"Well guys, we are in Goldenrod City now!", Ash said joyfully. Pikachu happily agreed. "We sure took the long way, though.", Misty said. Everybody laughed. They had travelled for a few weeks now, and during that time, Ash and Pikachu had gotten stronger than ever. Ash managed to use some small energy attacks, and learned to fly. Pikachu had increased his attacks as well, maximum damage to it's target with minimum loss of power himself. Still small frys compared to Drake, they kept on training. And now they've reached Goldenrod City. "Well, what do you think? Should we go to the Pokemon Centre?", Brock asked. "Sure, I'ts getting pretty late now.", Misty agreed. The group headed towards the Pokemon Centre. During the walk, Drake asked Ash: "What about a quick trainingsession later? You still need to work on your energy attacks, and your flying could also get some more practice.". Ash laughed. "Alright, but only if I get a rematch from earlier!", he said. "You're on.", Drake replied. "Hey, don't come crying to us when you get hammered, Ash!", Misty grinned. Everybody laughed, and eventually they reached the Pokemon Centre.
"Hello. Do you want a room?", Nurse Joy asked. "Yes please. Do you have any large rooms left?", Brock asked. "Sure, it's not as busy as always. Almost all rooms are free now.", Nurse Joy replied. "Fine, just give us a large room then, please.", Brock said, and paid for it. After getting the key and the directions to the room, the group left the hall. "Here is it.", Brock said, and opened the door. Everybody walked in, and placed their stuff on the ground. "Shall we go Ash? If we don't hurry, we may not have enough time to train.", Drake said. "Let's go then. You guys want to come?", Ash asked his friends. "Nah, we stay here. We wait until you get back, and then we can eat.", Brock replied. Pikachu didn't answer; he was asleep on Ash's bed. "Alright. Let's get a move on!", Ash said, and followed Drake outside. They jogged outside of town, into the hills. "This looks like a good place. Nobody will find us here. Let's keep it down a bit, Ash. Otherwise we might get into a lot of trouble.", Drake said. Ash nodded. "So, with what should we start?".
"Now try this Ash, but remember to control your energy. This is an attack which works best as an surprise.", Drake told him. They had been training for an hour now. He took a few steps away from Ash, and relaxed his body. Then, all of a sudden, he opened his hands, brought them together in front of him, stretched his arms and fired a beam of energy straight in the sky. The beam vanished quickly. Drake turned to his student. "Now you try, but don't push yourself too hard, remember?", he said. "Okay, I'll try.", Ash answered. He relaxed his body, and then opened his hands, stretched his arms forward and launched a small beam into the sky. It almost looked like a shooting star. "Nice try. You did it a little too fast, that's why the beam wasn't so large.", Drake explained. Ash nodded. "Want me to try again?", he asked. "No, it's getting too dark, and chances are that people see us. Let's head back now. I'm starving!", Drake replied. Ash's stomach let out a grumbling noise. "Uh, me too.", he said. Drake laughed, and together they jogged back to the Pokemon Centre.
"Sir, there are four Rockets here who claim to have an appointment. Should I let them through?", a secretary asked through the phone. Giovanni looked at the videoscreen, and could see James standing. "It's good. Send them all in.", he replied. "Yes sir.", the woman said, and putted the phone down. She pushed a button, and the door opened. "You can enter now.", she said, and got back to work. The Rocket group walked in, and ended up in a hallway. They had to leave their Pokemon at the storageroom, so Meowth wasn't there with them. "To tell you the truth, I'm scared, you know that?", Jessie whispered, as they walked down the hall. "Me too. Heck, I guess we are all scared, but there's nothing we can do about it. So let's keep our cool and see what happens.", Butch replied. They had reached the end of the hall, and as they approached, the double wooden doors opened. "Come in.", a harsh voice ordered them. They quickly entered the office, and lined up in front of the desk. They shivered. Giovanni, who had turned his back to them, turned around. "Finally, you are here. I have a very important and yet simple job for you all.", he said, while he walked to his seat. "But first, let's have a drink. And, take a seat. There are some chairs behind you.", he continued. They turned around, and saw a couple of chairs standing. Each of them took one, and sat down on it, and lined themselves up again in front of Giovanni. "Whats with the boss? He has never been this nice to us. Something is wrong here. There has to be.", Jessie thought. The rest thought the same thing. Giovanni walked to a small bar, and filled four glasses. He then walked back to them and gave each one a glass. After gaving them their drinks, he returned to his desk and picked up his glass. "What's wrong? Don't trust me?", Giovanni asked. He smiled. "We do. We just think this is a little strange and all, like inviting us and give us drinks…", Cassidy said. "Every Rocket get his/her turn. And now it's your turn. What's strange about that?", Giovanni asked. "Nothing I guess. But what is that job you wanted to tell us about?", James asked. "Finish your drinks first, then we'll talk about work.", Giovanni replied. Finally satisfied with that answer, they drunk from their glasses. But a little later, they felt dizzy, and knew what happened. "You…you bastard…! You…tricked…us…", Jessie managed to say, when she fell down on her knees. "Why…", Cassidy said, before she passed out. The rest followed shortly afterwards. James tried to stay up, but after one step, he fell down. "We…are…betrayed…", he managed to say, before the darkness came to claim him.
Ash and Drake had returned in the city. They entered the Pokemon Centre. "Whew, I'm beat. I'll take a shower now.", Drake said. "Yeah, we certainly need it.", Ash agreed, and grinned. After greeting Nurse Joy, they walked to their room. "Hey guys, we are back.", Ash said. Pikachu jumped happily in his arms. "Hey, how about dinner in the city? The Centre is now open until midnight, so we can take our sweet time.", Misty suggested. "Sounds great! Let us take shower first.", Ash said, and took his stuff. "I'll take one after you are finished, Ash, but hurry up!", Drake said, as he pushed Ash out of the room. "Hey, take it easy!", he grinned, and ran to the showers. After he took his shower and got dressed, he spotted a Team Rocket agent. Paying not much attention to him, he walked to his room, but then saw the agent leave. "I wonder what he wanted.", he thought, and then walked further. Drake was waiting for him in the hallway. "You sure took your time.", Drake grinned, but when he saw the expression on Ash's face, he turned serious. "What's wrong?", he asked. "There was a Rocket agent in the Centre, but he left as soon as I walked to our room.", Ash answered. "Strange. No need to worry though. Let me take my shower and then we go out for dinner.", Drake said, and walked past Ash to the showers. "How in the world can he stay so calm?", Ash thought, while he saw Drake walking away. "I get it. He isn't afraid, because he know he can't be beaten by them.", Ash thought, and relaxed. He gave Drake one last look and got in to their room.
Giovanni walked through a heavily fortified door, after he punched in his accesscode. The door closed behind him. A scientist came to greet him. "How is it going?", Giovanni asked. The scientist led Giovanni through the lab. They stopped in front of four tubes, filled with a greenish liquid. Inside the tubes floated, held in place by cables, four human bodies. "It seems that your most lowest members prove to be extremely strong. Their strength has increased greatly, but they are close to their maximum now.", the scientist explained. Giovanni looked through the tubes. The bodies of Jessie, James, Cassidy and Butch hung there, helplessly, still in their uniform. But something was different. On their forehead was now a red 'R'. "And our creation, who is listening to us completely and is fully obedient, has possessed them now. They will do your bidding, even if it means their death.", the scientist concluded. "Excellent. I assume we are ready now for the last stage regarding our project?", Giovanni asked. "Yes. The two children are now being connected as we speak. Should we drain them completely?", the scientist replied. "No. If we do, we can't set up a decent trap.", Giovanni said. "I understand. This way, please.". The scientist led Giovanni to a glass wall. Behind it was the tube with the blueish liquid. "I assume the transport didn't disturb it?", Giovanni asked. "No, not at all. It is now in a slumber, but it was awake when we ordered it to possess the four members.", the scientist said. A guard walked up to them. "Sir, an agent has seen that the ones you are looking for are in this city.", he reported. "Thanks. Back to your post.", Giovanni said. The guard left. Inside the large room, two cages appeared, with two uncouncius children, a boy and a girl. They had small tabs, connected with wires, all over them. Giovanni grinned at the sight. "This is the last step. I'm sure we can expect "visitors" after this. I hope that my new servants are ready.", he said. "Sir, they are ready to do your bidding.", another scientist said, who had appeared behind them. "They are now ready for their duties.", he continued. Giovanni followed the scientist. "Drain the liquid, now!", the scientist ordered. In a few moments, the liquid was gone. "Open the tubes!", the scientis ordered. The tubes slowly opened. Giovanni looked at them. "Are they awake now?", he asked. As an aswer, Jessie and the rest opened their eyes. They were bloodred. Their bodies, though still human, looked alot more muscular. "Yes master. We are awake and ready for your orders.", they all said. "Excellent work, all of you. I'll give the order for the final stage from my office. You four, follow me.", he said. The renewed Rockets nodded, and followed him to his office. They took their positions alongside Giovanni, two on each side. Giovanni enjoyed the sight. Then he putted on his videoscreen. The lead scientist, the one who showed him everything, appeared on the screen. "Begin.",was all Giovanni said, and turned his videoscreen off.
"That was a great meal! I never had something like that in years!", Ash smiled, while he and his friends left the restaurant, and headed back to the Pokemon Centre. "It sure was great. What time is it?", Misty asked. "Almost eleven. We still have plenty of time.", Brock said. Drake remained silent, and looked at large tower. "Drake? Something wrong with you?", Ash asked. "No, it's nothing. I thought I sensed something, but I guess I was wrong.", Drake replied. "Suit yourself. Come on, let's head back.", Ash said. In ten minutes they had returned at the Pokemon Centre. But as soon as they entered the room, Drake stopped in his tracks, with an astuonished look on his face. "No…It can't be…but it…is true!", he said to no-one in particular. "What's true?", Ash said, but then he felt something. "What is this feeling? It's like a small energy signal! And it's fainting!", he said. "Yes, and I know exactly from who it is!", Drake said, and his face showed a smile for a moment. Ash looked at him, and then he turned around. "Guys, I think I know what he means. Get your Pokemon, now!", he ordered his friends. "Why? What's wrong?", Misty asked. "Just do it!", Ash said, and signaled Pikachu to come. His friend jumped on his shoulder. Misty and Brock took their Pokemon. Drake, who had remained silent, turned around and ran away, out of the Centre. "Drake! Wait up!!!", Ash yelled, as he and his friends ran after him. "Adron!!! Marone!!! I'm coming for you!!! Hold on!!!", Drake yelled, as he ran into the direction of the large tower he saw earlier.
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Drake has finally sensed his brother and sister, and he and his friends are on route to save them. Can they succeed in time? And what about the new Team Rocket? What will they have in store for our friends? Find out, in the next chapter!