-=-=-=-=-

A Fateful Return
by TG

(Part Eight of Fate's Game)


"The prodigal son returns..."

-=-=-=-=-

"Warning - The Control message prepared will terminate Hold. The prepared Control message will result in termination of JumpGate link-up."

"Control message sent."

"Status message received. JumpGate core depletion executed. JumpGate link-up destroyed."

"Warning - The Control message prepared will set Code Zero lock-out. All personnel without Code Zero access will be unable to access JumpGate System mainframe."

"Control message sent."

"Status message received. JumpGate System mainframe on Code Zero lock-out."

"Warning - The Control message prepared will terminate Trans-Dimensional Transceiver program. You will be unable to access the JumpGate System mainframe remotely once executed."

"Control message sent."

"Status message received. JumpGate System T-D Transceiver program was terminated. All further communication with the JumpGate System mainframe is impossible from this location."

Gasglow tossed the control device onto the table. "They'll never get it unlocked. I doubt they'll even find a way to build another such device."

President Brock looked up from the stack of data pads on his desk. "Thank you, Mr. Gasglow. There's still the little matter of that level's Cassidy and this clone..."

"He prefers to be addressed as Van, sir."

Brock nodded, taking hold of the hand-sized device. "This looks like your technology, Captain."

Strom nodded. "Yes, Mr. President, it is. The Lt. here 'invented' a great deal while he was stranded on that level. That was before he 'returned to the fold', as it were."

Gasglow looked down, embarrassed.

Strom picked up on his embarrassment. "Don't be too upset with yourself, Lt. You were suffering from severe amnesia."

Brock put the device down. "What do you suggest we do with Cassidy and Van? We can't hold them here against their will."

Gasglow nodded. "Mind wipes..."

Strom cut him off, "Mind wipes are out of the question, Lt. You lessened the damage by having them arrested, that's all that needed to be done."

"Permission to speak freely, sir?"

Strom nodded.

"Sir, Van is well-versed in our technology. He practically grew up in Team Blue's lab. Letting him go home unmolested might present a risk he'll find a way back."

Strom nodded again before continuing, "I thought of that, Lt. I think once you make your position clear, the boy won't try to come back."

There was a knock at the door.

Brock rose and walked to the door. "That should be them. It's only fair we tell them what's happening." He waited for both men to nod before opening the door.

Both Rockets walked in, handcuffed. When Cassidy saw Gasglow, she averted her eyes in anger.

Brock pointed at the handcuffs. "That's not necessary, they're no longer under arrest." He nodded to both guards, who quickly unhandcuffed the Rockets, then stepped outside. Brock closed the door and pointed to two chairs. "Please, sit."

Van sat down uneasily, looking at Gasglow.

Cassidy remained standing, staring at the President. "I know you... you're one of Ketchum's buddies."

Brock sat in his chair, smiling. "I'm Brock Takeshi. I believe you're..."

She cut him off, "Cassidy Yamato."

Brock nodded. "Of course."

Cassidy looked around the room, before settling her gaze back on the President. "But you aren't the Brock guy I heard of, right?"

Brock, Gasglow, and Strom shared impressed looks.

"And this place, it's some kinda glorified Pokémon shrine, right?"

Brock looked at the dark-haired young man. "What do you think it is, Van?"

Van looked up suddenly. "Uh, this place? It's called the Stratus League, and it exists outside normal dimensions. It possesses a sustained warp field, and the ability to slide through the time stream for about three to six decades in either direction. It has a dedicated shunt to a dimension called Level Prime, and the majority of its residents are either spirits or special individuals who choose to work here."

The comm panel on the President's desk chimed.

And continued to chime as everybody in the room stared at Van.

Finally Brock hit a button. "Yes?"

"Sir, this is Security. One of the computer system scans turned up a funny connection leading to Guest Quarters, block A. Somebody-"

Brock cut the security officer off, "Yes, I know.. I have the individual right in front of me. Thank you for the update." He tapped a button and the panel darkened.

Strom grinned. "I'm glad the boy is on our side, and not theirs."

Brock sat back in his chair. "I really should talk to Kinza about getting a better security system."

Gasglow's face reddened. "Sirs, I apologize. I should have known he would do something like this."

Cassidy held up her hand. "Uh, excuse me for butting in, but what the hell is going on? Just in case you haven't heard, we're in a war!"

Brock looked at Strom in confusion. "War? Didn't we just fight one?"

"I think Miss Yamato is talking about our friends with the fangs."

Brock nodded, remembering back to one of the post-Lugia conversations. "Miss Yamato, we aren't at war, you are at war. Stratus isn't the place for your level's problems."

Cassidy's hand dropped. "What do you mean, 'your level's problems'? Aren't we in this together?"

Brock smirked. "Not exactly. We are dealing with the aftermath of the creature that caused all the damage you saw coming in here. While your level was untouched, many others weren't. So as long as this whole mess of evil spirits remains contained there, Stratus isn't concerned with it."

Van looked at Brock. "You mean this place isn't for the betterment of humans and Pokémon everywhe-?"

Brock cut Van off, "We'd love to help you, but our resources are stretched as it is. Most of those ships you see outside aren't supposed to be here. Your level's problems are contained, so Stratus is concentrating its efforts where they're needed most."

"There is one resource we can give them, Mr. President." Strom put his hand on Gasglow's shoulder. "Lieutenant, would you be willing...?"

Gasglow looked at the two Rockets. "I.. I'm not sure I'm wanted there, sir."

Strom looked between the two Rockets. "Is that true folks?"

Cassidy folded her arms, looking down at Gasglow. "He's betrayed me twice, put my life in danger countless times..."

Van rose from his chair. "He's also made it his lifelong goal to stop Giovanni from taking over our world. He's saved your life AND your soul twice. He's made some big mistakes, but don't we all? I've trusted him with my life before, and I'll gladly do it again."

Cassidy rolled her eyes. "I knew you'd say something sappy like that."

Brock looked at the two Rockets. "I'm not sure about this, Captain. Isn't this just replacing one Team Rocket with another?"

Strom shrugged. "I don't trust Team Rocket either, but I look at this as our chance to get a man on the inside. If things heat up, we'll need him there."

Cassidy held up her hands. "Wait, you mean we're getting Gasglow back just like that?"

Strom shook his head. "We're not giving him back. It's his decision whether to return, as it always has been."

Cassidy looked down at Gasglow. "I still don't trust you any further than I can throw you. But I guess we need you back."

Gasglow nodded, then turned to Van. "What about you?"

Van smiled. "Team Blue needs its leader back... sir."

Strom looked down at Gasglow. "Looks like you've got new orders, Lieutenant."

Gasglow nodded. "Yes sir, I'm glad to serve."

Brock tapped a button. "Please come in and escort our two guests to nicer quarters."

The door opened, and the two security personnel entered.

Brock nodded to the two personnel. "Cassidy, Van.. these gentlemen will show you to a better place you can eat, rest and get ready for the trip back."

Cassidy shrugged and walked out, her escort racing to catch up.

Van nodded to Gasglow. "It's glad to have you back, sir." He walked out, before stopping.

In the doorway stood a middle-aged woman, with graying, long dark-green hair done up in a bun and sparkling blue eyes that seemed to draw others in. She wore silky, creme-white robes with just a hint of sky-blue trim around the cuffs. She looked at Van with an expression of shock mixed with unease.

Van looked at the woman with the same sense of unease. "What-" His statement ended suddenly.

Brock looked at the woman. "Sabrina... what's wrong?" Then he noticed the lack of movement by Van and outside his office. "Why have you timed us out?"

Strom held up his hand. "Don't say anything yet, Sabrina." At that moment, time reasserted itself, and Van took a step back. Strom looked at him, "Please follow the guard outside."

Van looked back anxiously at the Captain and then nodded. He left, watching Sabrina until she was out of sight.

Strom waved the older woman in before shutting the door.

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy flopped back onto the comfy chair. "What took you so long?"

Van walked over to a small terminal and sat before it. "I met someone... someone very strange." He switched the terminal on and began typing. "I've got to find out what's so damn unnerving about her."

Cassidy idly rose and walked up behind him. "What do you mean by that? What did she do?"

Van stopped, looking down at his hands. "Do you know very much about cloning, Cassidy?"

The female Rocket shrugged. "I know it involves alot of genetics, but that's all."

Van nodded to himself, before resuming his typing. "There's a theory many geneticists inside Team Rocket have... about clones. The theory is that a clone retains a trace of memory from their host, sort of an imprint."

Cassidy nodded lazily. "I've heard of mnemonic imprinting... A few of Giovanni's files talk about stuff like that."

Van shook his head. "It's alot more complicated. To understand, you'd have to know who I'm a clone of."

"Yeah, you're Geovassi's..." Cassidy stopped when Van shook his head. "You.. you mean you're..."

"GiovanniTwo."

Cassidy took a step back. "You said you were his kid! I thought human cloning was still in the experimental stage, too early to clone full humans?"

Van nodded. "You're right, true cloning was still experimental twelve years ago. Giovanni got around that by having the maternal and paternal DNA patterns separated from his own genes. In a way, he just gave birth to himself the old fashioned way: human conception. I was matured in an artificial womb and given birth to like a normal child."

Cassidy looked at the back of the young man's head. "I can't imagine you turning into him."

Van smiled up at her. "I'll take that as a compliment." He turned back to the terminal when it beeped. "I don't believe it..."

Cassidy looked over his shoulder. "What's all that code mean?"

Van sighed. "Nothing, it's just a dead-end..." He began typing again.

Cassidy shrugged and started to head for the bedroom.

-=-=-=-=-

Sabrina nodded very slowly. "That's why I'm here."

Brock sat back in his chair. "But what do you mean by 'someone called you'? Nobody in that dimension should even realize you exist!"

Sabrina shook her head. "I can't say at the moment." She nodded to Strom.

He returned the nod. "Understood."

Brock looked at Gasglow. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"

Gasglow looked at his CO and then Sabrina. "I'm sorry Mr. President, but I'm just as out of the loop as you."

Strom patted Gasglow's shoulder. "Which is good, you'll need to approach things from outside the box. Sometimes knowing what's going on clouds your judgment." He nodded to Brock.

The President of the Stratus League sighed. "I guess that includes me?"

Sabrina giggled at the look of defeat on Brock's face. "Don't feel so left out, I'm not quite sure what's happening either.." She glanced at Strom.

Strom nodded and turned to the Lieutenant. "Mr. Gasglow, you better leave. We'll meet at Landing Pad 43 in nine hours."

Gasglow saluted and left.

Sabrina watched the door close and then turned back to Brock. "We can talk now."

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy yawned and stretched. As she slipped out of the bed, she noted with distaste that she had slept in her uniform. "I'm starting to act just like Butch. How.. yuck."

She looked out the door and saw Van slumped over the computer terminal. She also saw Gasglow, sitting in one of the chairs. When he noticed her, he put his fingers to his lips. She walked over and sat down in an adjacent chair. "How long have I been knocked out?"

Gasglow glanced over at Van. "It's been seven hours and twelve minutes since I arrived. I see your mood has improved."

Cassidy shrugged, looking at the architecture. "I'm just too tired to bicker."

Gasglow nodded. "Remember that box labeled 'Laundry' in the bath?"

"Yeah... I don't have time."

He smirked. "It isn't a chute. It's a system that cleans your clothes while you bathe."

Cassidy got up, then turned around. "Hey, are you saying...?"

Gasglow put up his hands. "Honestly, it's only noticeable to us cybernetic types. Now go... we'll be leaving in a few minutes."

Cassidy pointed at the sleeping Van. "What about him?"

Gasglow looked over at him. "He only went to sleep three hours and forty minutes ago. He'll need every wink once we get back."

Cassidy nodded. She stopped at the door to the bath. "Hey Gasglow?"

"Yes?"

She turned her head, looking back at him. "Thanks. Just don't think this evens the score."

He nodded and smiled. "That's right, you still owe me for bailing you out of jail."

Cassidy stuck her tongue out at him, then continued walking into the bath.

-=-=-=-=-

"So where we headed?"

Gasglow glanced briefly back at Cassidy. "We're headed to Forrestal. She'll take us back to your level."

Van stopped, gazing in awe at the array of craft. "Which one is she?"

Gasglow pointed at one of the larger craft further away from the others. "That's Forrestal." He continued walking, watching Van study every line, and every panel. "She's a beauty, isn't she?"

Van could only nod.

"She's the ship I was serving on when I got lost."

Van looked down at him. "Why didn't they come back for you?"

Gasglow looked up at the ship for a moment. "The damage was already done. Me and my service craft crashed before they realized what was happening. I crashed near Viridian... plowed up a whole lot of land doing it too. Before Forrestal could send down a rescue party, people showed up."

Van looked at all the smaller craft. "Sir, what are these?"

Gasglow glanced around. "Oh, those are Scat Backs. Small-crew vessels, the true workhorses. I flew one in battle not too long ago. They're sturdy little ships."

Finally the group had moved past the smaller craft to the two largest landing pads. The Forrestal sat on one, while a ship that could have been its exact copy occupied the other.

Van stopped, staring up at the other ship. "Sir, what ship is that?"

Gasglow looked over at the other pad. "That's the Exeter, a sister ship to Forrestal. Well, I'll be damned..." He turned to the two Rockets. "Will you excuse me for just a moment? I see someone I want to talk to. Don't go anywhere." He walked over to a small group of people and started to chat with one wearing a white overcoat.

Cassidy tapped Van's shoulder. "Hey, is it my eyes, or is one of those people wearing a Team Rocket uniform?"

Van glanced over at the group. "I think so, but it's hard to tell.. I think the vapors from the ship's exhaust ports are playing with the light. They look weird, whoever they are."

Cassidy shrugged. "It can't be as weird as that other.. person. The one wearing the uniform."

"You must be talking about North's group."

Both Rockets looked back at Strom.

The Captain grinned. "The one in the overcoat is North. The smaller man to his right in the uniform is Kinza."

Cassidy looked back at the group. "What is he?"

"I wouldn't worry too much about it."

Van pointed at a woman wearing a white Team Rocket uniform. "And who's that supposed to be?"

Strom chuckled to himself. "North's young friend... same answer I'm afraid. They're going to be leaving soon with Exeter, so don't worry about it."

Cassidy folded her arms. "You're just full of answers, aren't you?"

"Need to know, Cassidy. You should be experienced in that sort of thing."

The female Rocket nodded, then turned back when Gasglow walked up. "Anything you care to share, or is it 'need to know'?"

Gasglow turned to Cassidy, confused for a moment. "Don't be so concerned with things that don't affect you. Now behave yourself." He smiled at the glare she gave him, then saluted Strom. "Sir, permission to come aboard with these... passengers."

Strom returned the salute. "Permission granted, just keep them out of the Brig."

-=-=-=-=-

Sabrina watched as the Forrestal lifted off from the landing pad, slowly ascending. "Do you think he knew?"

Brock nodded. "There were some glitches in the security system. They said the boy overwrote the system earlier and just used a backdoor to get in again. I'm positive he accessed the files on you."

The Forrestal disappeared in a bright flash.

Sabrina had a look of concern. "I don't like this, Brock."

The President frowned. "What do you mean? Was it the presence you sensed on Level 1.1?"

"That call... the one from that level..."

He raised both eyebrows. "You think the boy had something to do with it?"

She shook her head. "No, that isn't it. I couldn't read him. It wasn't like with Cassidy, she's just hazy because of what they did to her. But that clone was a total blank to me, like he wasn't even there..."

"Or somebody was shielding him."

The Chairperson nodded. "Roy felt it too. Whatever it was, it was the one that called out to me. She felt... familiar."

Brock turned the spirit to face him. "She?"

Sabrina turned away from him. "I don't know, it's all very confusing. I need time to sort it out."

-=-=-=-=-

Gasglow folded the uniform neatly and placed it inside the bag. He looked around his quarters. He stopped to look at his suit in the mirror, being out of uniform was almost foreign to him now. He zipped up the bag when the door chimed. He picked it up and opened the door.

"It's customary for the captain of the ship to escort a leaving shipmate off."

Gasglow smiled. "Thank you, sir." He walked with Strom, wondering if this was such a good idea.

"Having second thoughts, Mr. Gasglow?"

"Yes sir."

Strom nodded as he stepped into the lift. "The assignment will probably be permanent, which ends your journeys."

"I know... but it's an important assignment. It's worth my career."

The door opened into a long hallway. The entire crew was assembled along the walls.

Strom looked back from Gasglow's stunned expression out into the assembly. "Attention on deck." The crew members immediately snapped to attention.

Gasglow walked down the hallway, stealing glances at people he had only known a short while. But he felt like he'd known them for a lifetime. The senior officers were waiting in the transmat room. He shook each person's hand, then looked around. "Where are the others, sir?"

Strom smiled. "They've already been sent back. There's one last thing that needs doing before you can leave. Mr. Button?" He took the data pad from his second. "Mr. Gasglow.. as of this date, you are assigned to this level as a resident officer. In order to fill this post, an officer must hold a rank of no less than Lieutenant Commander. Your service in the defense of Level Prime during the Black Lugia mess earned you this one, son. I field promote you to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, with all the privileges and responsibilities that rank brings." He stepped back and saluted, as well as all the senior officers.

Gasglow coughed a little, then returned the salute. "I won't let you down, sir." He stepped back onto the transmat pad. He then found himself shaking Strom's hand.

Strom stepped back. "I'll hold you to that promise, Commander."

Gasglow nodded. "Permission to leave the ship, sir?"

Strom returned the nod. "Permission granted. Good luck, Gasglow. Energize."

Gasglow disappeared in a flash of light.

Mr. Button looked at the data pad. "Funny, I don't remember Lieutenant Commander being mentioned on this thing when I handed it to you..."

Strom smirked. "There was a typo."

-=-=-=-=-

Gasglow looked around at the surprised expressions of nearly a hundred Team Blue personnel. He turned and looked up at the JumpGate behind him. "I'm impressed people. I leave you for a little while, and you go build a new toy without me." He was suddenly surrounded by dozens of people, all of them patting him on the back or shaking his hand, welcoming him home. He held up his hands. "Whoa, people! I may be back, but Giovanni isn't out of business yet. I suggest everybody take the rest of today and the next two off, then we'll meet back here..." He looked around. "What day is it?"

Van stood on a chair up on the control platform. "It's Thursday, sir!"

Gasglow nodded. "Okay, let's all meet back here Monday morning, 9 o'clock sharp. Get lots of rest, because you're going to need it. How's that sound to you?"

Everybody quietly nodded, a few whispers filtering through the crowd.

"Good, now let's get all this stuff shut down. The power bill's going to be murder as it is!"

Most of the personnel laughed as everybody walked back to the various stations, powering their systems down.

Gasglow walked up the stairs to the control platform and looked up at Van & Cassidy. "As for you two, follow me. We've got some debriefing. Let's go to my office."

Van smirked. "You mean my office?"

Gasglow rolled his eyes. "Has it been that long...? Whoever owns the office, let's go there."

-=-=-=-=-

Gasglow looked around the office. "My, things have changed. The last I remember, this place looked like a war-zone." He started to walk around the desk, but stopped. "Uh, Van..."

Van sat down in a chair in front of the desk. "Sir, it belongs to you."

Cassidy shrugged as she sat down in her customary place.

Gasglow nodded and pulled the chair back from the desk. He hopped into the chair, though his chest barely came above the level of the desk.

Van reddened. "Oh.. I, uh, had it altered..."

Gasglow waved off Van's embarrassment. "I've been gone a while, change is expected. Now let's get down to business: what happened after I disappeared?"

Van looked at Cassidy. "Uh, we're not sure, sir."

Gasglow looked at Cassidy. "What does he mean? The Pikachu took care of Jessie, right?"

Cassidy & Van seemed surprised.

"I was told how the battle ended. I meant the clean-up, what happened?"

Cassidy glared at Van.

Gasglow turned his gaze to him. "Van, what happened?"

The scientist sighed. "Sir, everything was a mess. We cut losses and..." His voice trailed off.

Gasglow looked between the two. "What.. you what?"

Cassidy narrowed her eyes. "He set James up for attempted murder."

Gasglow started to sit back, but realized how silly he'd look. "Well, that was rather... unique. So James went to jail?"

"No, he was declared insane and sent to Westbrook, in Pallet."

Gasglow raised an eyebrow at the hurt in Cassidy's voice. "That's sorry to hear."

"He also had Alan and Ann deported!"

Van turned his eyes downward.

Gasglow nodded. "Well, alot of this can be remedied. We'll just get those two back and have James..." Gasglow stopped when he saw the tears in Cassidy's eyes. "The anniversary of Jessie's death already passed?"

Cassidy nodded. "But.. that's not-"

"So James is already dead?"

Both Rockets stared at Gasglow.

"I have a bit of foreknowledge. So James died in an auto accident?"

Both Rockets nodded very slowly.

"And Ash Ketchum.. where is he?"

Cassidy shook her head. "I don't care! Didn't you just hear your own words!?"

He put up both hands. "Calm down, Cassidy. It won't bring James back. It's very important I know where Ash Ketchum is." He turned to Van. "Do you know?"

Van nodded. "He.. the boy was put in Westbrook. Kind of ironic."

Gasglow nodded to himself. "Good, he's safe there. So where is Butch?"

Both Rockets looked at each other.

Van spoke up when Cassidy didn't. "Sir, he was reassigned to South America, to search for Mew and Mewtwo. He disappeared a week ago. We can't get a search team there, with Giovanni's group still wandering around the area..."

Gasglow nodded again. "I see. Well, what about his tracking device, is it still operational?"

Van nodded.

"If Giovanni's going to try and capture or kill those two, we need to get in there first. As for Butch... I don't want to give up hope yet. As soon as we're ready, we'll put a team in that area."

The scientist looked confused. "But, sir... I just said Giovanni's group is too close."

"I heard you. The thing is, Monday will change that. After a little set-up time, we'll go look for Butch and those two Pokémon." He glanced at Cassidy. "I'm sure we'll find him. Giovanni hates not having a body."

Cassidy nodded silently.

"But sir, what's going to happen Monday?"

Gasglow looked at Van. "That's going to have to wait until Monday. Now that I'm certain things are settled, I think you and Cassidy can go rest up." He hopped out of the chair and escorted the two confused Rockets to the elevator. "Remember, you're both to come to Sub-level 2. Be here at 9:15, that'll give me some time to settle the troops in before you show up."

Both Rockets nodded as the elevator door closed.

Gasglow walked back to the office. He stopped at the doorway. "What a surprise meeting you again. Are you here to fight?"

A woman wearing a silky, black and short-sleeved blouse, and a short black skirt was sitting in Gasglow's chair. Her long hair was the most remarkable shade of purple, and her dark-blue eyes seemed to twinkle in amusement. "I don't like to fight friends, or at least those who I consider friends."

The cyborg stood before the desk, bearing an annoyed look. "You have a funny way of showing friendship. Sending your daughter here to kill me was not a very nice gesture."

The woman idly examined her long, claw-like nails. "Oh, that's all water under the bridge. I had to let Jess blow off some steam. After all, you were the one who arranged her death. Well, that and Giovanni asked me to do it."

Gasglow put on a sardonic tone, "So you got two birds with one stone, how very clever of you."

The woman smiled. "Not as clever of you, sending that nasty angel after her. Or did you?"

He folded his arms. "Not really... I guess your actions finally got noticed was all."

"Black Lugia took care of that rodent, so it's one less problem for me to deal with. By the way, how's the arm?" She gestured towards Gasglow's right arm.

The cyborg flexed it. "The upgraded parts work beautifully. In fact, I might even have a chance if your daughter shows up again."

The woman smirked, exposing two fangs where her canines had once been. "She's been in training while you were gone. She's nearly reached my level of power. Enough to be evenly matched with the rodent, if it were still around."

Gasglow nodded, filing away that bit of information. "So why are you here, Myamoto? If it isn't to gloat, and it isn't to kill me..."

Myamoto stood up and passed through the desk, but carefully walked around Gasglow. "I came here because now that you're back, I know things are going to start heating up. I want to make you an offer: leave Giovanni's Team Rocket alone, and I'll protect you."

Gasglow slowly turned around to face Myamoto, leaning back against the desk. "What about Team Blue?"

She thought for a moment, then nodded. "Team Blue as well."

The leader of Team Blue sighed. "You know I can't do that, Myamoto..."

"Because you're an officer of that inter-dimensional police officer... Strom? Do you really think you can just call him up whenever you get into trouble?"

Gasglow shook his head. "It isn't that. I'm a resident officer now, I'm my own boss. Captain Strom has his own crew and orders to worry about. My orders are to keep things normal here, and if that means putting Giovanni on a short leash, I'll do it. I can't compromise the safety of this world, even if it might save me and my teammates."

Myamoto laughed. "Do you hear the garbage you're spewing? You used to be an elite, the best of Team Rocket! You didn't care about orders, or safety, or even Giovanni. It was just you and me, having a wild ride through mission after mission." She cocked her head to one side and grinned. "Or was it because Giovanni got you pulled off active duty so he could be my partner?"

"I'll admit I was angry and jealous that Giovanni pulled that little stunt. I wanted to get back at him, but Madam Boss talked me out of it. I'll even admit that I wanted to kill him when I found out you were carrying Jessie..."

Myamoto quirked an eyebrow.

"I don't do this out of revenge. I might have then, but I'm thinking with a clear head this time. I do this because it's the right thing. Team Rocket is only interested in ruling the world through force and evil acts. No matter what it takes, I'm going to keep them in check. As for my partner, she died on the slopes of the Andes long ago, and you're just a dark reflection of her."

She stood for a moment, her fists clenched and eyes closed. Finally she opened her eyes, now filled with disgust and hatred. "I don't care what you think! You and this whole place are going to burn, and nobody is going to remember that heroic little speech! Jessie already took care of one of your friends. It's real ironic that one of your people should die in South America. He was all alone because there was nobody who could save him. You were too busy saving those nobodies on Prime! Just like you were too busy with your stupid Gate when I died! So I hope you enjoy finding his corpse, you.. you.. traitor!" She disappeared in a flash.

Gasglow stood there, looking at the space she had occupied moments before. He carefully turned around, looking at the desk, his eyes closed. He brought his fist down on the surface, and the steel of the desk bent, leaving a twenty centimeter crater. He looked down at the bent steel and sighed. "Well, at least I now have a nice cup-holder."

-=-=-=-=-

Cassidy yawned. 'Why does it always have to be so early?' She felt like she had slept the entire weekend. She had called in sick to her job at Silph, and immediately had regretted it: with no-one else to talk to, she was bored out of her mind. She had tried to strike up a conversation with the team now living across from her, two black-suits from a different part of Team Rocket called Terminal Solutions.

As part of her security duties, she had the unenviable task of checking over personnel records. The ones she hated the most were TS agents. She found their tactics and their demeanor towards killing to be cold and brutal. Such glorious tidbits as "kill ratios" and "current targets" turned her stomach. Fortunately for her, that weekend the two TS agents were out on an assignment. She considered that turn of events a good thing, since terminal boredom was slightly better than making friends with killers.

A hand reached around Cassidy and tapped the elevator request.

She glanced at Van. "How do you do it?"

He seemed startled by her. "What do you mean?"

"How do you deal with losing friends?"

He walked into the elevator with her. As it whisked them downward, he shrugged. "I don't have friends. It's less problematic that way."

She glanced at him as the elevator door opened and the pair got off. "You mean you don't have any friends at all? What about Gasglow?"

Van got onto the equipment lift and shrugged again before hitting the button to take them down. "Gasglow's something of a father figure I guess, but we don't really talk much. I mostly just stay in my section of Lab One."

When the equipment lift stopped, the gathered group of people turned to them. The majority of Team Blue's personnel were gathered in the center of the large room. Their leader had just finished talking, as he stood before the metallic door that dominated one side of the room.

"Okay, everyone is here. Cassidy, Van, stand right there." Gasglow pointed to the front of the crowd. "Remember, what you are about to see is never to be spoken of outside this building. No-one in Team Rocket is to find out." As soon as the chorus of agreement quieted down, he turned to the door and closed his eyes.

A muffled voice issued out from the door. "SAM Systems, Core 214 is online. Security systems are now at level 2. Opening door 12." The door hummed, then slowly opened outward. Inside the door, a long corridor started to light up, section by section leading inward. On the inside of the door was inscribed a star-burst, with triangles leading outward at the four major compass points. Two small circles were etched at 40-degree angles from the star-burst, at the northeast and northwest points.

Gasglow waited for the crowd to quiet down again. "Welcome to Team Blue's new home, folks."

-=-=-=-=-

End of "A Fateful Return"

Based on the original work...
_The Lugia Chronicles_ by R. A. Stott & Anni Ruecroft


Characters and situations from Pokémon anime (C) 2000 Nintendo, Inc. and GameFreak, Ltd.
Characters and situations from _The Lugia Chronicles_ (C) 2000 Denivan Media Services, Inc. - Used with permission.
Situations from "End of the Road" and "Return Journey" (C) 2000 Anni Ruecroft - Used with permission.
Concepts from "Terminal Solutions" (C) 2000 Steve Brunton - Used with permission.