few things are still being loaded. Besides, Captain Thatcher doesn't like people to leave port on an empty stomach."

"Oh, okay."

"Please understand that all of this was very sudden," she continued. "Once we got word that Team Rocket was going across the world capturing Pokemon left and right, we knew that somebody would find us and ask us to do something about it. We've been preparing ever since, but don't worry--we'll be ready to leave by tomorrow morning."

"And where will we be going to, exactly? Oh, thanks!" Gary received a tray full of delicious food, the kind that was completely unlike anything he had been served while on his Pokemon journey, and shuffled along to find a table. He wanted to sit with Misty, or else James and Jessie, but room was scarce already so he had to make do. Nurse Joyleen followed him so she could answer his question, like any polite person would do.

"Well, I'm sure that the Captain won't invade Team Rocket's headquarters immediately," she said as she followed Gary to an empty seat in the mess hall. "The Euphrates may be strong, but even it wouldn't survive a head-on attack on the headquarters. We'd need to pick off a few of the smaller bases first, and see to it that a few Pokemon are freed from Rocket's grip. We may also need to recruit more people for our cause."

"Oh. Well, that makes sense." Nurse Joyleen nodded her head and gave him her prettiest smile.

"Yes. But don't worry--eventually, we'll teach those scoundrels a lesson! Oh, may I sit with you?"

"Sure!" Both Gary and Joyleen sat down together, although there was nobody else in the area that they recognized. Captain Thatcher was elsewhere, cavorting with his loudest and most insane friends. He usually ate his meals in the bar instead of the mess hall, so as to not create a loud ruckus whenever he dined. The crew missed him terribly, but James and Jessie were relieved to hear about his whereabouts.

"I can't stand that oaf!" he lamented as he ate. "I'm so glad he's not here with us! He's rude, loud, obnoxious, probably inconsiderate, bullish, and on top of all that, has no fashion sense whatsoever!"

"Yes, but he does know how to treat a lady," noted Jessie. James sighed and stared down at his meal with a sullen look.

"Well, at least I still have my appetite. You know, Jess, it's strange, but I kind of miss Meowth. I know he was a loud backstabbing little ball of annoying fuzz, but he was our loud backstabbing little ball of annoying fuzz! It's just not the same without him."

"I've been wondering what the little nuisance was up to!" she exclaimed. "Probably off goofing around, or else licking the boss' boots as usual! …I bet he's really worried about us, though. We did sort of leave the Team a bit suddenly."

"Mm-hmm, and then there was our near-fatal brushes with death. Ugh, can you really believe how many times we almost bought the farm? I'll bet everyone in Team Rocket thinks we're up in Heaven by now!"

"Or else the other place," she muttered bitterly. "And what about those other two people? Cassidy and Butch; what do you think became of them?"

"I really could care less," he murmured, picking at his food lazily. "They're our enemies and that's that. But at least this gives us an excuse to exact our revenge on them."

"Nothing ever stopped us before."

"True, but this time we really are the good guys! Strange, eh?"

"Mm-hmm, but I like it. I don't want to sound like an afternoon soap opera, but we've really been given a purpose here. I wouldn't go back to being on Team Rocket for all the money in the world."

"Nor would I!" he agreed. The two friends and partners toasted to their new and permanent alliance, and of course to the absence of Captain Thatcher.

"We just barely made it in time!" blurted Brock as he merged into the table where Ash and Misty were sitting. Lenneth smiled and greeted both of them, sitting next to Brock as she joined them all. Both Ash and Misty shared knowing glances as an old friend and a new friend sat side by side.

"So, what have you two been doing?" he sang.

"Just looking around the ship. Lenneth seems to know the place really well. We never once got lost!" She chuckled and hid her face humbly as she dug into her meal.

"Only because I've been on with the crew for so long. I really can't remember when I first came here, but I think it was when I was four. I was already an orphan by that time, and I've been told that I was very close to being sold into slavery!"

"What?" blurted Misty in amazement. "That's terrible!"

"Yes, but Captain Thatcher found me before anything bad could happen. He let me stay on his crew, and I've been with them ever since. Did you know that it was I who accidentally stumbled across this vessel while I was playing in the airport one day?"

"No!" exclaimed Ash. "How in the world did you do that?"

"I don't know!" she replied with a smile. "I guess it just happened. I literally stumbled across it, you know: I fell into a shaft while I was running around, and it led into this secret underground port that had remained intact since the end of the war. Everyone thought that I was terribly injured, but I just walked away without a scratch on me! Weird, huh?"

"No, that's amazing!" exclaimed Brock happily. "That's such an incredible story! I could listen to it forever and never get tired of it!" Lenneth laughed out loud as he swooned over her (Ash and Misty rolled their eyes heavily), so much so that she nearly suffocated from lack of breath.

"Ah, Brock, you're terrible! Don't make me laugh so hard! You're just too much!"

"I'm only telling you how I feel," he said softly. Lenneth eventually calmed down, took a deep breath, and gave him a warm smile.

"You're so sweet… Even though I only just met you, I'm already beginning to like you." Brock returned her smile, and Misty, fearing that things would get mushy, wisely changed the subject.

"So, Lenneth, is that why you know this place really well?"

"Oh, yes. I explored it every day, whenever the Captain would let me. He liked it too, but I think I was the only one who really bothered to look everywhere. When he was given the honor of commanding this vessel--this was before Team Rocket started to take over, now--he took me on as the ship's personal guide. I became an invaluable member of the crew ever since, and that's why you saw me with him, Jennifer, and Joyleen."

"Ah, that's very nice!" smiled Misty. "Well, I'm glad we have such a nice person as our guide!"

"I'm sure that Brock thinks the exact same thing!" noted Ash wryly. Misty couldn't help but smile, and both Brock and Lenneth blushed a little.

"Anyway, we should eat as much as we can," said the silvery-haired girl. "The Captain likes it when his crew's hunger is satisfied. An empty stomach is a terrible thing to take into a fight, especially one of this magnitude. So eat!"

-----

Sitting with a group of his closest friends, Captain Red Thatcher tipped back another big jug of beer, laughing and singing to his heart's content. The good Captain loved the privacy of the bar, because he could scream and sing as loud as he wanted without disturbing the rest of the crew. Anyone else who was so inclined could join him, but only about five other drinking buddies were there with him, sharing stories and swapping tales.

Officer Jennifer made that area her very last while on patrol. She stepped in and found her boss getting utterly plastered, and couldn't help but smile as he let loose. Thatcher was the kind of person who would not only laugh in the face of death, but would spit in it as well. Thatcher had no fear at all, and became uncontrollably giddy every time a dangerous situation reared its head, especially if it was a fight. He was a wild and fierce man, fiery in appearance and attitude, but with a loveable heart of gold that very few people could resist.

"Captain, I'm almost finished with my runs," reported Jennifer. "Is there anything else you need for me to do?"

"Yeah! C'mon over here and join us for a drink, pretty lady! Mebbe you can relax n' let yer hair down! (hic!) I love a wimmen in uniform…"

"Hey, shaddap, you ignoramus!" bellowed the Captain, striking the poor drunken fool who had made the improper pass. "That's Officer Jennifer you're talking to! Show a little more respect to the lady! Ya vile, nasty little snake--nah, yer not even a snake! Yer a worm!!"

"Hhheyyy, Captainnn…"

"No excuses, drunken fool!" snarled Red. "Now apologize to this wonderful lady, and offer to buy her something really expensive, like a jewel or a flower garden, or somethin'!" The poor drunken man wobbled up over to Jennifer, and hung his head in shame. The officer kept her smile down, but the presence of the Captain and his kind words could always make her feel better.

"Sh… shorry, Jenny… I'm a fool… Can ya forgimme?"

"Only if you make good on that promise!" she stated. The man looked at her in a confused blur.

"Whad… promish?"

"Remember? You promised to buy me a flower garden! You'd better keep your word, or the Captain will have you thrown overboard!"

"Aaahh… no!" he wailed. "Not that! I… I buy you thuh gardun… Offishur… Jus' don't… throw me ovvur…" With that, the man fainted to the ground in a drunken stupor, leaving everyone else to laugh. Captain Thatcher lifted the man up by the shoulders and ordered his buddies to carry him out.

"What a disgrace… Jennifer, I'm sorry…"

"You don't need to be the one who apologizes, Captain," she said with a smile. "I'm just glad you stood up for me--but then again, that's our Captain!" She saluted him, but the fiery Red Thatcher always had to make his movements bigger and more impressive. He stood to his full height despite the alcohol in his body, and performed a perfect naval salute that would've made any Officer Jenny impressed.

"A man of the sea and the air always defends his ladies from whatever harm befalls them!!!" Jennifer smiled proudly and gave her boss a nod before leaving.

"Have a good day, Captain. I'm going to go grab something to eat before I turn in. It's going to be a busy week for us."

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"Sir, Marion and Morrison are here to see you."

"Hmm, they're early again. Send them in."

"Yes, sir." Moments later, a tall blonde woman with a scar across her face entered into the room, her pure-white cloak remaining motionless. Her partner, the gigantic muscular man with teeth of steel, was nowhere to be found.

"Hey, boss," she greeted with a dusky smile. Giovanni frowned.

"Marion, where's Morrison?"

"Oh, he's just taking care of the machines with William and Bonney. He sent me on ahead to give the report."

"Ah, so you did recover the weapons!" he said with a satisfied smile. "Good work, good work indeed! I'd give you another raise, but you're already in a high enough position! If you climbed the ladder anymore, you'd be boss instead of me! Ah, but you're doing well, better than I had hoped. You exceeded even my expectations."

"Your words are kind, sir," replied Marion sweetly. "I'm really impressed with those weapons you've had hidden in that vessel. I've heard rumors, but I never thought I would encounter them."

"They were constructed by myself and my nine closest comrades back during the days of the war," said Giovanni. "This may surprise you, but Professor Oak helped with them."

"You're kidding!" she hissed. It was hard to surprise Marion, and she sure didn't fake her reaction. Giovanni saw it and smiled.

"No, I'm not. You may not believe this either, but the parents of Jessie, James, Butch, and Cassidy helped with them as well."

"Ah. Is that why you let those two certain losers on the team?" Giovanni was silent for awhile as he considered Marion's question. His cigar slowly burned down in the process, and his Persian yawned sleepily.

"I owed my life to their parents," he said slowly. "I made an oath to raise their children in the ways of Team Rocket. However, they were nothing like their parents, two of the most brilliant and talented people I ever had the honor of befriending. In the end, I was forced to let them go. The report of their deaths, false or not, wasn't an easy thing for me to bear, even after everything those two did."

"Or didn't do," added Marion. Giovanni nodded his head.

"Hmm… Well, enough reminiscing. You've done a very good job, Marion. All we really need to do now is activate those weapons, and the very world itself will be under my control."

"Will it really?" As Giovanni wondered what his employee meant by those words, Marion suddenly rushed towards him, retracted the claws on her gauntlet-weapons, and dug her index fingers deep into his arms, paralyzing them to the side. Giovanni let out a scream as his arms were pierced, but a pair of powerful hands wrapped around his neck, cutting off the shout before it could be heard by anyone else. As the hands closed around his throat, Giovanni's breath slowed down and became shallow, and his vision blurred.

"What… is… this?"

"Just a little betrayal, that's all!" she hissed. Giovanni shivered in fear.

"You… betrayed… me…? But… how…?"

"Let's just say that I lied when I told you that Morrison was elsewhere," she hissed. Giovanni growled, but he was unable to move an inch. The searing pain in his arms prevented him from freeing himself, and the stranglehold on his neck made sure that he wouldn't move.

"You… dogs!" he managed, his voice hoarse. "I… took you in… paid you… put you on seats of high esteem… and this is the thanks I get?"

"Oh, but we are very thankful of you, sir," growled Morrison from behind. "You did help us along. It was through your sources that we were able to first find the Legendary Pokemon Master, and later ZERO City. With the technology available there, you were able to propel Team Rocket into an organization that was literally unstoppable, a place that held dominance over all Pokemon, all resources, and eventually, all the world. And now, because you trusted us so, we now have the six invincible weapons you spoke of with such reverence!"

"You… led me on…"

"But of course!" hissed Marion wickedly, digging her talons into his arms even more. "You were invaluable to us, Giovanni, but now that all your secrets are revealed, it's now time for you to die. No negotiations will save you, no bodyguard will come to your rescue, no words will guarantee your life. You will die, sir."

"Who… set you up… for this?"

"Nobody did, I'm glad to say," growled Morrison. "We did this all on our own. We grew tired of being mere hired assassins to take on jobs here and there. Like you said, we're too good for all of that. It's time we ascended into the ranks of greatness, and the only way to take over your throne is to force the original king off it."

"The old way of doing things is over; it's time for new blood to wash over this industry and cleanse it from the old outdated ideals you clung to." Marion chuckled as she drew herself closer to her soon-to-be-eliminated boss, smiling wickedly as her cruel blue eyes dug into his. "You could say, Giovanni, that this will be the Twilight of the Gods--your twilight, old man!"

"But… you… will… not… get… away… with…"

"Of course we will!" snarled Morrison, squeezing his throat a little harder. "Team Rocket will go along with us without any objection! Any fool that thinks they have any loyalty towards you will be easily swayed once they learn that Marion and I have single-handedly guided this pathetic place from the sewers into the clouds! You may have been the brains of the outfit, Giovanni, but consider us the stomach that provides the brain with the nourishment it needs! The brain cannot live without the stomach!"

"Of course, we'll end up being the brains once you're dead," purred Marion darkly. Giovanni's face was covered with perspiration, and even though he couldn't move, he desperately struggled to stay alive. Deep inside, though, he knew and feared that this would be the end of him. After all his years, all his scrapes, and all his days trapped in that hellish war, he would finally die at the hands of his own employees. Rocket would die at the hands of a Rocket, the ultimate irony.

"You… cannot… win…" he rasped, his life nearly gone. His vision was so blurry that there was no longer any difference between keeping his eyes open and keeping them closed. "The… pursuit… of… power… is… the road to… destruction…"

"And now nobody will know that better than you," whispered Marion. She nodded at Morrison, who only said one word before snuffing out his boss' candle.

"Goodbye." He squeezed as hard as he could, creating a disgusting snapping sound, and released the man to fall to the floor.

Hiding in the distant shadows, unbeknownst to either Marion and Morrison, were two pairs of eyes that had seen the entire betrayal take place. Slowly, they slinked away, and kept what had happened to themselves, vowing to wait for the right moment before making their move...

To be continued…