-Chapter Seven-



(New Team Rocket HQ, Laboratory Offices, Viridian City)


Dr. Brown stared outside the window of his office, tracing his fingers along his desk as Giovanni so often did. When Jessie showed up with her unconscious partner, he had convince himself that James had simply exhausted himself. But he knew better now. After examining his favorite agent, the doctor knew. He knew all too well. Dr. Brown knew the smell of demon breath. He had breathed it several times…many years ago.
But the Darkness was sealed away into another world… Could it be possible that someone actually had the power to bring it back?
"Doctor!"
Dr. Brown was snapped out of his reverie.
"Yes, Parker?"
Jessie walked into his office, frowning at the scientist.
"Your assistant told me I couldn't go in to see James! Why is that?"
"I need to keep him isolated for a few hours. If you went in with him, it's possible that you could be contaminated…"
"Contaminated? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Look, Jessie… It's just very important that I run some tests on him. Why don't you do something…productive? Go shopping or something."
"It's tempting, but right now I need to know what's wrong with my partner."
"It's very hard to explain, and even harder to believe…"
"Tell me what's wrong with James!"
Dr. Brown raised his hands defensively as Jessie stepped closer.
"All right, all right! But I'm warning you…this might sound alittle strange."
Jessie nodded and took a seat across from him, calming down alittle bit. Dr. Brown looked out the window, hesitating.
"Jessie… James was attacked by a creature…called a demon."
Jessie stared at Dr. Brown for a few minutes.
"Doc…I'd kinda like facts here."
Dr. Brown sighed.
"These are the facts, Jessie. There are these creatures, these monsters, called demons. They are the most vile, disgusting, and evil creatures on the planet. They work for…for a…a bigger monster. He's like their king, I suppose. And they go and carry out his grunt work—theft, stake outs, construction, kidnappings, or, in some cases, homicide."
He paused here, wanting to make sure Jessie understood so far. She didn't say anything, so assuming she did, he went on.
"Now these demons have a special…attack, you could call it. You see, they have very distinctive…breath. And when they track someone down and fight them, they…well, breathe on them."
Dr. Brown saw Jessie's eyebrows rise here, but continued.
"Once a demon has breathed on their uh, victim, the victim falls unconscious. This of course, leaves them completely vulnerable, and allows the demon to…to…kill them."
Jessie stood up again.
"Doctor, I hate to interrupt your little story, but what does this have to do with James? He's not dead."
"You're right, he's not…yet."
Her eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you'd let me finish…"
Jessie sighed and sat back down.
"Thank you. If a demon for some reason is stopped or has to go, he will leave the victim in their unconscious state. However…the victim is not forgotten. As long as he or she has breathed on, the demon will not stop chasing them…until they've killed them."
Dr. Brown sat in silence, waiting for this to sink in. Jessie stared at him, her blue eyes widening.
"So…so, what are you saying?" She asked in a trembling voice.
"I'm saying…the demon that attacked James will go after him. And once he finds him…"
He didn't have to continue. The look in Jessie's eyes told him that much.

(New Team Rocket HQ, Boss Office, Viridian City)

Domino was known as Agent 009. She was the best agent on the entire team. She never failed a mission, she never missed a shot, and she was always prepared. All this was because she worked alone. Domino didn't do well with a partner. They would only slow her down. She wasn't the type of girl who was ready to watch her back and her partner's. She just wasn't up to it. It wasn't her style. So naturally, when the boss gave her the assignment, she was very unhappy.
"You expect me to work with HIM??" She cried, pointing to the boy at her side.
Mondo didn't seem to notice. He was too stunned that the boss had actually given him a mission. A REAL mission. And he had been partnered with Miss Domino! An agent like him…with an elite like Miss Domino.
"I can't work with him," Domino said in disgust. "He's not even a real field agent! He hasn't had any experience!"
"A job like this doesn't really need experience. He'll have you there to coach him, besides," Giovanni calmly replied.
Domino flailed her arms about.
"But, but, but…I thought you told me that field agents like Kidd and Sundance were dispensable!"
Giovanni stroked his Persian.
"I know. But it's not Kidd and Sundance I'm worried about. I want to know what's going on up there. Those two are the only ones who can tell me."
"But…" Domino began to protest.
"Are you questioning my authority, 009?" He asked in an icy voice.
Domino stepped back and hung her head, dropping her hands to her side.
"No sir…" She muttered.
Giovanni turned to the young boy.
"Mondo, do you understand your assignment?"
Mondo snapped back into reality.
"Uh, uh…sir?"
Domino groaned.
"If you need anything, ask Domino. She will be your mentor on this mission. Don't fail me."
"Yes sir!"
"Right…"
"You are dismissed."
As soon as they were outside, Domino grabbed Mondo by his jacket collar and pulled him to her.
"Now listen, rookie!" She growled. "I'm not going to mess this up looking out for you! You better follow my instructions and stick to them exactly, because if you get caught, I'm NOT going back in to save you! Understand?"
Mondo gulped and smiled weakly.
"Yes, Miss Domino!"
Domino scowled and pushed him away.
"Good. Then let's get going."

Outside the boss' office, Candy, the secretary, sat daintily at her desk. No one was in the halls now, except a female executive talking quietly to a new Dan'in. She watched them for a few seconds, then looked away, opening an old magazine the boss had allowed her to have. After flipping through the pages some, she sighed.
"This is such a boring day…"
"Maybe I can change that for you," she heard someone say behind her.
She whirled around in her chair, to stare up into the shadowed face of the executive.
"Excuse me?"
The woman smirked and brought out a gun, smacking her upside the head with it. Candy let out one pained gasp before sliding to the floor.
"That was way too easy."
ShapeShifter molded her body to resemble Candy's blonde locks, blue eyes, and petite figure. She turned to Ni who was dressed as a Dan'in agent.
"Now, I'm going to tell the boss that you're here to receive your first mission, alright? You're going to tie him up and gag him. Make sure you tie him tight. But don't leave any bruises or anything."
Ni nodded and watched as ShapeShifter knocked on Giovanni's door.
"Sir! There's a Dan'in here for his first mission! Shall I send him in?"
Giovanni's gruff reply came from behind the door.
"Yes, go ahead!"
ShapeShifter jerked her head towards the door.
"And remember, if any agents come in, shoot first and ask questions later."
"You mean I'll have to…kill them?"
ShapeShifter cut her eyes at him, and he went inside.
Giovanni looked up at him and pulled open a drawer of files.
"So, you are ready for a mission, are you?"
"Yes sir."
"Very well. I shall see if I have anything for you…"
As he was looking through the papers, Ni brought the rope Midas had supplied him with out from his pocket, along with his gun.
"Ah, I think here is something…" Giovanni stopped, feeling the cold metal against his forehead.
"Come quietly, Giovanni. And I won't have to hurt you."
Giovanni slid his hand under his desk, pushing a button with a silent alarm that only his guards could hear in their earpieces. He slowly stood up, allowing Ni to tie the rope around him.

Outside, ShapeShifter heard the thundering pound of boots against the tiled hallways. She kicked Candy's body under the desk as the guards came into view.
"We heard the boss' alarm!" They panted.
ShapeShifter pointed down another corridor.
"Intruders! They went that way!"
The guards followed her directions without hesitation. ShapeShifter smirked, but wasn't for long. She gave out a short yelp, realizing Candy had come to when she kicked roughly at her legs, knocking her to the floor. Candy stood and stomped her high heeled foot down on the imposter's hair, pinning her to the floor.
"Guards! Get back here! In Giovanni's office!!"
The sound of the guards skidding to a stop echoed through the halls and they turned around and ran back the way they came. ShapeShifter growled and reached up and dug her sharp fingernails into Candy's leg, drawing blood. Candy screamed and brought her leg away, allowing her to stand again. ShapeShifter whipped out her gun, but before she could shoot, a guard leaped at her and wrestled her to the ground. He squeezed her hand tightly until she let go of the weapon and he tossed it to Candy. He grabbed ShapeShifter in a vice grip that almost made her choke. Then he and the other guards bust into Giovanni's office. Ni froze as they entered and Giovanni took the chance to elbow him hard in the stomach, momentarily knocking the wind out of him. Giovanni broke free of the ropes and grabbed both of Ni's wrists. The two locked stares and Giovanni was shocked for a split second at how empty the man's eyes were. Giovanni wrenched Ni's gun from him and pushed him away. As the guards advanced towards Ni, ShapeShifter managed to grab a smoke bomb and threw it to the ground. The shock stopped Giovanni and the guards instantly and the started to wheeze. Ni felt ShapeShifter grab his arm.
"Forget Giovanni. It's time to retreat."
When the red smoke cleared away, Ni and ShapeShifter were gone.

(New Team Rocket HQ, Parking Deck, Viridian City)

Domino watched Mondo stuff their equipment in the back of the white rocket jeep. She tapped her foot impatiently.
"My gosh, you're so slow!"
" I'm sorry, Miss Domino…"
"Yeah, you sure are," she snorted.
Mondo opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by Candy's voice on the intercom.
"Mondo and Agent 009, please report to the main desk. Mondo and Agent 009, please report to the main desk."
Mondo turned to Domino.
"What do you think they want, Miss Domino?"
Domino began walking towards the elevators.
"Hopefully to take me off this damned mission…" She muttered under her breath.

Giovanni and Mark were waiting in front of Candy's desk when Domino and Mondo arrived. Candy's hair and make-up was messed up and her clothes were wrinkled. Domino scoffed--very unprofessional for the boss' head secretary.
"You asked for us, sir?"
"Yes. There has been a slight change in plans."
Domino brightened at this statement. Mondo got nervous.
"You'll still carry out your "rescue mission"…"
Domino sighed.
"…but there's something else I need your…assistance on."
"What's happened, Boss?"
"It appears that Team Rocket is being attacked," Mark answered, "at least, Giovanni is. We need to take him to a safe place for him to wait until our enemy has been taken care of. We need you two to escort him to our Underground Base beneath Celadon City."
"An underground base? Don't you think that's a little extreme?" Domino interrupted.
"No, the boss does not," Mark replied sharply. "While the boss is in hiding, you and all the other agents will answer to me. Understand?"
Domino scowled.
"Whatever."
Giovanni wasn't paying attention. His thoughts were drifting back to the attack in his office. After the attackers had left, Giovanni had gotten a good, long look at the man's gun. Inscribed in the metal had been a name Giovanni hadn't heard in years and he had almost forgotten.
Midas Ranielli. My little cousin is at it again.
Only this time, it was much more than it ever was before. Giovanni didn't know what Midas had up his sleeve, but he knew his cousin was crazy. And he would do anything to bring Giovanni out of power…and maybe even worse.

(New Team Rocket HQ, Agent Morgan's Room, Viridian City)

Jessie sat beside her sleeping partner, absentmindedly playing with his soft blue hair. Dr. Brown watched her from the doorway, scribbling something on his clipboard. James' eyes slowly opened and he looked up at Jessie.
"Jess…"
"Oh, you're awake!" Dr. Brown exclaimed, about to walk out. "Very good! Now I'll just leave you two here, and…"
"Doctor!" Jessie hissed.
Dr. Brown sighed and turned back to them. James sat up, more confused than usual.
"What happened?" He asked Jessie.
Jessie managed to smile weakly at him before turning to the doctor.
"Dr. Brown's going to tell us. He's going to tell us EVERYTHING."
Dr. Brown nodded and sat down in a chair across James' bed.
"Very well. James, I'm afraid you are in grave danger. The whole world is, for that matter. It's a very long story…and one I would like to forget. But you two have a right to know…"
Meowth and the other pokémon stood outside the door, listening in attentively.
"Many years ago, before either of you were born, there was a war. A war nobody save a few selected people remember…"

End of Chapter Seven